Chapter 3
Amryn
Thankfully, the damage at Esperance was mostly superficial.
Displaced tiles, minor fractures in the stonework, some shattered windows and broken objects.
Structurally, at least, the temple remained sound.
Ivan and Carver had confirmed that Samuel and Sadia were both unharmed, and Zacharias informed them all that only a few minor injuries had been incurred by the clerics and servants who called the temple home.
The High Cleric of Esperance had given his report with all the pompousness Amryn had come to expect from the older man.
Even in the middle of the night, Zacharias had donned his blue high cleric robe, as if he wanted to remind them all of his important rank within the church.
His shaved head was held at a haughty angle, though he’d tried to appear solemn.
When Jayveh had asked if he needed to remain behind to oversee repairs, he’d been quick to insist on coming with them to the capital.
Amryn sensed his determination to be there.
She knew he wanted to personally deliver a report to the emperor; probably because he hoped to blame every failure on others.
After Zacharias left, it was well past the middle of the night. As soon as the door closed behind him, Jayveh lowered herself into the nearest armchair. “Saints, what a night.”
“Never a dull moment in this temple,” Ford muttered.
Now that everyone else had gone, it was only the four of them in Jayveh’s suite.
Carver stood near Amryn, the side of his face cast in shadow.
Only a few lamps were lit in the sitting room, making the edges of the room fade into darkness.
Servants had already righted any of the décor the quake had displaced, and any remaining debris had been swept into the corner to be dealt with in the morning.
“We don’t have to leave at dawn,” Carver said.
Jayveh immediately shook her head. “The sooner we reach the emperor, the sooner he can help with the search for Argent.”
The princess had already ordered countless searches in the jungle around Esperance. Ford had led several of them personally, but they still hadn’t found Tam or the rebels she’d taken with her. And they certainly hadn’t found Argent.
Amryn’s heart ached as she felt the barbed edges of Jayveh’s desperate hope.
She wished she could tell her friend that Argent was dead.
It would be easier in the end, to save her from false hope.
Or worse, never learning Argent’s fate. But she couldn’t explain how she knew he was gone without admitting she was an empath.
Amryn felt Carver’s swell of grief. “Jayveh,” he said, strain thinning his voice. “I think you need to prepare yourself—”
“No.” Heat entered her dark eyes, her voice gaining an edge as she said, “He’s not dead. I can’t believe you’d even say such a thing.”
Carver moved to sit in the chair across from her. He leaned forward, pain in his eyes as he said, “I don’t want to believe he’s gone, but we can’t ignore the facts. Tam poisoned all of us that night—Argent included.”
“None of us died,” Jayveh argued. “The poison must have been too diluted.”
Her desperation was understandable, and heartbreaking. But Amryn knew the truth. Tam’s poison would have killed them all if Amryn hadn’t been able to heal them with the bloodstone. And since she hadn’t been able to feel Argent, she hadn’t been able to heal him. She’d been too late.
She sat beside her friend, keeping her voice gentle. “Even if the poison was diluted, Tam stabbed Argent. We saw it.”
Anguish exploded inside Jayveh. It tangled in her words as she said almost desperately, “She would have tended his wound. She wanted to hurt him—hurt us—but she wouldn’t have let him die. He’s too valuable to the Rising.”
“I don’t think Tam cares about that,” Amryn said softly. “She wanted him dead, Jayveh. She wanted to punish the emperor. Cause him as much pain as possible.” And you, she added in her mind. Tam had hated Amryn and Jayveh for betraying the Rising.
The princess simply shook her head, a stubborn edge rising. “I would know if he was dead. I’d feel it, here.” She placed a fist against her heart. “He’s alive, Carver. I won’t believe otherwise until his body is laid before me, or Tam herself can prove he’s truly gone.”
Amryn felt the rise of Carver’s grim determination. “We’ll find Tam. There’s nowhere in the empire she can hide.” The threat in his words was unmistakable.
“Speaking of Tam . . .” They all turned to look at Ford, who was chewing his lower lip. “I think I have an idea of where she may have gone.”
Carver straightened, but it was Jayveh who demanded, “Where?”
Ford’s eyes flicked to her. “To your uncle, Princess.”
Surprise cut through Jayveh. “Why?”
“We know King Jamir is a member of the Rising,” Ford said. “And Tam knows it, too.”
Jayveh blinked, her thoughts clearly racing as she considered Ford’s words. “She might seek refuge with him.”
“The capital of Xerra is relatively close,” Carver mused.
“It’s only a possibility,” Ford cautioned.
“I’m not certain that’s where she’ll go.
But if you’d just abducted the heir to the empire, you’d be looking for a powerful ally to help hide him.
” He shrugged. “Tracking Tam through the jungle hasn’t worked so far.
I’m not saying we stop all the searches, but I am volunteering to go to Jamir’s castle, just in case she fled there.
” He glanced at Carver. “This is what I was coming to talk to you about before the whole world started shaking. I can slip into the castle unnoticed. I can search for any sign of Tam or Argent. If I don’t find them, I’ll arrest Jamir and drag him to Zagrev for questioning. ”
“Arresting a king in his own court won’t be easy,” Carver said. “He’ll have an army loyal to him.”
“Life gets boring without a nice challenge now and then.” Ford’s quip had a slight edge, his determination unmistakable.
Carver’s brow furrowed. “You should have a whole contingent of soldiers for something like this. I can only afford to send a few men with you.”
“I’ve done a lot more with a lot less, and you know it.” Ford’s eyebrows drew together, his voice lower as he said, “He’s my friend, too, Carve. I need to do this.” The plea in his voice was impossible to ignore.
A short silence stretched, but finally Carver sighed. “We need to work out a solid plan. With multiple contingencies.”
A smile stretched Ford’s lips. He clapped Carver’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, General.”
“We can all go,” Jayveh said, urgency building inside her along with a burst of desperate hope. “It wouldn’t be a long detour. And if Argent is there . . .”
Carver was shaking his head. “It wouldn’t be safe.
We know Jamir is a traitor. The only reason he hasn’t been arrested yet is because the emperor didn’t want any suspicion falling on you, Jayveh.
Not when the Rising needed to believe you were one of them.
” When Jayveh opened her mouth—clearly to argue the point—he added, “If we all went to the Xerran capital, your uncle would see us coming. He’d be on guard.
And if Tam is there, he’d probably smuggle her out before we could gain entrance to the castle. ”
Jayveh’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Amryn touched her friend’s arm. “Carver and Ford know what they’re doing. You can trust them.” She bit her lower lip before adding more softly, “Argent wouldn’t want you to put yourself at risk—or your baby.”
Jayveh’s hand dropped to her belly. Her swirl of doubt was underscored by anxiety, but when she looked up, determination filled her.
Her eyes locked on Ford. “I can draw you a map of the Xerran castle. It’s old, with many hidden passages.
If my uncle is hiding Tam and Argent, he’d probably use one of those. ”
“That would be a great help, Princess,” Ford said gratefully.
Jayveh immediately crossed to the corner of the room where a small desk sat, and Ford moved with her.
Carver glanced at Amryn, right when a yawn overtook her. His expression immediately softened. “You need sleep.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. Maybe I can help.”
Carver stepped closer to her, and her pulse quickened as he hooked a finger beneath her chin, coaxing her eyes to his. Pools of endless blue pinned her, stealing her breath. “Please get some rest, sweetheart.”
Her heart squeezed. Carver had used the endearment only once before, when she was locked in the bloodstone’s flood of frightening power. But hearing it now, spoken in that gentle tone, made something inside her melt.
“All right,” she whispered.
Relief rolled through him. “Thank you,” he murmured. She could still feel his underlying worry, and she was quite certain it stemmed from the heavy toll the bloodstone had taken on her.
Frankly, she was exhausted. She’d done the impossible when she’d healed everyone last night, and it had drained her.
Despite that, restlessness hummed inside her.
It was an almost jittery feeling that made her feel strange in her own skin.
She wasn’t sure if it came from using the bloodstone or sharing her secret with Carver.
Telling him she was an empath was just as earth-shattering as the quake that had rocked Esperance.
The damage it would wreak if he betrayed her would be much more devastating.
A chill whispered through her at the thought, which she instantly fought. Carver would not betray her. Old vulnerabilities and fears might rise, but she refused to let them in. Carver had always protected her, and there was no reason to doubt him now.
He brushed a soft kiss against her brow. “Sleep well,” he breathed, his lips lingering on her skin.
Tingles spread across her body, even after he pulled away. He ordered two of Jayveh’s bodyguards to escort her to their suite and remain guarding her until he returned.