Soren grimaced, gently patting Raiah’s back. “Wouldn’t she be safer with you?”
“Not if the House of Kimathi is behind all of this.”
“You have no proof.”
Vanya bared his teeth in a snarl. “Nothing but Joelle’s refusal to grant wardens passage, whatever remnants we’ll find in that quarry, and the knowledge she has wanted me dead since Nicca died.”
“Their House wouldn’t harm Raiah.”
“No, they wouldn’t, which is why therionetkassent to her nursery tonight had orders to flee with her, not kill her.”
“That isn’tproof, Vanya.”
“Then I will find a way to prove it. That House would twist my daughter into someone who would never be seen as being of the House of Sa’Liandel. That’s a type of death I will not allow Raiah to experience, and I will not let them use her to take the throne.”
He wanted Raiah out of the line of fire right now, somewhere safe, but there were precious few corners of the country he could hide her in.
“Where will you send her?” Soren asked quietly.
“The House of Vikandir has been loyal. I could send her there.”
“Can you be sure they wouldn’t keep her as a hostage?”
Vanya smiled wanly. “My father was of that House, from a cadet branch off the main bloodline. Amir may wish to keep his House from taking the Imperial throne, but they still desire its power. They’ve found other avenues over the years to gain it.”
“And if any of his people are walking around with clockwork metal hearts, what then? Do you trust them enough not to use Raiah the way Joelle would?”
Vanya said nothing in the face of that question, because to say yes was to give voice to a lie.
Soren studied him, gray eyes unblinking, pupils finally even after the healing done yesterday afternoon. “I’m not of your House, but I can keep Raiah safe if you send her away.”
“You’re a warden. You always say you’re not supposed to involve yourself in matters of state.”
Soren laughed, soft and bitter, before stepping close. “And what do you call the years I’ve known you? The nights I’ve slept in your bed? What would you call the vow hanging around my throat? I’minvolved, princeling.”
Vanya could only kiss him, hard and fierce, while Soren held Raiah safe in his arms. He’d wanted Soren to stay, and yet, their roads always diverged.
“I’ll sign an Imperial writ. It will give you passage anywhere in Solaria,” Vanya said roughly when they parted.
“I can get us through any border without that.”
“You won’t be welcomed into a House even if Raiah would be. The writ speaks as if I speak. It will get you where she needs to be.”
Soren shifted Raiah in his arms so that he could lift a hand and run his fingers through Vanya’s hair. “I’ll take her to Karnak. I’ll keep her safe until you can come get her.”
Vanya had thought it had been difficult to bury his brother and parents over the years, but by far the most difficult decision to make was to let his daughter go. But keeping her on the move and sending her not where Joelle would expect him to would keep Raiah alive. He didn’t want her in the crossfire he knew would happen when he accused another House of treason.
He caught Soren’s hand in his, moving to press his lips against the pulse point of the other man’s wrist. “Let’s get you both ready to leave.”
Within the hour, the writ was signed and tucked away in the inner pocket of Soren’s vest. Alida had packed a small satchel of Raiah’s clothes, as plain as she could find, and was off to sort out other provisions. Vanya said his goodbyes in the private courtyard of the Imperial estate, Raiah on his lap while he twisted her hair into two neat braids.
“But Papa, I don’t want to go,” she said sleepily, rubbing at her eyes.
He swallowed hard, but his fingers remained steady as he tied off the first braid. “You know how I always read you a story at night? Well, when I see you again, you can tell me all about the adventure you had with Soren.”
“Why can’t you come with us?”
“Because I must stay here. Your papa must work, and you’ll get to play where you’re going.”
