Page 92 of Vilest Things
Anton follows shortly after Calla, giving the excuse of wanting water, and stops dead in his tracks when he sees her body collapsed outside the door.Ah.So that’s what her signal meant.
“My goodness,” he mutters under his breath, scooping her up in a quick maneuver and throwing her body over his shoulder. He supposes he’ll find the kitchen, then shove her somewhere out of sight until she gets back. If anyone can sniff out where he’s gone, it’ll be Calla Tuoleimi.
Anton stays in the shadows of the yamen, moving fast on his feet. The effort is wasted: there isn’t anyone around anyway. He nudges into the kitchen and closes the folding door after himself. Calla’s body is eerily still in his arms, and though he understands that she’s been doing something funny with her qi, he’s still unnerved when her eyes fall open a fraction, revealing her yellow irises perfectly intact inside.
“Stay here, Princess,” he mutters, opening a large cupboard and setting her inside. Her body folds, malleable wherever he sets her head. To think he was actually afraid seeing her tucked into Galipei’s arms, brought back unconscious from Lankil’s city. That’s the last time he’ll ever be stupid enough to think Calla could go down so easily.
Anton fetches himself a glass of water and wanders back to the yamen’s main office. Just as he’s stepping through the door, the mayor rushes past him, looking harried. Seconds later, Venus Hailira follows too, calling after him in concern.
“We need your numbers,” she’s saying. “Actia’s councilmember may not be here, but I can get in touch. It’s to your benefit—”
“Councilmember, please, I have emergency warnings to put in place at the borders—”
“Mayor—”
Their voices fade. Anton takes a sip of water. Resumes his position by the window to watch the scene outside.
Seconds later, the door opens again. Calla has returned to her own body.
“We’ve got to go,” she says. “Now, Anton.”
CHAPTER 32
Actia’s yamen takes shape ahead of the delegation. Despite the midday sun, the cold temperature has misted around the building and the surrounding walls, rendering the image hazy with white. As Galipei signals for the delegation to stop, August passes his reins to another of his guards. He recognizes one of the horses tied outside the yamen already. A palace creature. The one Calla took when they fled Lankil.
They must be here.
Mayor Policola hurries out from the yamen. A woman follows close on his heels—Councilmember Venus Hailira, though it takes August a moment to recall her name. She inherited the title from her father. He wouldn’t have thought she’d last this long.
“Where is Calla?” August asks, in no mood to make pleasantries.
Mayor Policola grimaces. Hailira, meanwhile, does a quick double take, as though she’s surprised to hear the question.
“I said to hold her until I arrive, so I better not hear that she’s gone,” August continues, his voice sharp.
“Your Majesty, by the time we received your message, she had already departed. We didn’t realize it was Anton Makusa who accompanied her. We assumed him a mere travel companion.”
Hmm. Fine. If they have shortly departed, they couldn’t have gone far. In any case, it won’t be long until August has them captured, because this is Anton Makusa they’re talking about, and Anton is going to want the crown for himself. They have Anton and Calla’s destination with certainty.
“Very well,” August says. The mayor visibly relaxes. He was prepared for punishment. “Summon your generals. We’re proceeding forward.”
The mountains are already visible from here. Though Rincun is large, the borderlands are taller, casting their entire province neighbor in their shadows.
“Your Majesty, if I may,” Venus cuts in. “It’s a lost cause trying to enter Rincun. The province has frozen over. We’ve tried sending people through the border.”
“Do they remain alive?”
Venus hesitates. “Yes, I suppose, but they move about an inch per minute. Once they cross, we cannot fetch them back.”
The borderlands are sapping qi. If it extends all through Rincun, it isn’t a one-off occurrence. It’s something near-mythical.
“Otta has reached the crown,” August says lowly. He’s only speaking to Galipei, but Venus Hailira tilts her head curiously, trying to follow along.
“I will tell the councilmembers their journey ends here,” Galipei declares. “The movement forward is no longer a delegation.”
“You’re not hearing me,” Venus exclaims. She sweeps her arm out, in the direction of Rincun. “There is no forward. The cold will freeze you in place.”
Galipei is already walking into the yamen. “Fetch your generals, Mayor.”
