Ivan snorted, the sound almost a laugh. “I consider her a friend. One that I owe my very life.” Surprisingly, the man’s harshly carved face softened. “I assure you, from one warrior to another, there is nothing more to it than that.”
The more rational part of Carver thought Ivan spoke the truth, though irritation still burned under his skin. He may not like the man’s attention on Amryn, but he had to grudgingly admit that—at least in this moment—it was clear Ivan wanted to protect her. That didn’t make them friends, but it did put the Wolf on the same side as Carver. At least for the moment.
It was the only reason he managed to keep his voice level as he said, “I’ll keep her safe.”
“You may intend that.” Ivan’s brow furrowed. “But reality is not bound by our intentions.”
Chapter 3
Amryn
Thankfully,thedamageatEsperance was mostly superficial. Displaced tiles, minor fractures in the stonework, some shattered windows and broken objects. Structurally, at least, the temple remained sound. Ivan and Carver had confirmed that Samuel and Sadia were both unharmed, and Zacharias informed them all that only a few minor injuries had been incurred by the clerics and servants who called the temple home.
The High Cleric of Esperance had given his report with all the pompousness Amryn had come to expect from the older man. Even in the middle of the night, Zacharias had donned his blue high cleric robe, as if he wanted to remind them all of his important rank within the church. His shaved head was held at a haughty angle, though he’d tried to appear solemn. When Jayveh had asked if he needed to remain behind to oversee repairs, he’d been quick to insist on coming with them to the capital. Amryn sensed his determination to be there. She knew he wanted to personally deliver a report to the emperor; probably because he hoped to blame every failure on others.
After Zacharias left, it was well past the middle of the night. As soon as the door closed behind him, Jayveh lowered herself into the nearest armchair. “Saints, what a night.”
“Never a dull moment in this temple,” Ford muttered.
Now that everyone else had gone, it was only the four of them in Jayveh’s suite. Carver stood near Amryn, the side of his face cast in shadow. Only a few lamps werelit in the sitting room, making the edges of the room fade into darkness. Servants had already righted any of the décor the quake had displaced, and any remaining debris had been swept into the corner to be dealt with in the morning.
“We don’t have to leave at dawn,” Carver said.
Jayveh immediately shook her head. “The sooner we reach the emperor, the sooner he can help with the search for Argent.”
The princess had already ordered countless searches in the jungle around Esperance. Ford had led several of them personally, but they still hadn’t found Tam or the rebels she’d taken with her. And they certainly hadn’t found Argent.
Amryn’s heart ached as she felt the barbed edges of Jayveh’s desperate hope. She wished she could tell her friend that Argent was dead. It would be easier in the end, to save her from false hope. Or worse, never learning Argent’s fate. But she couldn’t explain how she knew he was gone without admitting she was an empath.
Amryn felt Carver’s swell of grief. “Jayveh,” he said, strain thinning his voice. “I think you need to prepare yourself—”
“No.” Heat entered her dark eyes, her voice gaining an edge as she said, “He’s not dead. I can’t believe you’d even say such a thing.”
Carver moved to sit in the chair across from her. He leaned forward, pain in his eyes as he said, “I don’t want to believe he’s gone, but we can’t ignore the facts. Tam poisoned all of us that night—Argent included.”
“None of us died,” Jayveh argued. “The poison must have been too diluted.”
Her desperation was understandable, and heartbreaking. But Amryn knew the truth. Tam’s poison would have killed them all if Amryn hadn’t been able to heal them with the bloodstone. And since she hadn’t been able to feel Argent, she hadn’t been able to heal him. She’d been too late.
She sat beside her friend, keeping her voice gentle. “Even if the poison was diluted, Tam stabbed Argent. We saw it.”
Anguish exploded inside Jayveh. It tangled in her words as she said almost desperately, “She would have tended his wound. She wanted to hurt him—hurtus—but she wouldn’t have let him die. He’s too valuable to the Rising.”
“I don’t think Tam cares about that,” Amryn said softly. “She wanted him dead, Jayveh. She wanted to punish the emperor. Cause him as much pain as possible.”And you, she added in her mind. Tam had hated Amryn and Jayveh for betraying the Rising.
The princess simply shook her head, a stubborn edge rising. “I would know if he was dead. I’d feel it,here.” She placed a fist against her heart. “He’s alive, Carver.I won’t believe otherwise until his body is laid before me, or Tam herself can prove he’s truly gone.”
Amryn felt the rise of Carver’s grim determination. “We’ll find Tam. There’s nowhere in the empire she can hide.” The threat in his words was unmistakable.
“Speaking of Tam . . .” They all turned to look at Ford, who was chewing his lower lip. “I think I have an idea of where she may have gone.”
Carver straightened, but it was Jayveh who demanded, “Where?”
Ford’s eyes flicked to her. “To your uncle, Princess.”
Surprise cut through Jayveh. “Why?”
“We know King Jamir is a member of the Rising,” Ford said. “And Tam knows it, too.”
