Chapter 39 #2
Nikias and Aimilia fell into a companionable silence as they rode, as did most of the entourage, aside from a few quiet conversations between some of the guards.
It was actually kind of amusing to listen to one of the clan mages try to communicate with the soldiers guarding the Stonai, trying to ask questions about the attack.
It was at least not hostile, and each party was struggling with what little they knew of the other’s language.
The sun kept climbing higher into the sky as they got closer to midday, and Konstantin dropped back, leaving Hypatia at the front with two guards as he came to ride beside Nikias.
Konstantin didn’t immediately begin speaking, but he looked over at Aimilia.
She gave him a nod and started to fall back, entering into a quiet conversation with one of the other guards, following up on the state of their supplies and what they would need when they got to the town.
Once they were alone, or as alone as they could be in such a group, Konstantin lowered his voice and said, “Your heretic—sorry, I mean healer—he said our prisoner will be awake before the end of the day. Is that correct?”
Nikias nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure where this was going. Konstantin had a drawn look to his expression. “Of everyone in this group, I am the one who knows the language of the Stonai the best.”
“I know even less of it than I do your language. None of my men know a single word. We rarely interact with them.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. That means I will have to be the one to interrogate him when we arrive and he wakes up.”
Nikias had a sinking feeling in his stomach. “And what does that have to do with me?”
Konstantin said, “I can’t do it alone.”
Nikias nodded towards the man’s wife. “You’re not. Isn’t that supposed to be one of the perks of being married? You don’t have to do anything alone.”
Konstantin levelled Nikias with a cold look.
Nikias said, “If you mean what I think you mean even though you say the word interrogate, I can assure you, through firsthand experience, your wife is more than equipped for the task. Assuming you’re here because you don’t want to get your hands dirty.”
Konstantin said, “I’m well aware what she is capable of. I am also well aware of what you are.”
There was a surprising amount of steel in his voice.
It was well known, of course, what Nikias had done.
But it seemed something had gotten lost in translation.
It hadn’t actually been Nikias’ hands themselves; he’d pawned it off to the healers.
It had been their hands that had gotten dirty physically.
Although Nikias acknowledged it didn’t make his any cleaner, since he had been giving the orders.
He said, “If you want something from me, you’re going to have to ask. I’m not like your wife. I don’t have a cursed ability to know the unknowable.”
Konstantin said, “Fine. I don’t know what exactly we’re dealing with here. I hope he will be willing to talk, but I can’t guarantee it. Will you help me get the information we need out of him?”
Nikias could feel Aimilia’s eyes on his back.
Did Nikias dare say no? His side ached. The memory of Aimilia almost being taken under by the debris flashed in front of him.
The very mage they’d captured had been the one to nearly run her through.
Whatever that man knew, whatever they had planned, Nikias needed to know if he was going to keep her safe. But before he did…
“If you want me to do this, I’m going to need a reason why you’re speaking to me and not your wife.”
Konstantin stared at the curly-haired woman ahead of them. “You remember, before the treaty, there was a mage of yours that had been exiled that we came across?”
Nikias vaguely recalled Gavril apprising him of the situation. He hadn’t focused much on it, given at the time, they’d all been more concerned with the fact that Gavril had brought back the wrong girl and made her his wife, rather than the one mage Gavril hadn’t returned with.
Nikias nodded, and Konstantin said, “I know Hypatia is more than capable of doing this. I don’t want to see her do it.
She’s done enough of this kind of thing, and right now…
Let’s just say I have a good reason. I know you’re just as capable, and your hands are just as bloody.
But most importantly, I trust you have enough control not to let this get out of hand. ”
Nikias didn’t really know what he’d done to deserve this vote of confidence, or why. But he did remember his own experience as Hypatia’s captive. Her deranged laughter haunted him still.
Nikias said, “What a wonderful position you are in, Konstantin. You’re lucky that you’ll never have to get your hands dirty, even more so you get your pick of which monster will get to do your dirty work for you.”
Konstantin looked like he would be sick.
Nikias just lifted his chin. “I’ll do it.”
Konstantin nodded and said, “Thank you. I don’t ask lightly. I just know what I am and what I’m not, and I know how crucial it is we do this right.”
“I don’t know if what we’re about to do could ever be considered ‘right.’ However, if it will help us protect our people’s blood from being spilt, I can live with it.
But something you’re going to soon discover, Konstantin, is that just because it wasn’t your hands doesn’t mean you are any less guilty. ”
“Then you misunderstood why I asked. I know I’ll be guilty. I’m here because…” Konstantin sighed. “I’ll gladly be the guilty one this time.”
And then he was gone, riding back up to his wife’s side. It wasn’t long before Aimilia was at his side again. She whispered, “Nikias, this is a bad idea.”
Nikias turned to look at her. “Did you even try not to eavesdrop?”
Aimilia said, “He has no right to ask that of you. I’ll do it—”
Nikias snapped, “Absolutely not. The matter is settled, Commander.”
“I’m not trying to insult your abilities or imply anything.
I’m just saying considering everything you’ve done and what you subjected yourself to in order to make up for it, I don’t think it’s the best idea for you to get involved in something like this again.
He has someone just as capable as you, and even if he didn’t want to get her involved, he has plenty of his own men. Why you?”
Nikias shot her a cold look. “Whether we like it or not, it’s something I’m good at.
I appreciate you want to protect me, or maybe you just fear that this will prove you right, but I’m telling you, you can trust me.
I don’t want to do this. I’ll take no joy in this task.
However, my highest priority is protecting you and our people.
If there are other attacks planned, the blame would be on me if I could have found out something that could have prevented them.
We need to know what they’re after. That was the whole reason you kept him alive.
So don’t act high and mighty now when this was the outcome you were expecting.
I won’t go to such dark places again. I have no thirst for revenge. I just want information.”
“They almost killed you. Are you really going to lie to me and pretend like you don’t want some kind of satisfaction?”
Nikias raised an eyebrow. “It sounds like you do.”
Aimilia looked down at her reins. “Maybe I do want him to pay a little for almost killing you. Maybe that’s what I’m really scared of.”
Nikias said, “Don’t be. Besides, even if you doubted me, Konstantin will be there, and he’ll ensure nothing gets out of hand. If you don’t trust me, trust him.”
The words left his mouth even though each one cut through him. How could she trust a stranger more than him?
“I trust you. I also worry about you.”
“Do you worry about what I will do, or what it will do to me?”
Aimilia whispered, “I don’t know. I just worry.”
Nikias would take what he could get. “I’m honored to take up such space in your thoughts.
I worry about you too. I don’t know how long this will take.
But while I’m there, promise me you’ll be careful and stay with our people and no matter what, stay away from Hypatia.
There’s no telling what she might really be up to. ”
Aimilia nodded. “I’ll be careful.”
Nikias watched Hypatia and Konstantin, or rather, he watched Hypatia watching Konstantin as they rode.
A little more blood on his hands. How many times would he say that? How many times would he justify it? When would it be enough to drown him?
Nikias couldn’t deny that his cool confidence from before began to wear off and give into a sickening nausea overtaking him as they approached the town’s entrance. Especially when he looked behind him and spotted the Stonai stirring as they approached.
It was the early afternoon, and Hypatia and Konstantin led the way into the village, eliciting quite a commotion from the people who certainly never expected to see two such important figures.
The small town was overtaken by a whirlwind of activity, and Nikias just waited for Konstantin and watched as the stone mage woke up.
The man looked around, blinking and working his jaw, but unable to remove the tight gag. Nikias dismounted and watched as the guards pulled him off his horse as well. Nikias looked back at the commotion.
In front of them was a sea of curly-haired people, mostly Solitus by the looks of them.
It was hard to tell. The mages didn’t look all that different from the non-mages.
Either way the townsfolk were elated to be honored with such a visit, if Nikias was reading the interactions correctly.
Hypatia and Konstantin seemed to have it under control, coordinating with the town and informing them what had happened and what they needed.
It wasn’t long before the crowd was dispersing, although watching Nikias and the rest of the Inimicus—as the clan mages called them—with wary but intrigued expressions.
It was a far cry from how they looked at Hypatia.
Like she was sent by the goddess herself.
Was it because she was their chiefess or because of her cursed ability? Did it really command so much respect?
Soon enough, Konstantin approached him again, looking at the Stonai.
The stone mage looked around the village, a dark edge in his gaze.
Konstantin said, “Well, if he’s awake, there’s no sense delaying it.
If Commander Aimilia will go with my man, she can start ensuring you have what you need for your departure tomorrow morning.
We might as well get started now since there’s no telling how long this will take.
I’ve been informed there’s a space we can use. ”
Aimilia nodded and reluctantly departed with the clan mage Konstantin indicated, and she shot Nikias one last look before she went. Nikias gestured to Konstantin and said, “Lead the way.”
He could feel it in his bones. The next few hours were going to be some of the longest of his life.