Aimilia whispered, “I don’t know. I just worry.”
Nikias would take what he could get. “I’m honored to take up such space in your thoughts. I worry about you too. I don’t know how long this will take. But while I’m there, promise me you’ll be careful and stay with our people and no matter what, stay away from Hypatia. There’s no telling what she might really be up to.”
Aimilia nodded. “I’ll be careful.”
Nikias watched Hypatia and Konstantin, or rather, he watched Hypatia watching Konstantin as they rode.
A little more blood on his hands. How many times would he say that? How many times would he justify it? When would it be enough to drown him?
Nikias couldn’t deny that his cool confidence from before began to wear off and give into a sickening nausea overtaking him as they approached the town’s entrance. Especially when he looked behind him and spotted the Stonai stirring as they approached.
It was the early afternoon, and Hypatia and Konstantin led the way into the village, eliciting quite a commotion from the people who certainly never expected to see two such important figures. The small town was overtaken by a whirlwind of activity, and Nikias just waited for Konstantin and watched as the stone mage woke up.
The man looked around, blinking and working his jaw, but unable to remove the tight gag. Nikias dismounted and watched as the guards pulled him off his horse as well. Nikias looked back at the commotion.
In front of them was a sea of curly-haired people, mostly Solitus by the looks of them. It was hard to tell. The magesdidn’t look all that different from the non-mages. Either way the townsfolk were elated to be honored with such a visit, if Nikias was reading the interactions correctly. Hypatia and Konstantin seemed to have it under control, coordinating with the town and informing them what had happened and what they needed. It wasn’t long before the crowd was dispersing, although watching Nikias and the rest of the Inimicus—as the clan mages called them—with wary but intrigued expressions.
It was a far cry from how they looked at Hypatia.
Like she was sent by the goddess herself.
Was it because she was their chiefess or because of her cursed ability? Did it really command so much respect?
Soon enough, Konstantin approached him again, looking at the Stonai. The stone mage looked around the village, a dark edge in his gaze. Konstantin said, “Well, if he’s awake, there’s no sense delaying it. If Commander Aimilia will go with my man, she can start ensuring you have what you need for your departure tomorrow morning. We might as well get started now since there’s no telling how long this will take. I’ve been informed there’s a space we can use.”
Aimilia nodded and reluctantly departed with the clan mage Konstantin indicated, and she shot Nikias one last look before she went. Nikias gestured to Konstantin and said, “Lead the way.”
He could feel it in his bones. The next few hours were going to be some of the longest of his life.
Chapter 40
AIMILIA
Once Aimilia had finished collecting their supplies, she didn’t really know what to do with herself. She couldn’t hear anything. She didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing. She imagined they probably didn’t want to disturb the whole town with what they were doing, but she also couldn’t imagine that it was noiseless.
Everywhere she went, Aimilia felt the townspeople staring at her. She talked briefly with a few of them, but they all seemed wary of a mage from Imperia. She couldn’t blame them.
She was going through the middle of the small town the square when a voice speaking in her tongue cut through the air. “There you are.”
Aimilia turned to see Hypatia approaching her, a bag slung over her shoulder. Aimilia’s guard went up immediately. She said, “My apologies, Chiefess. I didn’t realize you were looking for me.”
Hypatia said, “Well, all the men are off taking care of business, so I thought I’d see if you would like to accompany me instead of simply wandering around by yourself all day.”
Aimilia raised an eyebrow. She’d promised Nikias she would be careful, but Hypatia wasn’t someone you could avoid… when she wanted you, anyway. And for some reason, it seemed Hypatia wanted something from her.
Hypatia grinned. “There’s an old temple on the outskirts of town. Did you see it?”
Aimilia had seen the building briefly when she’d been walking around, but she hadn’t gotten very close to it. It was on the other side of town from where Nikias and Konstantin had disappeared to.
“What about it?”
“Just because there’s no priest there doesn’t mean it’s not still useful. The townspeople still use it to pray to Asentai and burn incense.” Hypatia reached into her bag and held up a few sticks. “Would you like to see?”
Aimilia supposed that sounded innocent enough. Besides, this was something that mattered to Marcella and now Gavril. Marcella had bemoaned the fact that in Aerator there was nowhere for her to worship, leaving her stuck burning incense in her room instead of at an altar.
Besides, with Konstantin occupied, Hypatia was the only one who could give Aimilia an update on how Gavril and Marcella were doing after the news they’d gotten right before she’d left. Assuming Hypatia knew about it. But considering Hypatia seemed to know everything, Aimilia thought it was possible.
Aimilia said, “I’d be honored.”
