But Nikias has seen for himself how quickly Marcella won one’s fondness, even when she wasn’t trying first with Gavril, then Aimilia, and even himself when she’d granted him a forgiveness he could never earn, and had carried him out of the tent after Hypatia had tortured him.
She was very good at sneaking up on someone.
Konstantin immediately rattled off a sentence in the clan mages’ tongue that Marcella quickly replied to.
A few sentences later, both their faces fell slightly, although Marcella’s was more of one of confusion. Gavril’s brow was furrowed as well, and he shifted a little closer to Marcella. Nikias was the one of the four of them who knew the least of their tongue.
He knew some but it was easier for him to read it than it was to translate native speakers, especially when they spoke quickly.
Aimilia leaned in and spoke softly, saying, “Hypatia is insisting on going for a ride with Marcella and Gavril in order to catch up, while we stay here and work with Konstantin.”
Nikias’ relief warred once more with his suspicion. He could not simply take this as a mercy. Hypatia did not have a merciful bone in her body.
This was surely something else.
Since her attempts at getting information secretly from Marcella had failed in Areator, maybe this was her way of trying again.
Nikias could not bring himself to object though. Whatever the consequences, he would still rather deal with Konstantin alone than have Hypatia within ten feet of him or Aimilia.
Nikias wanted to see who Konstantin was when he wasn’t around Hypatia.
Nikias nodded and said, “Go ahead, Marcella. We shouldn’t require you or Gavril this morning. The three of us should be able to handle it.”
Marcella and Gavril parted with them, Marcella and Konstantin exchanging a few more words in their language, this time more softly, and if Nikias understood the last sentence correctly, it involved a promise from Konstantin they would meet later as well.
Once they were gone, Konstantin switched to Nikias’ tongue.
He turned toward Nikias and Aimilia with a tired but genuine smile. Seemingly genuine. “Shall we continue where we left off?”
Nikias said, “Yes, I believe I was detailing the tunnel pattern of the stone mages for your comparison. Our knowledge of the stone mages is limited, given our distance. But if my understanding is correct, they are not like Imperia—They are more like you and your clans in theory, meaning they do not have one united country. But instead, there are several distinct factions among them.”
Konstantin nodded. “That is correct. Any detail you have will help us in narrowing down which tribe was the one who attacked Areator. We do not yet know if this is one tribe or multiple. AsI’m sure you’re aware, the last thing we want is for them to be unified.” Konstantin grinned, taking all the teeth out of his next sentence. “Given how easily a united enemy can bring even your nation to its knees.”
Nikias huffed, “You and I remember things differently. Your alliance didn’t bring us to our knees. You’re lucky it never came to that. My brother’s idealism and recklessness handed you a treaty. Not a victory.”
“Luck is for the faithless. You don’t understand what victory means to me.” Konstantin held out the map Nikias had been drawing yesterday. “I’m not my wife.”
Nikias took the map, highly aware of Aimilia’s eyes on him as she stood at attention in silence.
Nikias looked over Konstantin. “For your people’s sake, let’s hope so.”
He tilted his head and chose one of two roads he could go down following Nikias’ words. “For your people’s as well.”
Nikias gave Konstantin a nod and went back to drawing. He supposed any man unfortunate enough to be saddled with the demon would quickly have to grow an iron spine or be snapped in two.
It wasn’t hard to see which one Konstantin had chosen.
Nikias and Konstantin made substantial progress, with Nikias giving Konstantin as much information as he could about the stone mages and their attack. Nikias found it much easier to focus when Konstantin was the only figure he had to analyze.
Aimilia’s presence was a steadying comfort, even in her silence. Without Hypatia in the room, Nikias didn’t have to worry about keeping an eye on the demon and on Aimilia toensure that the demon that didn’t open her big mouth or sink her claws into the redhead.
The hours flew by until early afternoon, when Konstantin had to cut the session short after lunch, when a servant came to them and gave him a message Nikias couldn’t translate.
Aimilia whispered, “I didn’t catch all of it either, but it sounded like he already had something planned. I think it might be with Marcella and Gavril.”
Nikias nodded as Konstantin rose from his seat and made his apologies to them. Even though this day had been easier than the last, Nikias’ head was still starting to throb, so he wasn’t all that disappointed to be ending it.
Since he had so much time, Nikias decided he might as well make good use of it and wash, only to discover the clan mages didn’t have bathhouses. Apparently most of them bathed in whatever body of water was nearest. A little savage, but he was going to keep that to himself.
