Page 12 of Esperance

His father rolled his eyes, but his tone was grim. “It makes it hard to know if my reputation is what intimidated them, or if they have something to hide.”

“You’ll have eyes on them after they go home,” Argent said. “If they commit treason, we’ll catch them.”

“True enough. Until then, we must be patient, I suppose.” He glanced at Carver. “High Cleric Zacharias and Chancellor Trevill know nothing of the Rising being present in Esperance. If you deem it necessary at any time to inform them, they could be allies.”

It was Argent who spoke. “Until we’re assured they’re not involved in the rebellion, we can’t risk showing our hand. Especially not before Jayveh’s brothers are safe.”

Cregon tipped his head, acknowledging this. Then he looked at both of them, his gaze serious. “Both of you must exercise extreme caution. Be slow to trust, and keep your eyes sharp. Until Jayveh is contacted and given orders, we have no idea what the Rising has planned.” He focused on Carver. “Do not miss your check-ins with Ford. If I don’t hear from you when expected, I can’t guarantee your mother won’t storm the temple to rescue you.”

He could easily picture his mother doing just that.

Cregon set a hand on each of their shoulders, and in that moment it was clear that he wasn’t speaking as High General of Craethen, and he wasn’t viewing Argent as his prince or Carver as his general. Argent had spent every summer of his formative years in Westmont, training with Cregon. Argent was family in all ways that mattered.

“Protect each other,” Cregon said, his voice uncharacteristically rough. He tightened his hold on their shoulders. “No matter what else happens here, I need you to promise me that you’ll both come home.”

Carver’s throat tightened.

Argent was the one who managed to speak first. “We will.”

Cregon’s eyes slid to Carver.

“We’ll come home,” he promised.

It was also an echo of what he’d said before going to Harvari, and he knew his father noted that, because the skin around his eyes tensed.

They both knew all too well that, even if you came home from the war, you were never the same.

Chapter 5

Amryn

Amryn squeezed Rix tightly,her heartaching as he embraced her in return.

They stood in the center of a small sitting room in their shared suite. This had been their temporary apartment since arriving in Esperance, and though it was as foreign and impersonal as the rest of this temple, at least she’d had Rix.

Her maids had helped her change out of her wedding dress as soon as they’d retreated from the banquet hall. The white gown had been in rough shape after everything that had happened, so she now wore a dark green dress with light gold accents. Rose and Elsie had fussed over her, and Amryn had to fight back a sudden rush of tears. She didn’t have many friends; as an empath, it wasn’t safe for her to have confidantes. But Rose and Elsie had helped care for her since she was a little girl. Their compassion, worry, and kindness was familiar, their rolling Ferradin accents comforting. And she was about to lose them.

They’d been told that guards and servants would be assigned to them during their stay in Esperance. It was supposed to keep them from possible biases, or prejudices. Keep them safer.

It would only further their isolation.

Rose and Elsie hadn’t touched her hair. They didn’t have the time, because they had to finish packing and remove all the trunks, because the emperor’s edict was that, after the weddings, none of the escorts could stay overnight again in Esperance. They had to leave soon so they could make it to the nearest town before full dark.

So, Amryn’s hair was still elaborately pinned, but that was the only physical reminder that she had not somehow imagined this horrible day.

She was married to Carver Vincetti. She was a newly recruited rebel with no idea of what the Rising would ask her to do here. And Rix was leaving.

“This is so much harder than I thought it would be,” her uncle whispered.

Amryn closed her eyes, her head buried against his strong chest. Being held by him reminded her of all the times she’d curled up in his arms to escape the horrible nightmares that had plagued her for years. She wasn’t a child anymore, but this nightmare she faced was real, and that made it all the more terrifying.

Rix’s arms tightened around her. “Trust no one. Especiallyhim.”

No need to specify who he meant.

She swallowed hard. “I won’t.”

Her uncle pulled back, just enough to view her with a serious gaze. “Whatever mission the rebels assign you, your first goal is to protect yourself. Take no overt risks. Don’t let anyone close.”