“Not at all. Please sit.” She gestured to a chair near her.
“You’ve decided on a name?”
“Yes, we’re calling him Tychon.”
“Strange name. Well, so is ‘Lysandros,’ I suppose.” He nodded a few times and looked at the cradle. The fact that he was taking his time despite having something to discuss meant the matter must be very serious indeed. Yuma politely waited him out, a silence that was meant to urge him to speak.
Finally, staring at her hand rocking the cradle, he spoke.
“I’ve heard the passage through the southwest is open. The Empire will be arriving soon.”
“Yes, today even, if the weather holds. But I suspect sometime in the next three days.”
The silence that followed was a little longer than the moment before.
“Whatever happens,” the Host said, “we must face—and defeat—the Grim King.”
“Don’t worry. The Empire will handle him. Especially if you help them—”
“That’s what I wished to discuss,” the Host said, quickly cutting her off. “I am leaving Danras.”
Surely the Host was joking, so she laughed. But his expression was serious, which struck horror in her eyes.
“What are you talking about? Who will protect Danras if not the Host?”
“Protect Danras from what? If the Grim King is no longer here, then Danras should no longer need the Host.”
Yuma tried not to get too agitated. Carefully, she stood.
“Still, that you should leave home is too—”
“Regardless, the Empire will never let me stay.”
“What?”
Unlike her, the Host was completely calm. “I’ve known for a long time. That’s what the auguries said, ever since you brought Lysandros to my carriage. Have you not heard that the Empire forces all sorcerers to go to its capital?”
“But the Host is not a sorcerer.”
“That isn’t what they think.” He smiled, and Yuma could not help thinking it was forced.
“I will go speak to Lysandros this minute.” As she stood up to get her coat, the Host grabbed her sleeve. His hand was the small hand of a child.
“We already talked it through yesterday. That I would leave without resisting. Lysandros seemed relieved that I brought it up first. So, you don’t need to say anything. A child’s parents should lose no love for each other, not for things like this.”
Stupefied, Yuma sat back down.
“I’m going of my own volition,” continued the Host, “which might mean they’ll treat me a little better. From what I’ve heard, it is truly a large and fanciful city. Ten times the size of Danras!People from all over the world living in one place, and I would get to learn a bit of the Empire’s sorcery. Is this not good?”
How could this be good?
“But the Host and Danras have existed together for generations,” Yuma countered. “What would happen to Danras if it lost the Host?”
The Host smiled bitterly.
“Chief Herder. Sometimes I wish to be not the Host but just a thirteen-year-old boy named Dalan. So, I’m not entirely dreading my new life, you see. And Danras… Without the Grim King, Merseh will be a completely new country. What would it matter, then, if we had a Host or not? Do not fret,” he said, trying to reassure her. “If I knew you would feel this way, I would’ve slipped away without saying anything. Lysandros came up with a way to keep the catacombs safe, to feed Power to the enchantment in my stead, so nobody will even notice.”
Yuma didn’t know how to feel. Sensing this, the Host picked up the small box he had laid down next to him.
