“Where’d you get those?” I asked.
Shoving his tunic over his head, Seth straightened out his black waves. “The scars? From a fight with a dragon.”
“Very funny.” I splashed water across my face and stood. “You lectured Eleos about keeping secrets, but I think you have more to hide than he does.”
“I have every intention of being truthful.” he slung his cloak around his shoulders, “Once I know I can trust you.”
His words sounded like hypocrisy to me. Shaking my head, I retrieved my cloak from where it hung from the trees and wrapped myself in it. “And how long does that take?”
“Depends,” Seth said, the corner of his mouth turning up, “Percy? He knew all about me in only a couple of days. But he was a trained warrior, so I imagine it’ll take much longer foryouto best me in battle.”
I’d almost forgotten his offer to trade secrets over sparring matches. “Sounds like you never intend to tell me who you are,” I said, slipping through the trees. Whisper trotted at my side as we returned to camp.
Seraphim had suggested we stay away from the city. Instead of a warm inn, we nestled between two ranches in a rocky depression hidden from sight.
I felt a little better about my disheveled state: everyone now shared a few cuts and scars. Seraphim’s hair had flown loose from its braid, Percy’s ridiculous outfit had been torn in several places, and Eleos’ collar had been ripped in half. Gratefully warming my hands by the fire, I sank to my knees.
“Feel better?” Eleos asked, offering me a wooden bowl filled with some kind of stew.
I chuckled, taking the food. “Yes. He needed a bath.” I glared at Seth.
“He’s a hunting hound,” Seth said, dropping beside me. “Not a prince’s show dog.”
“Why can’t he be both?”
Seraphim paced around us. “Did the cold water jog your memory?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m certain I’ve never met him, and I don’t have family or old friends.”
Running a hand across her forehead, Seraphim stared into the fire. Concern bloomed in her eyes, and a slight tremble shook her fingers. But the moment passed, and her confident stride returned as she paced the camp.
Eleos stood, tying his cloak around his shoulders. “At least we know why he tried to kidnap you. He wanted to drag you out here and see if you could weather the Empty.”
“Which you could,” Percy added quietly, plucking at the strings of his lute.
Red light bounced off the fire as Seraphim pulled out the Bloodstone. She palmed it, sighing. “The Maiden’s Bloodstone shields us from the Empty. Everyone knows that. But few heard the rumors of a little girl who’d commanded the Empty before it was forgotten.”
I stared at her, the meaning behind her words slowly taking root in my mind. “What?” I said softly. Realization struck me like a hammer, and I flew to my feet. “Youknew?”
Eleos flinched. “I wouldn’t go that far—”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I demanded.
“We thought it was a pointless hope,” Seraphim admitted, palming the stone. “Honestly, I thought they were baseless rumors, but Eleos was insistent on tracking you down.”
“Our best leads guided us to you,” Eleos said. “A woman with talents we needed. It worked out nicely.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “That’s why you were watching me!Youpaid Laverna.Youasked her to send me on that mission.”
Seraphim raised an eyebrow. “I thought that was obvious.”
Throwing my arms wide, I repressed a manic laugh. “Why didn’t you just knock on my door and hire me? Why did you try to get me killed first?”
Eleos flinched again. “I wanted to knock, but Seraphim—”
“I thought Eleos was chasing delusions.” Seraphim folded her arms. “I wanted to test you, see if you were as good as Laverna claimed.”
I ran my hands down my face, trying to decide how I felt about everything. From what I understood of Seraphim thus far, testing me by throwing me into the fire was precisely her style.
