I could hear the thundering beat with each pulse of my heart as I gestured for her to approach. And then I opened my mind to the mage who’d brought forth one of the most vicious vorakh hunters in Bamaria.
The vorakh who murdered Tristan’s parents.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LYRIANA
I pulled my soturion cloak closer as I settled onto the back of the gryphon in the courtyard. Surprisingly, this one had several harnesses attached.
“You mean I could have been buckling myself up this entire time?” I asked, securing the belt around my waist. That would have certainly improved my flight experiences.
“Obviously,” Dario said, as he climbed on, and took the harness in front of me. “What, you think we’re savages?”
“Well then where were these the other night?” I asked, double-checking that I was secured.
“You tell me,” he said, tightening his strap. “That was your gryphon we rode—maybe ask your Lord Rhyan why he didn’t provide any harnesses for you, my lady.”
Because we’d stolen the gryphon from Aemon. But I couldn’t say that.
Instead, I spat, “Sorry, we were a little too busy saving your life.”
Artem, the stable master, finished untying the gryphon’s rope, and handed it to Dario.
“Are you going to be needing transport for the lady each morning?” he asked, looking me up and down.
“Imperator’s orders,” Dario said. “She’s Rhyan’s novice.”
Artem nodded. “Not staying in the soturion apartments for training then?” He lifted a bushy white eyebrow.
“No, she’s not permitted to,” Dario said. “Any more questions, Artem? Or can we start our day?”
“Just an old man being nosy. Have a good day, my lord.” He slapped his knee. “My lady. I’ll have Lord Rhyan’s gryphon ready next,” he added, looking me up and down carefully.
Dario leaned forward, ignoring the last remark. It had been unnecessary for him to mention. It didn’t concern Dario. He wasn’t in charge of Rhyan’s escort. I realized, it had been for my benefit.
A clue that Rhyan was near and staying in Seathorne like me. Of course, his father wouldn’t trust him in the apartments either.
“Thank you, Artem,” I said, hoping to convey that I understood.
He nodded, and our gryphon lifted onto its hind paws, and then raced forward, soaring into the air. The courtyard faded from view just as I made out the shadowy silhouette of a soturion flanked by two guards, stepping outside.
After the toasts and endless rounds of congratulations the day before, we’d all been whisked back to our rooms and locked inside. I sat by the fireplace for hours, practically holding my breath, terrified there’d be a knock on the door.
I expected Kane to show up and make good on his threats. When I wasn’t sitting with my muscles tense, I’d been trying to bribe my guard to give me news of Meera. I’d taken my ring off the moment I was alone. It was heavy and uncomfortable on my finger.
The next morning, I received a scroll from His Highness telling me to dress for soturion training and that once I reached the Katurium, I’d be reunited with my armor and weapons. And if I had a good day, and wore my engagement ring like a good girl, I’d get what I needed next.I stared at the offensive metal as it glinted in the morning sun, and contemplated letting it accidentally fall, letting it vanish into the pine below. But because the Imperator had ordered me to wear it, that thought suddenly seemed ridiculous to me. Even a bit painful.
I sighed. It didn’t matter. It was just a ring. And not worth whatever punishment might come next.
A few minutes of silence passed between me and Dario in the sky, before I felt that sudden plunge in my stomach as the gryphon made its descent before the Katurium. I took deep breaths. At least this time I had the protection of a harness.
Once we landed, I unbuckled and slid to the ground as Dario tied the rope to a post. He left me to stare at the Academy. It was massive. Every bit as intimidating looking as I’d imagined. The Glemarian Katurium was far larger than Bamaria’s in every way. I could barely see the sky above from where I stood.
“This way,” Dario barked, leading me inside.
I took one last look at the imposing architecture and followed Dario through the doors and down a long winding corridor to my new training room. At least this was familiar to me. Musty, and faintly smelling of sweat. In the center, on a pile of training mats, was my Bamarian armor, and my blade. But not my sword, nor my knives. Asherah’s chest plate was also missing. And I noted that I wasn’t being given new armor—no Glemarian leathers of my own.
This was my first time in a Katurium with my magic power, with my soturion strength pulsing inside me. I could feel it buzzing through my veins. For once, I actually wanted to run. Wanted to exercise. And the one time I’d be able to show my true strength, to race properly against my fellow soturi I’d have to pretend I was still slow and weak.
