“It’s good to see you too.” Jayme gave Vi a small pat on the back. “While it wasn’t intended, I’m glad I could make it by your birthday. Honestly, I didn’t know if I was going to make it at all before the new year.”
“Really?” Vi pulled away, looking into the familiar set of hazel eyes she hadn’t seen for over two months. “The passages are that bad this year?”
“Worse than ever.” Jayme gave a small nod and paused to give Ellene a tight hug next. “Winter came early, and in a bad way. The passes are becoming too treacherous for even the largest warstriders trained in ice and snow.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it safely.”
“I always do my best to deliver you a taste of home.”
“Yes, speaking of…” Vi looked from the box to her friend. Her head was spinning. Vi pulled her hair over her shoulder and fussed with the ends of her braids, giving her fingers something to do.
“What’s happening there? An Imperial Parade? Spring? Andru?” Ellene asked in Vi’s stead, as if sensing her tension.
“There’s a lot going on at the capital,” Jayme affirmed. “I’m sure your letters detail it better than I could.”
“Give me the quick summary. I may not have time to read them all before my lesson,” Vi urged, impatient. “You always have the best pieces of news that no one else writes about.” No one but her brother. Romulin rarely spared details, one of many reasons why she went for his letters first.
“You’ve heard the quick summary already…” Jayme ultimately obliged her. “The Senate is determined to bring you back South, no more delays or excuses.”
Finally. “What made them suddenly demand it?”
“A number of things, based on what I heard. But remember, I was only there for a week or so to deliver and collect replies. I’m hardly embroiled in it.” Jayme began to pace as she spoke.
“I know your usual disclaimers.” Vi sat on the bed, pulling her legs up to sit in a crossed position. “I want to hear what you saw, what you think. I value your counsel.”
Jayme stopped, gave Vi a small smile, and then began pacing once more. The tiny expression of gratitude at Vi’s flattery instantly faded away as Jayme’s tone became serious. “The White Death has become much,muchworse—that’s a good place to start.”
“The plague? There hasn’t been a single case of it here in Soricium still.” Which was on the list of the many reasons why it had been argued that Vi should stay in the North.
“Soricium no, but—”
“It’s in Shaldan now—to the southwest border,” Ellene finished for Jayme.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vi looked to Ellene.
“My mother only told me recently… and you know I don’t like speaking about the White Death.”
The last Chieftain of the North, Ellene’s grandmother, had died not more than three years ago of the White Death, after heading West to Norin at the request of the Empress and Lady of the West. She’d gone to see if the strange yet powerful magic of Yargen could be of any help to the efforts to find a cure.
“Not to linger…” Jayme continued with an apologetic look toward Ellene. “But with the knowledge of the disease being here, the argument of keeping you here to protect you has vanished. In addition, your father set out shortly before I did for the Crescent Continent. I think the Senate wants to see you back with your father gone. I think they may feel nervous having neither the Emperor nor heir near them.”
“What?” Vi breathed. “My father left?”
“I’m certain he wrote about it.” Jayme stopped her pacing. “They say a cure for the plague may be found there.”
“So they still are at a loss for how to treat it,” Vi muttered. She turned to her box, plucking it off her nightstand. “Thank you, Jayme. I want to catch up further, but I think you were right and I should read my letters.”
“Don’t be too shocked that I was right,” Jayme remarked dryly.
Vi gave a snort of amusement, eyes flicking up. “How I’ve missed that wit of yours.”
“Careful, you may get more than—” before Jayme could say anything further, her head jerked toward the heavy wooden door. Vi’s followed as the sounds of movement and muffled voices grew on the other side.
“That must be Andru arriving with your tutors,” Jayme whispered.
“Aren’t they noisy?” Ellene frowned. “He comes in here like he owns the place.”
“He has that air about him. Well, I don’t know… Something is off…” Jayme’s frown deepened. She sat quickly on the edge of Vi’s bed, leaning in. There was a tension that hadn’t been in her actions before, not even when she was talking about the plague. “Listen, Vi. You need to be careful about him. I was with him for over two weeks on the road and have barely learned more than his pedigree. But I can tell you this: the Head of Senate, Lord Tomson, will do you no favors. Tomson is vocal about his concern for you taking the throne, and in the wake of the White Death worsening, the people are getting desperate… desperate enough to listen.”
