Chapter 6
Ciana loved Mariah more than a queen—even more than a best friend. She loved her like a sister and would do anything for her. But Ciana had also never been afraid of speaking her mind.
Maybe that was why a part of Ciana wanted to wring Mariah’s neck as she watched her fly away clutching tightly to Rulene’s spines. Callamus and Priam flew alongside her, the three dragons disappearing into the early afternoon sky.
Ciana heaved a sigh. Not that there was anything she could do now.
When Mariah had announced that Ciana would be staying to assist the newly arrived Onitans, the borderlands erupted into action.
The gods conversed among themselves, Amasis and Mariah made plans for where these people would go when they arrived in Desva, and a few Kreah locals shifted and raced away.
No one heard Ciana’s weak mewl of protest or saw her expression of muted horror.
She knew she was being a bit dramatic. It wasn’t that bad. It was an honor that Mariah thought her capable enough to lead these people—all of whom looked scared, confused, tired, and hungry.
What she wasn’t particularly excited about was being appointed to do it with Sebastian.
She cut him a nervous glance from the corner of her eye. He stood rigid beside her, hands clasped behind his back, hair blown uncharacteristically out of place by the stifling wind as he watched the Onitans shuffle forward to greet them.
This was how it had been since they’d reunited in Kreah, and none of it made sense to Ciana.
That last day in Verith had been everything she’d been secretly hoping and wishing for nearly a year.
For him to finally wake up and see her; not as the fun, traumatized girl who’d ended up on Mariah’s court, but as a woman capable of great things in her own right. A co-leader beside him.
A partner.
But something had changed after that mission to Khento. Or, perhaps, returned to the way it had been before.
Even then, though, Sebastian at least would talk to her. Now, he couldn’t even be bothered to do that.
Ciana sighed. “I suppose we should go say hi.”
She didn’t expect a response, so it surprised her when Sebastian answered. “I suppose you’re right.” He didn’t look at her, but she could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
Well, then.
Ciana pushed back her shoulders, straightening her loose-fitting cotton blouse, tucked a stray curl behind her ear, and started across the sands.
The leaders of the Onitan caravan halted their wagons and horses. It rippled down the lines of people, a crowd stretching well into the horizon.
Goddess, there were so many of them. How had Priam managed to gather them all so quickly?
“Well met, friends,” Ciana called over the breeze. “We’re here to welcome you to Kreah and to ensure all are provided for.”
“Who might ‘we’ be?” A gruff, bearded man separated himself from the other leaders, his clothes worn and traveled-stained but of fine make. Even his horse was well bred, a powerful gray-dappled beast.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Apologies, sir. We are representatives of Queen Mariah’s court. I am Sebastian Riqueti of the Queen’s Armature.” He finally glanced at Ciana, hazel eyes guarded. “And this is Lady Ciana Visseau.”
The man eyed them both, a hard look that Ciana didn’t like written in his weathered face. “Is it Queen Mariah now? Not Queen Apparent? What happened to Queen Ryenne?” Murmurs of question and agreement echoed from the caravan. Ciana nearly bit her tongue.
How many fucking times would they have to do this?
Before she could say something very unladylike, Sebastian stepped forward, handsome face placating.
“She is new to her reign, we admit. But”—he placed a hand over his heart, head dipping with respect— “Queen Ryenne is no longer with us. There can only be one Queen of Onita, and by the goddess’s blessing, Mariah has ascended the throne.
She awaits you all in the Kreah capital of Desva. ”
“Why is she in Kreah at all? Shouldn’t she be fighting the evil coming to Onita that Priam spoke of?”
So, the god had told them who he was. Just from their short interaction, Ciana wasn’t surprised. He seemed unable to stop himself from preening.
“Queen Mariah fled the same evil you did. But she doesn’t intend to remain here long. She will return to Onita, and the darkness will be vanquished. Of that, I have no doubts.”
Ciana glanced at Sebastian, letting a hint of a smile play on her lips at his glowing words.
Too bad those words aren’t for you.
Her smile slipped at the intrusive thought, and she hated herself a bit for it.
She wasn’t jealous of Mariah. She and Sebastian shared a connection Ciana would never know—that was true. They’d even shared a moment of physical intimacy that Ciana had at first been amused by, but as time progressed had forced herself to stop thinking about.
She wasn’t even sure she’d ever want to have sex again, not after the darkness of her childhood. So why did the knowledge of Mariah and Sebastian’s relationship now make a lead weight sink into her stomach?
And why did it make the moments when Sebastian sang his queen’s praise bite a little more than they should?
Ciana may love Mariah like a sister, but by the goddess, sometimes she felt like a terrible friend.
“I heard a story from Khento. One that said the opposite of what you speak.”
Ciana and Sebastian both stilled, her petty thoughts momentarily forgotten. A young woman emerged from the crowd. Just like the others, she looked haggard and worn, but her dress spoke of wealth. Distrust wrote itself across her golden sun-tanned cheeks.
“I have a friend who is the daughter of a merchant family. They were invited to Khento by Lord Shawth and the other Royals to witness a ceremony. That friend said something terrible happened and she barely managed to survive.”
Ciana wasn’t even sure Sebastian was breathing. His hands were balled into fists at his side, the only outward evidence of his anger. Ciana straightened her spine. “Your friend likely didn’t share the full story. The Royals—”
“Oh, my friend shared enough,” the woman hissed. “She told me that our so-called queen went on a murdering rampage, destroying half the castle and killing many of those in attendance. She wrote that she was lucky to escape with her life.”
Silence brushed across the sandy plains. Ciana heard her heart pounding in her ears and not much else.
The audacity. How could anyone think that?
“Lies,” Ciana seethed through clenched teeth. “Your friend tells lies.”
The woman was unfazed. She lifted her chin imperiously and sniffed. “How would you know? You weren’t there. How well do you know your queen?”
“Lady Ciana may not have been there, but I was.” Sebastian’s voice was deathly calm. Attentions swung to him, eyes going wide.
Even that bitch had the wherewithal to look shocked and a little taken aback.
“I was there,” Sebastian continued. “I saw real evil burst forth that day. And I can assure you: it was not our queen.”
No one from the crowd answered him. Glances and murmurs were shared, more wary doubt creeping into their faces. But this time it was doubt over their companion’s words and not the promises of their new queen.
Ciana’s anger faded, leaving behind a slight tremor in her hands.
“I think the only thing we don’t doubt, Sir Sebastian, is your loyalty to your queen,” said the first bearded man, still seated atop his horse.
“She is your queen, too.”
The man frowned. “I suppose that all remains to be seen.”
Ciana almost snarled, almost leaped past Sebastian over the sands—
“But it is not something that needs to be decided today.” The man heaved a deep, tired sigh.
“We came because a god of old, bearing the form of a legendary dragon, appeared and told us to flee a great coming evil. Onitans may be lacking in many respects, but loyalty to our gods is not one. As Priam commands, so we obey.”
He swung his horse to face the envoy. “These people are here to lead us to the Kreah capital of Desva,” he boomed, his voice echoing over the plains.
Further down the line, more men on horseback listened, relaying his words to those who couldn’t hear.
“We will be gracious to our hosts, respectful as only an Onitan can be. The Goddess and her Consort shall keep us, and under their guidance may we be saved.”
The crowd answered with silence, a few giving their leader resolute nods. But not everyone looked so convinced. Wary glances were shared, but no one flinched or moved to run away.
The man leveled his stare on Ciana and Sebastian. “Lead the way.”
Amasis was a falcon-shifter.
The Kreah High Counsellor, while visiting a nearby outpost, had heard of rumblings on the border and flown here as fast as the winds could carry them.
That was also how they’d managed to get word to Rulene and Callamus so quickly to bring Mariah, and how the Onitan’s entry into Kreah had been approved without alerting the entire Kreah Council of Elders.
It was also, apparently, how word had been sent to have two horses prepared for Sebastian and Ciana, along with nightly provisions arranged at each of their stops until they reached Desva.
Ciana settled herself into the lightweight Kreah saddle, her mare’s nimble frame striding confidently across the sands.
The Kreah horses were bred for traveling long distances in the desert: light, metallic-colored coats that reflected the rays of the sun, long graceful legs that ate the miles away, and small dished heads that limited moisture loss.
Ciana was grateful for that, at least. Dragons and falcons flew much faster than a caravan of people could walk. Kreah soldiers, after providing them horses and offering directions to an oasis where they would rest for the night, told them to expect about a two-day ride to the capital.
“Are you going to tell Mariah?” Her voice was a little too high-pitched, a little too casual. Sebastian met her glance before quickly looking away.
“Tell Mariah what?”