Page 45 of Lady for Embers

“He’s a Water Gazer? Like Briar?”

Cyrus nodded. It was a rare gift—like Wind Walking and Ash Riding—but Briar had it, and apparently it ran in the family. It allowed them to turn any body of water into a two-way mirror. But this particular mirror had somehow been imbued with Sawyer’s gift, much like the Water Fae could imbue weapons.

“I don’t know when he ?nally ?gured out I’d taken it, but it took him nearly three decades to get it back from me. Now it’s become a game of sorts,” Cyrus said, lifting the mattress and feeling along the bedding.

“How long has he had it back?”

“Six years.”

“And before that?”

“I’d had it for nine,” Cyrus answered. “I’ve lost count of how many times it’s gone back and forth.”

“This is ridiculous,” Cassius muttered, turning back to the armoire. “Well, get used to it, Commander. You’re an accomplice now. Sawyer will have it out for you too.”

“I’m not technically a commander anymore,” Cassius said, stooping down to dig through the bottom of the armoire.

“No,” Cyrus agreed. “You’re Hand-to-the-Queen. Shall I start calling you Lord Hand?”

“Do you ever stop being a sarcastic bastard?”

“Not if I can help it, my Lord Hand,” Cyrus answered.

Cassius sighed loudly. “Here you go, you ass.”

Cyrus straightened just in time to catch the object Cassius tossed his direction. His hand closed around smooth sea glass, and Cyrus held the small mirror up before him, a wide grin forming. “Nicely done, Lord Hand.”

“Shut up,” Cassius muttered. “Let’s get out of here before we’re caught.”

Cyrus slid the mirror into his pocket. “Of course, my Lord Hand. Whatever you say.”

“Stop calling me that, or I’m leaving you here,” Cassius replied, stepping through the door and back out into the daylight.

“Does it bother you to not be a commander anymore?” Cyrus asked, Cassius reaching over and gripping his arm.

“No. It bothers me that you’re calling me Lord Hand,” he retorted dryly.

Cyrus snickered as he felt the pull of Traveling. Cassius had taken them to the front of their own ship.

“You really don’t mind the commander thing?” Cyrus asked again.

“Why would I?”

He slipped his hands in his pockets, ?ddling with the mirror. “It was your title. Part of your identity. You were fairly high ranking.”

“As you said, I am now Hand to one of the most powerful queens on the continent. I’d say that’s a little higher ranking,” Cassius replied with a half-grin.

“I suppose it is.”

“The company is a little better too. I really only cared for Drake and Tava, and they’re here with us. So I guess it’s a win-win.”

“You didn’t have anyone in the Black Syndicate?”

“Aside from the Wraiths? No. Nuri and Juliette had their own personal guards, but they were killed as punishment for letting them get caught the night Juliette died,” Cassius said. “They were never as close as Scarlett and I were. Probably the only two in the Fellowship Nuri and Juliette didn’t fuck aside from me.”

Cyrus huffed a laugh. After a moment of content silence, he asked, “Want to practice Traveling some more?”

“You have more shit to steal?” Cassius asked, turning and arching a brow.

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