Chapter Forty-Three
“You have to go back and tell Thrax,” I said to Stephanos. “Troas has to be warned and get ready for what’s coming.” Thrax and Xander led the army. Thrax was the only other person they would listen to. He had to be made aware of what was happening.
“I’m not going without you,” Stephanos said with a shake of his head. I knew that it was primarily directed at Zalira but that he blamed himself for what Dolion had done and now felt responsible for all of us.
Which made me think he didn’t quite understand that we were more than capable of protecting ourselves. “We have magic and we’re strong. We will be safe and we will get Xander back.”
“I can’t leave her,” he said to me quietly, his eyes pleading with me to understand.
And I did, all too well. “I know. But you have to. I promise to bring her back to you. There are so many innocent people in Troas at risk. The northern defenses need to be shored up to protect them.”
As we walked to the horses, I continued attempting to convince Stephanos and Rokh that they had to go back to Troas.
“You don’t need both of us to return,” Rokh said. “I can stay here with you.”
Stephanos said, “Xander needs you to be taking messages to nearby allies to get their help. We delayed for this mission, but that has to be a priority. You’re the only one who can do it.”
I took it as a good sign that Stephanos was now doing my work for me—I hoped that meant he would go to Troas. And it made me feel better to think that the two of them would be traveling together. I knew they could take care of themselves, but it would be good for them to watch each other’s backs.
“Not to mention that Dolion will be specifically looking for you,” I told Rokh. He had already said as much. Rokh wouldn’t be able to fly undetected around the Carians.
The horses were right where we had left them. I wondered why the Carians hadn’t scattered them or taken them. We untied them and grabbed their bridles and headed south.
Stephanos pointed out that the Carians might have known where the horses were and left them as another trap, hoping that we would return to them.
If that was their plan, we had avoided their scheme by reaching the horses first.
When we were far enough away that Rokh deemed us safe from accidental discovery, he led us into a large cave. Which meant that we only had one entry point to worry about. Rokh and Stephanos helped us make camp.
“Don’t light a fire,” Rokh said. “It will make you easy to spot. And take turns keeping watch.”
“We know,” I told him.
“Ahyana,” he said, his heart on his sleeve. “Don’t let us part in anger. Can you ever forgive me?”
She walked over to him and kissed him sweetly. I saw the way his body sagged with relief. Then she told him, “Lia was right. You are going to have to buy me a lot of pretty things.”
A grin spread across his face. “Anything.”
He kissed her again and I could tell that they were holding back because they had an audience. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered to her. It made my heart ache to watch them.
Ahyana wiped the tears from her face and nodded.
Then there was nothing left for Rokh and Stephanos to do but leave. They said their farewells to the rest of us and headed to the mouth of the cave with three of the horses.
“Happy tears?” I asked Ahyana.
“Very happy tears.”
“Wait!” Zalira called out, and she ran over to Stephanos.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He hugged her back with his free arm.
When she stepped back, she said, “I should have told you this earlier. Stephanos, I love you.”
He put his hand over his heart and I knew exactly what he was feeling, the way she had just burned herself inside him.
She cupped his face with her hands. “Now you will always find your way back to me.”
