Page 6 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

“What a shame. May I ask what danger there could be in visiting the patients, if they are well enough for our company?”

“I am loath to discuss the unfortunate matter further.” Queen Soteira shook her head. “Ambassador, you may shed some light on the delicate position in which Orthros finds herself between her Imperial and Tenebran guests, but take care to show both the honor we owe them.”

Lio bowed. “I will do my best, Annassa. Honored guests from Tenebra, the Empress’s foremothers issued very particular decrees regarding contact between their people and your own, and Her Imperial Majesty sees fit to maintain that policy. I am sure you respect her determination to ensure her people’s safety at any cost, and you understand the matter is out of our hands.”

“Oh, I see.” Cassia gave a curtsy. “We regret the situation deeply.”

The lords and knights looked at her, their expressions ranging from concerned to confused to clueless.

Benedict cleared his throat. “I am sure we do, Your Ladyship, but perhaps you could shed some more light on it.”

She glanced among the lords. “Did no one discuss the matter with Princess Alexandra’s distinguished guest, Harkhuf Khemkare? No? Ah.” She gave them all a rueful look, folding her hands with poise. “You see, the Empress regardsusas the gravest danger her people may face in Orthros.”

Lio watched the realization dawn on the Tenebrans. Their gazes went to Chrysanthos.

“Honored Master,” said Cassia, “I am sure you could tell us more about the disastrous voyage by the Order of Anthros that made it necessary for the Empress to turn away all visitors from our part of the world.”

Chrysanthos straightened his mastery mantle. “Whatever misunderstanding led to her unjust policy of isolationism, a Tenebran master from Solorum such as myself is as ignorant as you are. Those are the sorts of secrets the Akron keeps locked up tight in Corona, I’m sure.”

“Ah, of course,” Cassia said. “At least the Hesperine account is educational.”

Lio wanted to laugh, but he knew he must brace himself. Chrysanthos would find a way to retaliate for that, he was certain.

“Indeed, this tour is quite revealing.” The Dexion’s gaze roamed the hall, then landed somewhere near Queen Soteira’s forehead. “Wing after wing full of mortals, out of sight and out of reach. How many of them are destined for eternal darkness?”

“Only as many as choose the Hesperine path,” Queen Soteira answered calmly. “We do not hand out the Gift as a cure-all. It is true that, in extraordinary cases, the Gift is the only power great enough to restore a person’s body, but we reserve that offer for our very last resort. Long before that point, we apply every healing art within our power for the preservation of mortal life. The overwhelming majority of our patients return to their families and lives in the Empire. We bring mortals here to serve them, not ourselves.”

“How magnanimous of you,” the Dexion replied.

How forbearing of you,Dalos had once said in the very same tone, when Lio had tried to impress upon him Hesperines’ reverence for life. Never before had Chrysanthos sounded so much like his late rival, whom he so vocally derided.

Among the rest of the embassy, stifled murmurs and doubting auras echoed the war mage. Lio strove to emulate Queen Soteira’s patience. He had known that when she handed out moonstones, the men would bite them like false coins.

“You deny this Healing Sanctuary is a prime source of new Hesperines?” the Dexion challenged.

Lio cleared his throat. “Annassa, if I may?”

The Queen gestured for him to continue.

“Honored guests,” Lio went on, “kindly recall the facts my mother related last night, when she walked the embassy through the typical adjustment process each newcomer to Orthros experiences.”

“Ah yes,” Cassia spoke up. “Those population reports the Chamberlain discussed with us. The sources of Orthros’s population growth, fromleastto greatest, are: Imperial patients who can only be healed by the Gift; adult Tenebrans seeking Sanctuary; abandoned children Solaced from Tenebra; and adult guests from the Empire who choose to stay, either to avow Hesperines or pursue professions here.”

“Why, Basilis.” The Dexion gave her a deep nod. “You missed your calling as a temple schoolgirl.”

“If basic census data baffles you, Honored Master, I wonder what useful knowledge is taught in temple school.”

“A true scholar learns to question not merely a source’s assertions, but the validity of the source itself.”

Queen Soteira looked at Chrysanthos. “Do you trust the validity of your own magical senses?”

“Of course,” he retorted, but he did not meet her gaze.

“Question my aura,” she said. “I do not need the Gift to save mortal lives, only my affinity for healing.”

Lio bit back his protests. That his Queen should condescend to suffer the mage’s doubts! But it was not for him to question her.

The tide of her power whispered through the hall. Then her magic, the rhythm in her people’s veins, rushed and flowed around them, yet never crashed upon them. Beautiful and deep, massive and gentle, her power inundated them. Lio felt as if he had swallowed a whole ocean of moonlight. He heard Cassia gasp.

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