Page 16 of Blood Sanctuary, Part One

“Or they can be invitations to hope.”

“Hold fast to your hope and share it with Mak. When he learns I was here, I know he will ask you if I said anything about his sister. You may tell him Nike’s whereabouts are still a mystery, but Kalos is on her trail.”

“I will share my hope with you as well. No news of your Trial sister is good news.”

Rudhira clasped Lio’s shoulder, but said nothing.

Lio could only imagine how he would feel if he hadn’t seen one of his Trial circle in nearly a century. He must turn the conversation to Rudhira’s consolation—his duties.

Lio nodded at his Ritual father’s chain mail. “You aren’t here at the guest house to invite the mages to a party, I take it.”

Rudhira smiled, all fangs and no humor. “I must return to Tenebra shortly. I merely took the opportunity to make a patrol around the mages’ lodgings before I leave. As tempted as I am to give the embassy a surprise invitation to my residence in my current attire, I promised my family and yours I would behave during your Summit. How did the mages take our excuses as to why the First Prince is not on the itinerary?”

“The Cordians were suspicious, as we expected, but I think the Tenebrans swallowed it with Cassia’s influence to help it go down. For her efforts, I believe Chrysanthos and Skleros may have tried to poison her this very night.”

Rudhira’s red brows descended, and a storm brewed in his aura. “Right here in the guest houses?”

“In her wine, not that she would fall for such a thing. She is too clever for them, and thankfully, I was there on watch. I’ve found the cup the mages used. I was just looking for a Charger who might deliver the goblet to you for me, but now I can give it to you myself.”

“You haven’t touched it, have you?” Rudhira demanded.

Lio shook his head. “Just in case the Gift Collector used a poison that can harm Hesperines as well.”

“Show me.”

Lio led the way into the common room. Before he even pointed out the goblet, Rudhira went right to it. Out of his belt satchel, he snatched a cloth bag that emanated warding magic. Without touching the goblet, he levitated it into the bag and tied the warded fabric closed.

“I knew it,” Lio said. “There’s a malign spell on it, isn’t there?”

“I’m not sure yet, but we mustn’t take chances with a Gift Collector.”

“Could you spare some time to examine the goblet for any evidence of what the mages attempted? When the embassy arrived, we confiscated everything Skleros brought with him that might have been poisonous. I cannot imagine how he managed to concoct something dangerous. I would ask our healers here, but no one has your expertise in Gift Collector poisons.”

Rudhira stowed the warded bag in his belt satchel. “You were wise to come straight to me. The Charge is well equipped to handle such dangerous items.”

“The strange thing is, after Cassia found a polite excuse for refusing the wine Chrysanthos poured for her, Skleros made a show of not letting it go to waste. He took the goblet and, well, he drained it.”

Rudhira’s eyes narrowed. “I most certainly want to examine this personally. Gift Collectors are infamous for their unnatural fortitude. If we can learn more of how they manage to withstand mortal danger, it will be a victory for us.”

“I won’t detain you from your duties any longer.”

“It is my duty to ensure Cassia’s safety, and yours.” Rudhira shook his head. “And yet she escaped the mage of dreams on her journey here only for the Gift Collector to threaten her. We promised her she would be safe once she arrived in Orthros.”

“She will be,” Lio said. “I protected her from the mage of dreams. I will protect her from the Gift Collector.”

Approval lit Rudhira’s gaze. “I see you are coming to terms with your encounter with the enemy mind mage in Martyr’s Pass.”

“I hope so. As much as one can with an event that cost so many lives.”

As much as Lio ever could, after experiencing hundreds of humans’ deaths with them inside their minds.

“Talk to a mind healer if you need to.” Rudhira’s tone brooked no argument. “Your mother can refer you to one of her colleagues, if you need to speak with someone who has some distance from the event.”

“I’ve spoken to you,” Lio said. “How is your progress healing the mind of the man who survived the pass? Have you learned anything from him about the mage of dreams?”

“I’m sorry to say the man you saved remains too damaged to communicate at all, much less reveal information about the mage who broke his mind. I will continue to work with him. But I believe the mage of dreams is no longer a threat, since his task was to ensure only the favorites of the king and the Orders made it to Orthros, and he failed.”

He had failed. Lio had rescued his Grace from the mage’s pawns. The mage of dreams had killed his own men and fled rather than face Lio in a thelemantic duel.

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