Chapter 29
RAVOS
Cerberus threw a shoe shortly after they passed into Ravos.
Terena was in a mood, having spent the last few days attempting to ignore Lerek, who continued trying to speak with her whenever they’d stopped to rest.
Every time Rydon pulled down the prince’s gag to eat, he’d call out for her, or Croak. It had gotten to the point she ate away from the others in her tent.
Captain Soros had just updated her on Hermes’s progress across Ermanel when Croak came running in, the tent flap flying back as he entered with a dramatic sigh and stricken mien.
“We cannot continue! I must find a farrier!”
Terena exchanged a look with Soros who cocked his head and immediately quit the tent. Alone with her brother, Terena sighed and flopped down onto her bedroll.
“Where in hells do you think we’ll find a farrier?”
“Lethe is close,” Croak said as he wrung his hands. “Have Soros send someone—”
Terena was about to protest when a thought struck her. Sitting up, she stared at Croak before bouncing to her feet.
“You know what? You should go. And take Orry with you!”
Croak’s face twisted. “What? Why? No, that’s not—”
“Aye!” Terena said, nodding. She put her hands on Croak’s shoulders. “In fact, go now. I’ll come back for you when we’ve finished in Colinas.”
Croak continued to stare at her as if she’d grown a third eye. “No! I’m coming with you!”
Terena shook her head. “I’d feel better if you and Orry were somewhere safe. It’s bad enough we’re in Ravos where any moment Solon’s soldiers might find us. At least if you’re in Lethe Monastery while we’re searching for this amulet, I don’t have to worry about you both.”
“Terena?”
Terena grinned when she heard Rydon call out. Squeezing Croak’s shoulders, she moved past him and out of the tent where Rydon stood waiting.
He pulled up when he saw Croak coming out from behind her. “What’s going on?”
“Cerberus needs a farrier. So Croak and Orry will go to Lethe and wait for us there while his horse is cared for. I’ll have Migela go with them.”
She turned back to Croak. “Tell Migela I want her to go with you. Or better yet, have Orry tell her.”
Croak made strange noises in protest, but did not contradict her. He stabbed a hand through his hair and left without another word.
Rydon watched as he left before turning back to Terena.
“A scout returned with news of a large host coming this way from Heylisia. The cypher wasn’t lying. Soros’s men captured one of their scouting party. Said they are heading to Colinas to claim the Royal Taster. That she’s wanted for treason and the murder of Prince Isher.”
“Fuck!” Terena fumed. “They know about Lerek. But how the fuck did they get their hands on Sonah?”
Soros came bounding toward them, his chest heaving as if he’d run the entire way.
“I’ve already sent a message to Hermes,” Soros said without preamble, folding his armored arms across his chest. “I said we’d wait until he catches up before we march on Colinas.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not waiting,” Terena said as if he suggested she cut off her arm. “You wait and catch up to us when you can. I’m going after my sister.”
“No, Ren,” Rydon snapped with a slash of his hand. “We are not splitting up any more of our forces. You cannot go into the city without the captain and his men.”
“They must’ve heard about Hermes’s army by now,” Terena’s voice was plaintive and she swallowed to calm herself. “Surely, they won’t risk the battle just to get their hands on Sonah!”
“Maybe that’s why they sent such a large force.” Soros snapped.
“All the more reason for us to wait,” Rydon added.
“And if they take her before we get there, they’ll have leverage!”
“What if it’s a trap?”
“I don’t care!” Terena’s patience was wearing thin. “I’m going to get my sister!”
“Send another hawk to Hermes and have him meet us in Colinas,” Rydon ordered Soros. “Hopefully, we can stall until they get there.”
“Whatever makes you feel better,” Terena said, throwing out her arms. “But I am going after my sister.”
Croak chased after Rydon. By the rigid set of his shoulders and the way his hands fisted at his sides, Croak knew it wasn’t a great time to seek out the mercenary, and yet he rarely paid heed to the voice in his head screaming common sense.
“Rydon—”
“No.”
“But—”
“No.”
“You didn’t even—”
“Croak,” Rydon snapped, rounding on Croak fast enough to make him leap back.
He thrust his forefinger in the air between them, his face pale around his auburn beard.
“Your sister has decided against listening to reason and I am—once again—having to run into certain death with her because she has a problem with logic.”
Croak threw up his hands in surrender, his eyes wide.
“Listen, I hear you. She’s always been like that and it’s worse now for some reason.
I blame Daris. And Lerek, I guess. For starting it all.
But you won’t die, old man. You’re Eudaemon.
And since you’re Sonah’s guardian, you’ll have nothing to worry about for at least four years.
You’re a mercenary and immortal. Be me for a second! She’s sending me to a monastery! Me!”
“Aye,” Rydon grunted as he turned to stride away. “For your safety. Would that she thought of her own as much as she does yours.”
“Well then, convince her to remain behind! If we all stay at Lethe, we can wait for Hermes to show up. Hopefully, Sonah, too.”
“Sonah’s in there!” Rydon cried, whipping around as he shot an arm out behind him.
Croak stumbled back against the man’s ire.
Gods, Rydon was scary just being… Rydon.
Now, he looked like his head might explode.
A vein ticked furiously at his temple, and the way his nostrils flared, Croak expected smoke to curl out any moment.
Blinking up at the enraged mercenary, Croak could only gawp. “What? What do you mean, she’s in there? In where?”
“She’s in Colinas, you fool,” Rydon growled before turning away. “Where’ve you been that you do not know she’s the reason we’re here?” His strides were long enough Croak jogged to keep up. Soldiers cleared a path as he neared.
“How? When did she pass us? I don’t get it.”
Rydon stopped and stabbed a hand through his hair, dislodging more strands from the bun at his nape. Croak didn’t consider him a handsome man, but the way he looked now reminded Croak of the feral agrius, the half-bear half-men who fought for the Titans in the Immortals War.
It was not a good look.
“I think Xoran played us.”
“No surprise there,” Croak said, shaking his head sagely. “I told you he was a snake.”
“Aye, but your sister seems to think we can trust him.”
“Once again proving her faith in humanity is a deep flaw. How do we rid her of it?”
Rydon snapped around, his eyes bulging and Croak’s hand flew up to guard against his wrath.
“Find Migela and tell her she is to accompany you and the cleric to Lethe. We will come for you when we’ve got Sonah. Do you understand?”
“Why does Cassandra get to stay with you? If she stays, I—”
Rydon rounded on him. “Say you understand.”
Croak’s chest puffed out. He opened his mouth to argue but when Rydon’s eyes blazed brighter Croak thought better of it and instead inclined his head.
“I understand.”
“Good. Now get the fuck out of here.”