“Her time will come.”
“And in the meantime?”
Vas opened her mouth to answer when two quick knocks sounded on the door. Gabriol straightened. Two more quick knocks after a pause and the door opened enough to allow Xoran to squeeze in.
“What news?” Terena asked before Xoran closed the door. The man looked at them all, his usual cocky sneer and insults gone as he studied Terena. His hair was unusually disheveled and his hand shook as he brought it up to his mouth.
“It’s not good.” His gaze drifted over all of them before he nodded at Terena. “Lerek asked me to bring you to his chambers. You are to wear this.”
He produced a long black cloak and bronze helm in the style of the City Watch. Terena took the items from him, handing the helm to Gabriol while she fastened the cloak.
“What about Gabriol? Or Vas?”
Xoran shook his head. He exchanged a look with his sister Terena couldn’t decipher.
“Lerek said only you. I’ve found a place for your friends to lie low until we’ve a plan in place.”
“No,” Terena said. “Take these two there now. I’ll find more of these for your sister and Gabe.”
“You don’t understand,” Xoran hissed as he took a step toward her. His momentum was halted as Gabriol slammed his hand on Xoran’s chest.
The captain gave Terena and Gabriol an exasperated look. “I’m trying to help you, Luca. We can hideyou, but any more andwe’re inviting trouble. The city is crawling with soldiers right now. The emperor is hosting a special feast two nights from now and the royals have already started arriving. He’s even extended a truce to the Dukes Aurora and Tursk.
“Your decisive win at Colinas has already reached the ears of the visiting royals and dignitaries. The emperor and General Peleon are getting hammered with questions about their safety with you and Hermes running around. Stories have already reached Emperor Solon about the army at your back. His response was to triple the guard within the palace and Sergeant Ironia has recruited two hundred more men into the City Watch since I’ve arrived back in Metilai.”
He sighed and held up a hand when Terena was about to respond. “Lerek has something planned, but he only wants to speak with you. Vas and Gabriol need to stay. For now.”
“Fuck that!” Vassori said at the same time Terena voiced her objection.
“I’m not leaving them behind! Vas and Gabe come with or I am razing this place to the fucking ground right now.”
Xoran clamped his mouth shut and glared at his sister. After a moment of tension so thick Terena wanted to scream, Xoran nodded curtly and opened the door.
“You two stay here,” he whispered to Migela and Cassandra. Xoran looked at his sister and motioned with his head. She followed him out of the room, with Gabriol at her heels.
Before leaving the room, Terena turned to Migela. “Wait for Xoran. I’ll find you when I can.”
Cassandra impulsively reached out, grabbing Terena’s hand before she could leave.
Her face was pale, and she chewed on her bottom lip as she raised fearful eyes to Terena.
“Do not kill the emperor,” Cassandra said hurriedly. “Whatever happens. I’ve seen it, Ren. Do not kill him. He’ll provoke you. Don’t fall for it.”
Terena frowned. “I’m only going to see Lerek. I don’t plan on killing Solon.”
Cass’s chin quivered and her eyes turned blurry. “He doesn’t know what he’ll unleash. He thinks he’s clever, but he’s not the one in control. Save your wrath, Ren. Do not kill him.”
Terena stopped herself from rolling her eyes when she caught the desperation in the seer’s expression.
“Have you seen something?”
Cassandra loosed a shaky sigh.
“I’ve seen it all, Ren. Gods help us.”
The longer he waited,the more Lerek hated his idea. And honestly, after the disastrous way his idea to run off and marry Terena had turned out, he worried this might be another one of those outcomes.
Lerek strode for the door, ready to find Xoran and call a halt to everything, when a single loud thump of the door sounded.
