Chapter 27 #2
“I questioned the cypher,” Rydon said, hands on his hips. “He said Duke Ravos claims to have the Royal Taster.”
Soros shrugged, looking between Terena and Rydon.
“Sonah,” Terena snapped. “The Royal Taster is my sister, Sonah.”
“Fuck,” Soros said, his head falling back.
“Aye. And General Peleon marches north with an army to claim her.”
As Soros processed this information, Terena looked away, her face neutral.
“Croak!”
“What?” Croak called out. He walked Cerberus closer to her.
Terena sighed. “Lerek rides with you.”
“What? No!”
One of Soros’s men grabbed Lerek under one arm and lifted him as if he weighed no more than a child. As they strode toward Cerberus, Croak dismounted, stalking toward Terena with a disgruntled look.
“He’s not riding with me, Ren! I have no desire to be a target for a random Heylisian squad should they happen by! No offense, Lerek.”
Terena ignored him as she mounted Nyx.
“Mount up. I’ll have them bind you two together.”
“For fuck’s sake, Ren, that’s insulting!”
“I don’t care if he’s insulted.”
“I meant it’s insulting to me!” Croak put his hands on Ren’s knee, his eyes wide as he pleaded with her. “You take him! He’s your lover.”
“He is not,” Terena said. Lerek narrowed his eyes at her.
“Fuck!” Croak kicked at the ground, sending rocks and bracken scattering. The horses shifted, and a chorus of protests and curses made him glare back at the others.
Without another word, he waited while Soros helped Lerek mount. Croak sprang up onto Cerberus in front of Lerek, his face bright red as he mumbled beneath his breath, barely waiting for the men to bind them together before turning Cerberus and riding off.
Captain Soros arched a brow at her. “Where’s the cypher?”
“I let him go.”
“What?” Soros stared at her, incredulous.
“I still have the amulet. We don’t need him.”
“He was the one who could use it!”
Terena shook her head as she walked. Soros followed.
“You know I have to let Hermes know, right?”
She shrugged. “Tell him.”
The captain groaned and wiped a hand down his face. “We should wait for him.”
“No. You can stay and wait if you want. But my sister is in Ravos. So I must go.”
“With an army marching north?” Soros scoffed, looking over at Rydon for help. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“No,” Rydon said. “But if we can get to Sonah before the army gets her first, I’m willing to try.”
Terena smiled gratefully at Rydon. Flashing the captain an irritated look, she swatted his arm and walked past him.
“I wasn’t asking, Captain. We ride for Ravos.”
Daris rode beside Hermes when they met up with two of Captain Soros’s men. They dismounted, each falling to a knee, their heads bent to the ground as they muttered their greetings to the god.
“Where’s Soros?”
“He left us behind to find you, Lord Hermes,” one of the men, a mercenary by the name of Scar, said as he lifted his scarred face, his thick beard bisected by a nasty gash running the length of his cheek down to his clavicle.
“We were attacked by Heylisian soldiers who had a cypher with them. When questioned, the cypher said Sonah Yahn was in Ravos and he and the soldiers who’d attacked were on their way there when they ran into us.
An army is on its way north to Ravos from Metilai as we speak. ”
“Where is Terena now?”
“They are on their way to Ravos, lord. Captain Soros also wanted us to tell you we found Prince Lerek.”
Hermes glanced at Daris before turning back to the soldier. “And where is the prince now?”
“They took him with them.”
Heat sizzled across Daris’s skin. His jaw tightened but allowed no other outward sign at the news Ren traveled with her former lover.
“How long ago?”
“Two days.”
“Where in Ravos?”
“The capital, lord. They are headed for Colinas.”
Daris looked at Hermes finally, unsurprised the god stared back at him. A long moment passed as they locked gazes before Hermes pulled on his reins, turning his mount.
“Then we go to Colinas.”
An hour later, a hawk circled overhead in lazy passes before swooping low to land on Elias’s outstretched arm. The Liodari pulled his horse aside, and Daris and the rest of his men followed suit while Hermes’s soldiers rode past.
As Daris waited, Elias plucked the rolled-up missive from the hawk’s leg and handed it to Jason. Lifting his arm, Elias launched the bird into the air.
Jason read in silence. Lifting his head, he looked around for Daris.
“From Captain Athanasi. You won’t believe this,” Jason shook his head. “Sonah’s been found. She’s in Villadelle. With Fane, of all people.”
Daris tore the parchment from Jason’s fingers and read the message before handing it back to him.
“Captain Soros’s man just informed us that they have reason to believe Sonah is in Ravos. Terena and the others are on their way to Colinas to get her.”
Jason frowned. “That’s not possible.”
“Aye,” Daris said. “An army is also heading north to Ravos from Metilai. It’s a trap.”
“For what?”
“Terena,” Daris spat. He thought for a moment then looked back at Jason. “I want you, Trojus, and Elias to stay behind. Write back and tell Fane to meet you here. Then join us in Ravos.”
“At once.”
“Jason.”
His lieutenant turned back, waiting.
Daris leaned over as he glanced ahead. He couldn’t see Hermes around the circle of men separating them, the others pulling farther and farther away as the Liodari remained by Daris’s side.
“Say nothing to Hermes or his men. And if they ever ask you about the contents of the missive, tell them it was King Altos needing us back in Sparta, but that I sent you back without me. I’ll tell him I stayed behind to see Terena.”
“But if she’s riding into a trap—”
“I don’t trust Hermes to continue traveling to her aide if he hears Sonah is safe nearby,” Daris said, glaring at Jason. “You get Sonah, and I’ll make sure we get to Terena in time to help her.”
“Aye, Commander.”
Daris galloped to the front of their column until he was alongside Hermes. The god didn’t bother looking at him, lifting a hand instead as if to tell him to proceed with his message.
“King Altos needs us to return to Sparta. Heylisian incursions at the border. I’ve instructed my men to return without me.”
Hermes’s profile was impassive. Daris rode beside him in silence for a minute, but the god did not reply.
Pursing his lips to hide his annoyance, Daris made to drop back when Hermes spoke.
“Why?”
Daris furrowed his brow. “My lord?”
“Why are you staying behind?”
“Terena.”
Daris watched the god’s profile, seeing the corner of his mouth tug up.
“Of course.”
“I would’ve stayed regardless,” Daris said. “I wish to find Sonah, as well.”
Hermes was silent for a long time after, and Daris turned his thoughts to Terena.
He hoped he could get some time with her alone.
There was no telling what Prince Lerek had told her about Sparta’s involvement with his…
departure from the White Palace. Daris did not think for a moment their night in Pera meant she’d forgiven him for his lie of omission.
And he’d be damned if he’d let the prince find his way back into her arms.