“He says he’s only seen three in his time with the Heylisians. One moved small objects with his mind, while another manipulated fire. Both of them men much older than him.
“The last was a woman whose power was the same as you had mentioned before. She can drain someone’s energy, not power. And he’s only ever seen her do it on other Heylisian soldiers. She left their company a few months ago and he hasn’t seen her since. Shortly after, he was assigned to the group that attacked us.”
“Curious,” Terena said as she stared at the cypher, his steady gaze locked on her, too. “Take him to the edge of the camp and release him. Tell him to go home. To Osta. And never return.”
Rydon grunted his assent. He thought for a moment. “You should have Vas send a message to Xoran. About the prince. You can give him back after we’ve found the amulet. If you don’t, Xoran will retaliate, Ren. He’ll have to. He cannot let this pass; he needs to save face with his men. Not to mention the emperor.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
Rydon waited. When she didn’t continue, he grunted. “Fine. Then what?”
“Remember what Cassandra said?”
Rydon groaned. “The witch said many things. To what do you refer?”
“She said she wanted to go to Metilai. We never told her where we planned on going and yet she knew. I know you don’t believe her visions, but I do. We need to go. First thing in the morning. Would you do me a favor and tell Soros I’m staying in here tonight?”
“Aye. I can do that. But we cannot go to Metilai alone.” Rydon shifted his weight and grimaced. “Ren, we should wait for Hermes. He’ll be here any day now. And what about Sonah?”
“I’ll have Cassandra find her. She’s a seer, after all. Fuck, should’ve thought of that sooner.”
“And if she cannot? Or worse, sends us on a wild goose chase? You cannot trust what she says, Ren. She’s manipulative?—”
“I think there’s more to her. Do you really believe she’d withhold that information from me? She knows what I’d do to her if anything happened to Sonah because she didn’t warn me.”
“I think it’s a bad idea. I think it’s a bad idea to go to Metilai, too. We should wait for Hermes.”
“The emperor owes me answers, Rydon.”
“Ren, no.”
“Aye. We’re going back to the White Palace.”
While Soros hadhis men break down camp, Terena had sought out Vassori with a message for Xoran and bade her ride to his camp.
“I’ll meet you in Metilai,” Terena had told her, clasping the tracker’s arm as Vassori nodded.
Striding toward where Cassandra and Rydon were, Terena called out to the seer.
“Have you had any visions of Sonah?”
Cassandra’s gaze shuttered. Fidgeting with her skirts, she glanced down. “Aye.”
Terena puffed out a breath. “Really? Where is she? Do you know? Is it clear from your visions?”
Cassandra waggled her head. “She’s safe. I do not know who she is with, but they are friends. I cannot tell where she is right now, though. I don’t have a sense of time with my visions. I see a very large man, blond, with a beard. And… a woman. Her skin is… different. I see a wolf but… he’s a man?”
“No riddles, please, Cassandra.” Terena groaned. “She’s safe though?”
“Aye?”
“Do you see me with her? In your visions.”
“Aye. We’re all together. And Vassori is with us, so maybe it’s Metilai.”
“You cannot tell?”
“I’m not familiar with the surroundings.” Cassandra looked at the ground, her lips pursed. “I see a tall blond man sitting on a throne. Different from the one before. And Sonah is with him. I see you but you’re wearing a uniform?—”
