Nikias said, “That still doesn’t explain to me exactly how you knew. You didn’t know about any of the previous attacks. And unless you’ve been keeping something from me, you didn’t have any prisoners or spies to be able to give you that information.”
That’s when Hypatia swept around Konstantin, despite his attempt to grab her by the waist. “Now don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten just exactly what I’m capable of.”
Nikias narrowed his eyes at her. “Is that your claim, then?”
“I used my Sight. I was forewarned about this. It was just a flicker of a vision, but I saw the landslide and I saw your men. We left as soon as I found Konstantin and told him.”
While there might be some truth to her words, Nikias still didn’t quite buy the coincidental timing of it all. Hypatia just happened to have the vision of this attack after he and Aimilia had already left? And they only happened to arrive after it had occurred?
No. Even if Konstantin was telling the truth, that didn’t mean Hypatia was. She could easily have had the vision at any time with that abominable Sight and simply waited for an opportune time. Nikias couldn’t afford to trust them. Still, this wasn’t the time or place.
He said, “If only your horses had been a little faster.”
Hypatia opened her mouth, a grin spreading, but Konstantin pulled her behind him and said, “We’re here now. What can we do?”
It was at that moment Aimilia came out of the tent, startling to see Hypatia and Konstantin. Several of the Runai guards also startled, eyes widening, and Nikias swore in his mind.
He hadn’t thought of that last night. He’d have to make sure none of them started spreading any rumors, but that would have to be dealt with later.
Konstantin inclined his head toward her and said, “Commander.”
Hypatia’s, eyes landed on her, and Nikias’ stomach dropped as the demon’s eyes narrowed. The sooner he got Aimilia away from Hypatia, the better.
He turned to Aimilia and said, “Where is the Stonai?”
Aimilia immediately brushed off her clothes. “This way.”
As Nikias followed her first, his eyes locked in on the tie she’d redone at the bottom of her braid. Hypatia and Konstantin followed, with a whispered exchange in their own language that Nikias couldn’t follow. Nikias just knew it ended with Hypatia grinning like her mouth wasn’t full of fangs.
They reached the tent the Stonai was in and Aimilia held the flap open so they could look in to see him. The healer standing nearby said, “He hasn’t woken up yet. I expect he will later today.”
Hypatia’s grin was even wider and she clapped her hands together. “Well done. This is exactly what we need.”
Aimilia dropped the tent flap and said, “Perfect. Then you can take him and we can be on our way.”
Hypatia glanced around their ramshackle camp and said, “Not in this state you’re not.”
Nikias looked around as well. Hypatia was right. They no longer had enough horses, and with the lost horses, they had also lost supplies they would need in order to finish the journey.
Nikias turned to Konstantin, who cleared his throat and said, “I know you have to keep moving. There is a town near here, just a few hours away. Come with us there, and we will replenish your supplies. That will give you at least one more day of rest without losing too much time on your journey.”
Nikias turned to Aimilia. If she insisted, he would take the horses and the supplies they did have and set off toward her family’s estate. Unfortunately, there was part of him that acknowledged it would be beneficial if he could at least get the initial information Konstantin and Hypatia were able to get out of the Stonai before they left. They now had two attacks from the Stonai. Nikias didn’t want to risk a third occurring while he was at the Mitis estate.
Aimilia locked eyes with him, and he tilted his head toward Hypatia and Konstantin. Aimilia’s eyes darted toward them for a moment, and then to him. Then she nodded.
Nikias turned to Konstantin and said, “Then we will go to this town. Let’s not waste any more time.”
Hypatia beamed. “Excellent.”
“Your Highness, let me check your side before we depart and change the bandages,” the healer said.
Aimilia moved to step away, but she did reach over and gave his arm a gentle squeeze, as she said, “I’ll oversee breaking down the camp. You go ahead.”
Nikias supposed he would have to speak more with her later, although he didn’t know when he would have the chance. Now with Hypatia and Konstantin around he didn’t want to risk either one of them, but especially Hypatia, overhearing a conversation not meant for her. As the healer led him back to his tent, Nikias looked over his shoulder and saw Hypatia openly staring at him going into the same tent Aimilia had come out of.
While he was going to have to ensure the guards didn’t believe anything untoward had happened, Hypatia, on the other hand…
Nikias couldn’t help but give her a vicious smirk and a raised eyebrow as he disappeared beneath the canvas.
