“A scout returned with news of a large host coming this way from Heylisia. The cypher wasn’t lying. Soros’s men captured one of their scouting party. Said they are heading to Colinas toclaim the Royal Taster. That she’s wanted for treason and the murder of Prince Isher.”
“Fuck!” Terena fumed. “They know about Lerek. But how the fuck did they get their hands on Sonah?”
Soros came bounding toward them, his chest heaving as if he’d run the entire way.
“I’ve already sent a message to Hermes,” Soros said without preamble, folding his armored arms across his chest. “I said we’d wait until he catches up before we march on Colinas.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not waiting,” Terena said as if he suggested she cut off her arm. “You wait and catch up to us when you can. I’m going after my sister.”
“No, Ren,” Rydon snapped with a slash of his hand. “We are not splitting up any more of our forces. You cannot go into the city without the captain and his men.”
“They must’ve heard about Hermes’s army by now,” Terena’s voice was plaintive and she swallowed to calm herself. “Surely, they won’t risk the battle just to get their hands on Sonah!”
“Maybe that’s why they sent such a large force.” Soros snapped.
“All the more reason for us to wait,” Rydon added.
“And if they take her before we get there, they’ll have leverage!”
“What if it’s a trap?”
“I don’t care!” Terena’s patience was wearing thin. “I’m going to get my sister!”
“Send another hawk to Hermes and have him meet us in Colinas,” Rydon ordered Soros. “Hopefully, we can stall until they get there.”
“Whatever makes you feel better,” Terena said, throwing out her arms. “But I am going after my sister.”
Croak chased after Rydon.By the rigid set of his shoulders and the way his hands fisted at his sides, Croak knew it wasn’t a great time to seek out the mercenary, and yet he rarely paid heed to the voice in his head screaming common sense.
“Rydon—”
“No.”
“But—”
“No.”
“You didn’t even?—”
“Croak,” Rydon snapped, rounding on Croak fast enough to make him leap back. He thrust his forefinger in the air between them, his face pale around his auburn beard. “Your sister has decided against listening to reason and I am—once again—having to run into certain death with her because she has a problem with logic.”
Croak threw up his hands in surrender, his eyes wide. “Listen, I hear you. She’s always been like that and it’s worse now for some reason. I blame Daris. And Lerek, I guess. For starting it all. But you won’t die, old man. You’re Eudaemon. And since you’re Sonah’s guardian, you’ll have nothing to worry about for at least four years. You’re a mercenary and immortal. Bemefor a second! She’s sending me to a monastery! Me!”
“Aye,” Rydon grunted as he turned to stride away. “For your safety. Would that she thought of her own as much as she does yours.”
“Well then, convince her to remain behind! If we all stay at Lethe, we can wait for Hermes to show up. Hopefully, Sonah, too.”
“Sonah’s in there!” Rydon cried, whipping around as he shot an arm out behind him. Croak stumbled back against the man’s ire. Gods, Rydon was scary just being… Rydon. Now, he looked like his head might explode. A vein ticked furiously at his temple, and the way his nostrils flared, Croak expected smoke to curl out any moment.
Blinking up at the enraged mercenary, Croak could only gawp. “What? What do you mean, she’s in there? In where?”
“She’s in Colinas, you fool,” Rydon growled before turning away. “Where’ve you been that you do not know she’s the reason we’re here?” His strides were long enough Croak jogged to keep up. Soldiers cleared a path as he neared.
“How? When did she pass us? I don’t get it.”
Rydon stopped and stabbed a hand through his hair, dislodging more strands from the bun at his nape. Croak didn’t consider him a handsome man, but the way he looked now reminded Croak of the feral agrius, the half-bear half-men who fought for the Titans in the Immortals War.
It was not a good look.
