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Lucius
“The Owl… they’ve been killing women because of this, what did you call it? Omega blood?” Constant Linden asked. Lucius watched as the man went from horrified to livid in two seconds flat. “And they dared take my daughter?”
“Indeed. Twice.” Lucius crossed his leg over his knee. “We’re doing this not just because of what they've been doing all these decades, but for what they planned on doing to your daughter, my lord. Another reason we cannot let them in on knowing what we’re about. Let them think we’re on our way to Goth Mor Helle. I’m sure someone has noticed the number of Ongahri traveling as of late, and who knows what they know from our time in Ghypsom City.”
The sandy-haired constant nodded. “Of course. When will you leave and when can I arrange a meeting with the Tributary? They must be told.”
Lucius looked at Fadon. Both of them knew the Tributary was also involved in this.
“Tell him,” Fadon bid.
And so Lucius did, starting with the latest news on the Variantia and the blueprints he had gotten his hands on. When he was done sharing what he knew about the weapon hidden in the Garrian mountains, Constant Linden was up and about, pacing the room, a pipe clenched tightly in his hand.
“Mother save us.”
“She will, if we play this right,” Demos said.
The constant turned to Demos then. “What about the Supreme? Has he been… compromised? Is he behind this atrocity as well?”
Demos shook his head. “Last I knew, Supreme Nevilah was not at all involved. But he is very old. His years are ending. He knows nothing about this, what’s been going on under his nose all this time. He is no longer what he once was, I’m afraid.”
“I have heard rumors that they are voting in a new Supreme. Rumors of his retirement.” Constant Linden resumed his seat and placed his unlit pipe down carefully on the side table next to him. “And you plan on going directly to the Basilica, when?”
Lucius let out a breath. “We will leave the day after tomorrow.”
The man nodded. “Anything you need, I will provide.”
“I appreciate that, my lord.” Lucius leaned forward, elbows on knees. “I do wish to ask if you can assist me in convincing Sierra to stay here, in Providence. It’s much too dangerous for her where we’ll be going.”
The man lifted his mouth in a fatherly smile. “I’m glad to see that you care for my daughter. I’m afraid she may not listen to me, though. She is a stubborn creature.”
A few chuckles went around the room.
Lucius nodded. “Please. All I ask is that you try. You and your wife.”
“I will do what I can. I agree with you wholeheartedly that she stay here. What are your plans for when you arrive at the Order?” At this, the Constant looked to Fadon. Lucius had to bite back the feeling of irritation that he’d addressed Trajan. It was a reminder to Lucius that there was a mighty subjective contrast between Queen of a people and Chieftain of a tribe. Lucius might have had the late king’s blood running in his veins, but it was his half-sister who held the power in name only.
Fadon leaned forward in his seat as well. “Our plan is to end this. No more Fealty, no more death. They have declared war on the Ongahri. Whatever it takes to end this, that is our plan,” he said, his tone dripping in threat. “As much as we would like to help the good leaders of Titus, those like you, Constant, who have been blind to these machinations, it is not in my purview. I’ll leave that to you and those you trust.”
Constant Linden let out a deep breath, considering. “Trust. I only trust a handful, I’m afraid.”
Lucius found that he quite liked the man. He had met many constants in his life, but Sierra’s father actually listened, was intelligent, and wasn’t puffed up with the role of leader. Remembering his first and only visit here when Lucius was a teen, he wondered if he had met a young Linden during that brief stay, but he couldn’t recall.
Somewhere in the room a clock chimed.
“Forgive me,” Constant Linden said, standing up. “I have kept you gentlemen long enough. Let’s get you all settled, and I’ll see about getting you all something to eat. I’m sure you’re all ready to drop from your journey. I honestly don’t see how you rode all this way in this weather.”
Out in the hall now, the men chatted about the state of the roads and such while servants showed them to their rooms. Supper would be served within the hour in the dining room.
Lucius spied Pateus coming down the hall and spoke briefly to him about the other Ongahri’s whereabouts, about the cervos. Everyone had been seen to and was currently staying in several guest houses. The cervos had been fed and housed, and all that was left to do now was to change, wash up, and go back downstairs to eat that promised meal.
A servant opened the last door on the right, at the end of the hall, and Lucius stepped inside. It was there that he found Sierra. Her cheeks were rosy, her hair damp. She’d had a bath, he saw, and could smell a light floral scent filling the room. His poor dove finally had gotten her wish of a hot bath in a proper tub. After so many weeks of traveling, she deserved it and more.
Another reason she needed to stay here with her parents. Being out there in the frigid, desolate weather was no place for his wife. She needed to stay here. Constant Linden kept his city well stocked, well-guarded, and she would be surrounded by people she loved and had missed.
But convincing her? Ongar, he’d need to pull out all his punches to do that.
“Hello, Little Dove. I see you have your priorities straight.”
