“He will not be coming.”
Terena turned her head slightly, honing in on the voice. She hadn’t heard him speak before, but somehow she knew—knew—that voice belonged to the commander.
Daris Antonius.
Moving slowly to peek through the crack, Terena smothered a curse when she could see nothing other than the steward’s robes and clutched hands.
Someone moved in front of her line of sight and blocked out the light. His voice rumbled again and Terena ducked back, away from the door.
“…again this way. Not until after the war.”
She had no idea what that meant. There was no war.
What else had changed in the three months she’d been gone? Why was the Commander of the Liodari, the elite legion of Lakonia’s army, currently visiting a duke of the Heylisian Empire?
The last time she’d been in Metilai, talks between the empire and the southern nation of Lakonia had broken down and Emperor Solon, furious with the foreign king, had mobilized his legions for war.
Was Duke Aurora some sort of intermediary? Had Solon tasked him with reviving peace talks while she’d been gone?
Talks must have broken down again if the Commander of the Liodari was now speaking of war.
Unless…
Terena frowned as she tried to pick up more of their conversation. She doubted Aurora would be so dumb as to have sided with Lakonia against the empire.
Duke Aurora was young and ambitious, true, but he had also seen firsthand what happened to those who opposed the emperor. And his sister was currently residing at the White Palace in Metilai as one of the Tasters. Terena was certain that alone would forgo any ambitions he might have to restore his birthright and kingdom.
“A shame, but of course we understand,” Danilos was saying, and Terena peeked out to see them all move past.
“With Lady Annalise at the prince’s side, may we request of you…” his voice faded and Terena waited several seconds before pulling the door open another inch, then another, until she was satisfied the hallway was clear. She slipped from the room and latched the door softly behind her.
It wouldn’t do to come upon the steward and his guests, so she waited. Satisfied she’d waited a good amount of time, she sauntered back toward the hall leading to the solarium, only to pull up short.
Commander Antonius stood alone with his men, the steward nowhere in sight.
Terena blinked at the commander, then at the other two men, all of whom now looked at her, eyes narrowed. She made to move past them, nodding in greeting as she walked.
“Ah! Mistress Luca! Mistress!”
Terena winced when she saw Danilos running toward her. Well, as much as hecouldrun in those robes. He waved his hands frantically. “Master Croak?—”
“I was looking for the… er…,” Terena started to say, then shot a look at the commander. Cursed herself when her cheeks heated.
“Oh!” the steward exclaimed, his face blotchy as understanding dawned. He looked torn between running toward the mess her brother had created and helping her with her obviously delicate needs.
“You are Terena Luca.”
It wasn’t a question, but Terena turned to the commander after he’d spoken and gave him a reserved smile. She cocked her head quizzically. “Have we met?”
“Please, Mistress, do follow me and I’ll show you—” Danilos said, reaching out to lay a hand on her arm.
The commander stepped closer, making Danilos take a step back.
Terena didn’t move.
He towered over her, his light blue eyes narrowed with no trace of what had passed between them earlier. Maybe it had been one-sided.
A muscle in his jaw feathered. “I have not had the pleasure, no. But your reputation precedes you.”
