By the set of his jaw, she could see he wanted to argue but raked a hand through his mud-splattered hair and gave her a curt nod.
“I’ll meet you there,” Daris said before turning to stalk away.
Terena watched him for a few moments. When she turned back to her friends, she made a face at Rydon who chuckled at her.
“I thought you were going to tear his clothes off right then and there.”
“If he hadn’t been wearing his battle armor, she might have,” Gabriol snorted.
Terena shoved him and he laughed.
“Glad Hermes decided to show. For a minute there, I thought he’d only sent Daris and a handful of his men.” Rydon snarked after they found their mounts where Croak, Migela and Orry waited.
Terena hugged her brother, then turned and embraced Orry.
“Daris is here?” Croak asked, his brows in his hairline.
“Aye,” Rydon said with a sly grin as he mounted. “And it looks like he’s been forgiven.”
“Just because Lerek’s still alive doesn’t mean Daris isn’t still an asshole,” Croak grumbled.
A headache began to form at her temples, and Terena growled low as she mounted Nyx.
“He’s not forgiven,” Terena snapped. The others laughed and she cursed at them. “It was a momentary lapse in judgment. He’s not getting off that easy, believe me.”
The ridethrough Colinas was eery. The streets were emptied and the City Watch nonexistent. As they neared Sydney Hall, Hermes’s soldiers were already setting up their encampment, surrounding the castle gates and taking up the area beyond to the main entrance of the structure.
Rydon raised his arm in greeting when he spotted Vassori standing near the entrance to the castle with Cassandra. He dismounted, glancing at Ren, whose face was wreathed in smiles to see the women again. Migela jogged ahead of her and embraced the seer as Ren walked up.
“What are you doing here?” Ren asked Vassori. “We were to meet in Metilai.”
“Aye,” Vassori said with a grimace. “But after finding my brother, he told me of the emperor’s trap for you in Ravos. I came as fast as I could.”
“I need to speak with you,” Cassandra said to Ren, laying a hand on her arm to draw her attention.
Ren looked at the woman and nodded. “All right.” Turning to Rydon she motioned with her chin. “Can you find us some tents? Have Croak and Orry help you put them up.” Turning back to Vassori she said, “We’ll speak more later.”
“No, Rydon, please stay.” The seer said as she reached out her arm toward him.
He frowned but came closer. Over his shoulder, he gave Gabriol Ren’s instructions and his friend set off in search of Croak and Orry.
Migela signed something to Cassandra and the woman shook her head, telling her she needed to speak with Rydon and Ren privately. Migela gave her a tight-lipped smile before striding away after Gabriol with Vassori behind her.
Folding his arms, Rydon shrugged at the seer. “What’s going on?”
The woman bit her lip, and the instant stab of desire made Rydon grunt in dismay. He shifted his stance wider, hoping he seemed unbothered. The last thing he needed was this woman knowing she had any power over him.
“Do you recall our conversation back in Corvo, about the commander?” she asked Ren in a loud whisper. Rydon expelled a frustrated breath as he stepped closer to hear her better. Terena bent closer as well, frowning.
“Be specific.”
Cassandra flapped her hands impatiently. “About being soulmates.”
“Aye.” Ren replied with a groan.
“Are you sure I should be here for this?” Rydon was uncomfortable already with the direction this conversation was taking.
Cassandra ignored him. “I’ve seen the commander’s death. In Metilai after you become immortal. I didn’t realize it was Metilai because I’ve never been, but when I heard about the Heylisian army coming here, I thought perhaps the future changed and it would no longer come to pass.”
