Ciana’s anger faded, leaving behind a slight tremor in her hands.
“I think the only thing we don’t doubt, Sir Sebastian, is your loyalty to your queen,” said the first bearded man, still seated atop his horse.
“She is your queen, too.”
The man frowned. “I suppose that all remains to be seen.”
Ciana almost snarled, almost leaped past Sebastian over the sands?—
“But it is not something that needs to be decided today.” The man heaved a deep, tired sigh. “We came because a god of old, bearing the form of a legendary dragon, appeared and toldus to flee a great coming evil. Onitans may be lacking in many respects, but loyalty to our gods is not one. As Priam commands, so we obey.”
He swung his horse to face the envoy. “These people are here to lead us to the Kreah capital of Desva,” he boomed, his voice echoing over the plains. Further down the line, more men on horseback listened, relaying his words to those who couldn’t hear. “We will be gracious to our hosts, respectful as only an Onitan can be. The Goddess and her Consort shall keep us, and under their guidance may we be saved.”
The crowd answered with silence, a few giving their leader resolute nods. But not everyone looked so convinced. Wary glances were shared, but no one flinched or moved to run away.
The man leveled his stare on Ciana and Sebastian. “Lead the way.”
Amasis was a falcon-shifter.
The Kreah High Counsellor, while visiting a nearby outpost, had heard of rumblings on the border and flown here as fast as the winds could carry them. That was also how they’d managed to get word to Rulene and Callamus so quickly to bring Mariah, and how the Onitan’s entry into Kreah had been approved without alerting the entire Kreah Council of Elders.
It was also, apparently, how word had been sent to have two horses prepared for Sebastian and Ciana, along with nightly provisions arranged at each of their stops until they reached Desva.
Ciana settled herself into the lightweight Kreah saddle, her mare’s nimble frame striding confidently across the sands. The Kreah horses were bred for traveling long distances in thedesert: light, metallic-colored coats that reflected the rays of the sun, long graceful legs that ate the miles away, and small dished heads that limited moisture loss.
Ciana was grateful for that, at least. Dragons and falcons flew much faster than a caravan of people could walk. Kreah soldiers, after providing them horses and offering directions to an oasis where they would rest for the night, told them to expect about a two-day ride to the capital.
“Are you going to tell Mariah?” Her voice was a little too high-pitched, a little too casual. Sebastian met her glance before quickly looking away.
“Tell Mariah what?”
Ciana stifled an eyeroll. “About what those people were saying. All the rumors about Khento—about how Mariah was responsible.”
Sebastian’s shoulders slumped. He sidled his horse closer to hers. They walked a short distance ahead of the rest of the caravan, out of earshot from even those who might have wind magic.
“The thing is…” Sebastian sighed, running a hand across his face. He looked so tired. Empty. Defeated.
Ciana had never seen him like this. She wasn’t quite sure what to think about it.
“Those rumors—about Mariah hurting people, killing people. They weren’t entirely false.”
Ciana blanched, a wave of shock pushing through her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Sebastian murmured, locking his hazel stare on her, “that when she shifted, peoplediddie. She didn’t mean for it to happen; that much I believe. She may not have even noticed. But there were people gathered in these risers, and”—he paused— “and she destroyed half of them, just by moving too quickly.”
Ciana couldn’t breathe. “That sounds like an accident. Mariah would never hurt innocents like that.”
“That’s just it, though.” Sebastian faced the sands. The wind stirred his dark hair, ruffling the neat waves. “The old Mariah, the one who came to Verith after her birthday wanting to see more of the world and realizing how much she could help it? That girl would never. But as the lords became more hostile toward her… I don’t know. She changed.”
“Of course, she changed,” Ciana snapped. “They tried tokillher. Twice. And then they kidnapped her and tortured her. I would be shocked if she hadn’t changed.”
“I know, I know,” Sebastian said, a hint of frustration tinging his cheeks pink. “But you weren’t with her after her coronation. When she questioned that servant boy, and then Ryland. The Mariah I saw then…there was a darkness in her I didn’t recognize.”
Ciana gazed out across the sands, indignation burning in her throat. Of course, Mariah had grown darker; anyone would, if forced to endure the things she had.
For Ciana, it changed nothing. If Mariah wanted to burn those fuckers in their icy castles, she’d stand proudly at her side and watch.
“She may have grown darker,” Ciana said, “but she’s still our queen. And I will love her through all of it, without hesitation.”
