He was careful to not let his opinion show, even when Terilyn smiled at him with a kindness he knew was a lie as Eimarille said her farewells.
“I do hope E’ridia will find what Daijal wants for trade acceptable,” Eimarille said.
“You would have to speak with the ambassador assigned to that country, Your Royal Highness. I’m here for Ashion,” Honovi said.
She kept her smile and gave no indication of her opinion on that distinction. “Of course, Ambassador. But you are aware our countries are critically intertwined. Tonight was about ensuring we’re all on the same road.”
Memory came to him, a flash of Blaine’s pale, young face blurred from time as he walked away from the airship that had ferried him away from a broken country. Honovi was certain Eimarille’s road would never cross theirs in a helpful way.
“We are all children of Maricol,” Honovi said, the rote line of scripture from the Star Order coming easily to his lips.
Eimarille’s smile never wavered. “And all children need guidance.”
Honovi heard the warning clear as temple bells. He kept his expression easy and neutral as he bowed to her. “Thank you for the dinner and conversation. It was most illuminating.”
“I’m sure. Have a good evening, Ambassador.”
Honovi’s retinue escaped the palace for their motor carriages on the driveway. Siv sighed once they were in the vehicle, muttering under her breath, “I’m glad that’s over with.”
“Not a fan of the company or the food?” Honovi asked dryly.
“Bit of both.”
He hummed a wordless agreement and got settled. Leaving the palace for the city streets was easy enough. The drive west across the river over Hollows Bridge took less time than earlier now that the evening traffic had thinned out some.
“Take me to the embassy,” Honovi told the driver.
Siv glanced up from the diary she’d been scribbling in since they left the palace, jotting down her observations of the dinner guests. “Burning the midnight oil, Ambassador?”
“Work for the clans never stops. My driver can drop you off at the residences after we go to the embassy.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
The motor carriage continued down the Promenade on the west side of the Serpentine River. Honovi was let out at the front gate of the embassy, one of the guards already pushing it open for him.
“Ambassador,” the woman said with a respectful nod.
The motor carriage drove away at a slow speed, with Siv waving farewell from the back seat. Honovi walked onto the embassy grounds and headed inside the building. The hour was late, but he was used to being present when the bustle of work was gone. Honovi made his way to the telegraph room, surprised at the person waiting for him amidst the machines.
“Who are you?” Honovi demanded, staring at the dark-haired Ashionen.
The face was unknown but not his voice, and Blaine’s familiar accent reached his ears. “It’s me, Honovi.”
His husband reached up to undo the clasp at his throat, features shimmering as the veil was removed. Blond hair and hazel eyes were revealed, a tiredness to Blaine’s expression that concerned him. A pistol was holstered to his belt, something Honovi wasn’t used to seeing.
“What’s wrong?” Honovi asked as he approached, cupping Blaine’s jaw to tilt his head up for a kiss.
Blaine smiled wanly when they broke apart. “How was the dinner?”
“I can see how Eimarille makes a sympathetic figure. Why are you wearing a veil?”
Blaine grimaced, balling up the veil in one hand before pulling a folded-up piece of paper from his back pocket with the other. Honovi took it and unfolded it. He nearly ripped a hole in it with his fingers, stomach clenching in a bad way as he read the warrant issued by the Collector’s Guild.
“Fulcrum’s cog embedded in the Collector’s Guild saw it come off the printers. Terilyn must have had a magician skilled in mind magic retrieve her memories and draw the portrait,” Blaine said quietly.
Honovi stared down at the remarkable likeness of his husband’s face, bracketed by charges, and a reward sum that could buy someone’s way into the nobility genealogies and still have aurons leftover to pass on to heirs.
“You need to leave Ashion. I can get you on an airship heading back to E’ridia tonight. No one would know,” Honovi said hoarsely.
