NIKIAS
Nikias was grateful Konstantin hadn’t prolonged the interrogation. Not that they’d gotten much out of him. Nikias wasn’t fully recovered from the attack, and while Konstantin’s constitution had surprised Nikias, it was clear the man did not like the method he himself had chosen.
As soon as they were done, Konstantin disappeared to go find his wife, and before Nikias could start to search for Aimilia, his healer had dragged him away to take another look at him to ensure he hadn’t overexerted himself. When the healer left, Nikias didn’t resume his search immediately. He stayed on the cot inside of the home he and his men would be staying in that evening.
He turned over what information they did learn in his head. It wasn’t that the Stonai were particularly adept at resisting certain means of compulsion. It was simply that he was a foot soldier who didn’t know very much. He’d told them if they wanted answers to their questions, they were going to have to ask someone higher up. He did what he was told to do, and he’d been promised to be greatly rewarded for it.
The little they had learned had been about the infighting between his tribe and some of the other Stonai tribes. Why that meant now they were attacking the clan mages, Nikias couldn’t figure out. It didn’t make sense. Why go provoke another enemy if you had plenty nearby?
All these landslides… What was the purpose of them? Why had the stone mages gone from simply causing landslides to setting ambushes? Why were they escalating?
And why had both direct attacks been on Imperia and not the clan mages?
But Nikias wasn’t going to find any answers just lying there. This matter wasn’t going to be settled quickly, and there were more pressing concerns. Speaking of which, Nikias pushed himself out of the bed and headed outside.
He trusted Aimilia had stayed out of trouble and away from Hypatia, but he didn’t trust that Hypatia had stayed away from her. Better to check on her and ensure her afternoon had gone smoothly. As Nikias began walking closer toward the center of the town, he noticed there was an increase of activity.
More and more people were coming out of their homes and their voices were filling the air, but Nikias didn’t know what any of them were saying.
Nikias found Aimilia sitting on a bench in the town square, watching the townsfolk bustle about, setting up a banquet. There was a quiet, haunted look in her eye that Nikias had become far too familiar with the last few weeks.
Aimilia didn’t spot him immediately. She was looking down at her hand, spinning the ring he’d given her over her finger. Nikias cleared his throat as he approached, and Aimilia looked up. She shot him a smile.
Nikias took that as a good sign. He sat next to her, leaned in and said, “Do you know what all this is about?”
Aimilia nodded. “Hypatia herself is something of a big deal. Combined with the fact that she brought Konstantin with her, well, that is cause for the town to celebrate and show them the highest honor. I don’t think they care much that either of us is here. Either way, they’re turning it into a celebration.”
Right. Konstantin had mentioned something about that.
Nikias nodded. “I see. In that case, where is she?”
“I have no idea where she is at this moment.” Aimilia shrugged before turning to face him. “Dare I ask about what you know?”
Nikias shook his head. “What little there is to tell you, I’ll tell you later. It didn’t take long. There wasn’t much to get out of him. He doesn’t know much.”
Aimilia kept running her thumb over her ring, but then she dropped her hand and her fingertips grazed his leg before she pulled her hand back. “And what about you?”
“If you’re concerned about my state of mind, don’t be. I took no pleasure in it. And frankly, I could have done more, but when I realized just how little he knew, it wasn’t worth it.”
Nikias reached his hand out ever so slightly. To his surprise Aimilia, slid her hand into his, squeezing it. She gave him a brilliant smile. “I’m glad to hear that. I don’t ever want to lose you to that darkness again.”
Nikias squeezed her hand back. “You won’t. I hope I’ve proven at least a little bit today that I have changed.”
Aimilia nodded. “I know.”
“I’ll keep saying it and doing everything I can to prove it for the rest of my life. How sorry I am for the things I’ve done and how I’m trying to be better.”
Aimilia stared at him. “And you’re doing it for me?”
Nikias shook his head. “No. While there’s very little I wouldn’t do for you, this I’m doing for me.”
Aimilia’s lips parted, and Nikias could stay in that moment with the setting sun’s golden glow striking her face forever.
But the moment was broken as Konstantin stepped outside of a house, his eyes landing on them.
No one followed him.
Not that Nikiaswantedto see her, but it was starting to put him on edge. She’d left him alone for so long. What had she been up to all day?
