Chapter 22 #2
“I know, Cee.” Mariah twisted her fingers together atop the table. “There’s not enough time. But we have to do this. We have to search the whole continent, or else there will be no Onita to return to save.” Mariah met everyone’s gaze.
“That’s why we have to split up.”
She was grateful for the two heartbeats of peace before chaos erupted.
“We are absolutely not leaving you—”
“Do you not remember the last time we split up—”
“Mariah, please. There has to be a better idea—”
She let them vent. Let their words swirl around her, sink into her skin, soak into her bones.
She would miss this, she realized with a painful beat of her heart. This passion, this noise, this steadfast companionship and unwavering support. She’d spent their time in Desva self-isolating, taking for granted what she had.
Now that she was about to lose it, even for only a short while, it hit her how much she needed it.
The absence of another also hit her like a bolt from a crossbow. The one silent presence who would’ve stood amongst the noise, letting it rise and fall with a smirk and a brush of shadows down her spine.
No. Not yet. Not now. She had to hold herself together, just until this was through.
Mariah hung her head, drawing in three deep breaths, swallowing down the desperate longing yawning open around her. Shoving it back down, burying it there in that place where the beast and her magic slumbered.
When she raised her head, the first thing she noticed was the silence.
Her court had fallen still, their protests dying out on their lips as she’d done all she could to keep herself from falling apart. They watched her with heavy concern, some with thinly veiled fear.
The only way.
“None of us want this,” she said finally. “But we have no other choice. Kol is likely readying to leave Khento and take Verith. The more time we give him, the more time he’ll have to solidify his position in Onita and spread further across the continent.”
Her court exchanged wary glances but stayed quiet. Exhaustion slid through Mariah, the kind of weariness that only came when a fractured heart still fought to push forward.
“I don’t like this.” Ciana—blessed, brilliant, brave Ciana—spoke. “You need us—all of us. But if this is what you need”—she heaved a sigh— “what will you have us do?
The apprehension released. Mariah’s court settled back, still tense, still alert, but accepting. Ready.
Mariah smiled at her best friend. She reached her hand across the table, and Ciana took it without hesitation.
“Thank you, Cee,” she said quietly. “I know I need you. But I’ll be okay. This…this is more important than me.” Mariah straightened in her seat, softly clearing her throat.
“Kiira and Rylla will stay here in Desva.” The twins accepted their orders with a nod.
“You will serve as liaisons between the Onitans and Kreah. As they are your birth people, I hope you will be able to bridge a gap where there might not be one. Rulene will stay as well; we need to tell her of what Quentin learned as quickly as possible. If anyone can put a stop to it, I’d bet on her.
” Rylla’s eyes flashed and Kiira’s jaw tightened as she nodded.
Mariah swung her gaze to the other end of the table. “Trefor, Drystan, and Feran, you’ll stay here with Kiira and Rylla. Not just for Feran to continue recovering, but to represent me before the Kreah Elders. Amasis will support you.”
Drystan looked relieved, but Feran and Trefor both seemed to swallow arguments. Mariah turned away before they could decide otherwise and voice them.
“Delaynie and Quentin,” she said. Del’s auburn head snapped up, eyes flashing. Quentin lifted a curious eyebrow, despite the blooming bruise on his cheek.
Here goes nothing.
“You will go to the Kizar Islands to treat the pirate lords—and search for any lost records in the process.”
All humor vanished from Quentin’s face.
“Absolutely fucking not,” he snarled. The light-hearted Armature was gone, replaced by the fierce fighter who’d spent his life doing whatever it took to survive.
“Those people are monsters. They attacked Verith just last winter. They slaughtered innocents for no reason, then ran away before they could be dealt with. There is no treating with them.”
Mariah swallowed. “I know. But the one piece of information we need to stop this war before it starts could be there. And I trust you the most to navigate that viper’s den.”
Quentin’s bottle green eyes flashed, but he didn’t speak further. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest with a scowl and a huff of pain.
Delaynie watched him before turning to Mariah, something unfamiliar and unreadable in her expression. “We’ll go.”
Mariah didn’t prod further. She simply nodded and returned her gaze to her best friend.
“Ciana,” she said slowly. “You and Sebastian will go south. First to Idrix, then to the Vathan jungles.” She had more instructions for them, but she’d tell them later. When there weren’t so many ears.
Mostly for Ciana’s sake. Guilt prickled beneath Mariah’s skin at what she had to ask of her best friend. She prayed desperately that she would understand and would forgive her in the end.
Ciana stiffened almost imperceptibly but didn’t argue. Sebastian, surprisingly, looked slightly relieved, though concern still etched his brow. “And you?” he said.
Mariah curled her fingers.
“I’m going north. To Leuxrith.” Her heart pattered in her chest. “Callamus will accompany me. And Matheo is coming, as well.”
Matheo whipped his gaze to her. “I am?”
She tossed him a half-hearted wink. “Better pack warm.”
There was more than one reason Mariah wanted to go north, but she wasn’t ready to voice her reasons yet. Not until they were on their way and fewer people could tell her just how foolish she was.
Her court shared a glance when she finished speaking. “So, I guess that’s it, then,” Ciana said meekly, her words strained and missing their usual luster.
“Just temporarily,” Mariah said. “Just until we find what we need.”
Then she would find that weapon and drive it through Kol’s blackened, poisoned heart.
“That raises a good point, actually.” Sebastian sat forward. “If—when—we find either these notes or the weapon itself, how are we supposed to tell you?”
Mariah heard his unspoken words. What do we do now that our bonds are silent? What if you can’t open them again? And if you do, what will the distance do to them?
She didn’t want to answer those questions. So instead, her lips curled into a half-smile, thinking of sunlight refracting off golden wings and the wind rushing through feathers.
“I need to introduce you all to my new friend, Cielle.”