Page 159 of Blood Sanctuary, Part One

After that encounter with Dalos, Lio had confessed to Cassia how he had struggled to control his animosity in the presence of a mage of Anthros who questioned his honor and threatened all those he held dear.

Cassia was saying that tonight, she trusted Lio’s protection. She had faith in his magic and his diplomacy. She trusted him to listen to his conscience.

Now, as then, he would not descend to the mage’s level. He must remain the diplomat.

“Thank you,” Lio said to his Trial sisters. “Tell Cassia I hold out hope no monster-slaying will be necessary.”

“You should work on sounding as cryptic as she does,” Kia advised.

“She’ll understand what I’m saying. That’s what matters.”

“We’ll deliver your reply,” Nodora promised. “You and Cassia need a glyph code, don’t you think?”

“One more thing.” Kia turned to Mak. “Cassia says: ‘Please leave some of Benedict intact to send home to his sweetheart.’”

Mak laughed. “Put Cassia’s mind at ease. I’ll aim away from the relevant parts.”

Cassia had not mentioned to Lio that Benedict was attached. Was this about the girl with chestnut girls, to whom Benedict longed to give a tiger’s eye anklet no knight could afford? Perhaps it was for her sake that Cassia treated Benedict so favorably. More favorably than a mere ally, like Lord Severin. More favorably than any emissary of Flavian’s deserved.

When Kia and Nodora had departed, Javed said, “We’ll just give the Sunfire a few more minutes to take effect.”

Setting her empty bottle on the table, Kadi made a face.

“The flavor needs more work?” he asked.

“No,” she answered, “it is my opponent who leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Tychon! What a fool.”

“His challenge is an insult to your skill,” said Mak.

“I find myself honor-bound to embarrass a child,” Kadi huffed. “Even if this potion reduced me to the strength of a suckling, I have lifetimes more training than any mortal. And this one is no Gift Collector—only an apprentice! The boy must know he has set himself up to fail. His circle has piles of records on my misbehavior.” As she said that, her tone grew more cheerful.

Mak crossed his arms. “He’s riding so high in Anthros’s chariot, he doesn’t see how far he has to fall.”

“Perhaps he overestimates the effect of the poison,” Lyros said.

Kadi shook her head. “He underestimates females.”

Javed’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “I’m looking forward to this. Tychon is quite a boring opponent for you, but I shall enjoy seeing you teach him a lesson, regardless. How do you feel?”

“Nothing from your hands should be called a poison, my Grace,” Kadi replied. “I’ve taken a heart hunter’s poison arrow, and this isn’t it.”

Javed squeezed her hands, then looked around. “Is everyone else holding up?”

Mak yawned. “This reminds me of Stand drills right before dawn. This will be even easier than I thought.”

“Is this what you felt like when you were human, Javed?” Lyros asked, his expression thoughtful.

“Yes,” Javed answered, “until Kadi gave me her love. Then I felt immortal, even before my Gifting.”

“Mm. He was just as charming before his Gifting, too.” Kadi rested her head on Javed’s shoulder. “Shall I play the helpless mortal tonight and let my strong Hesperine carry me home?”

Javed smiled slowly. “Be careful. I might take advantage of your situation.”

“Turnabout is fair play,” she said.

“By all means,” Javed replied, “let us play.”

Lyros looked at Lio with narrowed eyes. “Are you all right?”

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