“Aye. All the gods port,” Cassandra replied. “At least, the Olympians. Did you come here looking for lessons in how to be a god, or are you finally going to ask me the question you actually came to have answered?”
“You’re a piece of work,” Gabriol grumbled.
“Let’s not forget,” Cassandra said with a shrug, “you soughtmeout.” Looking at Terena she said, “I know you’re looking forthe Amulet of Kaïra. I will tell you where to find it. But first, you must take me with you to Metilai.”
Croak burst into laughter and Gabriol swore. Terena tensed but did not look away from the woman.
“We’re collecting tourists now?” Rydon asked Terena, his lips pressed tight enough to whiten the corners.
“We should charge extra for that, Ren,” Croak chimed in with a grin.
The doors burst open and all of their heads swiveled around. Vassori strode in, a grinning Orry behind her with Migela sauntering in last.
“Right on time,” Cassandra murmured. When Terena glanced at her, the woman winked.
“What’s happened?” Gabriol asked, closing the distance between them. Vassori handed him a crumpled missive. Orry trudged to Croak’s side, his eyes shining.
“A message from my brother,” Vassori said, her expression turning guarded when she spotted Cassandra lounging on the couch.
Rydon waved a dismissive hand. “You may speak freely. I have a feeling the witch—my apologies, Cassandra—will be traveling with us.”
Vassori frowned at him, then shook her head. “He’s on his way here, to us, in Ermanel. He’s just crossed the border from Elis. He wants us to wait for him.”
“Wait for him? Why?”
“Says he has a surprise for you.”
“It must be Sonah!” Terena threw herself at Vassori, wrapping her arms around the woman’s neck. Vassori laughed, hugging Terena back.
As they all gathered closer, Terena spared a glance at Cassandra. The woman had risen from the couch, her handspressing down on her skirts as she rounded the table to reach their happy circle. The bells at her waist sang as she moved.
“I suppose you’ll say you saw this as well?”
Cassandra’s cunning smile was verification enough for Terena.
“So what happens next?”
“Obviously, we’re waiting for Xoran,” Croak shouted, pumping both arms in the air as he walked toward the doors with a whoop.
As they all filed in after him, Cassandra looped her arm through Terena’s and sighed.
“Do you know what the surprise is? Is it Sonah?”
Cassandra’s smile turned wicked. “I know what the surprise is,” she demurred. “And I cannot wait for you to see it.”
Chapter 23
IBROS
They had ridden most of the day until they neared the border to Elis.
As dusk fell, the waning sun took all the warmth with it, and Sonah found herself shivering uncontrollably until Fane had taken pity on her and called a halt for the day. Now, Sonah huddled closer to the heat from the small fire Melanos had built.
“Are you not warm enough yet, little one?” Melanos asked in his deep baritone. Sonah glanced at him and shrugged one shoulder.
When her teeth stopped clattering she sighed. “I’ve spent much of this past year on the road with my friends and yet I’ve not spent a winter outside of the White Palace. I long for the warmth of my bedchamber.”
“This is no normal winter,” Melanos said. “Although I do not feel it as you do, it is still unpleasant. And unusual.”
