Page 65 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

I stood up and paced around the room, imagining him preparing to hunt in his full uniform, his swords strapped to his sides and the spares behind his back. “I’ll try.”

“How long are you staying there?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” I continued pacing. “I don’t want to walk past the arena again or be trapped in my apartment. But I don’t feel like I can go anywhere. I don’t want to see anyone.”

“Partner, I need to know, are you safe? Your security detail is with you, right?”

My hand fisted, and I kicked the stack of mats before me. “You’re worried about that, but you’re not here to be on the detail?” My voice rose.

“Lyr, please. Of course, I’m worried. I’m never not. They’re with you, right? In the hall, I assume?”

I exhaled sharply. “Lined up and down it.”

“Good. Let them do their job.”

“Like I’ve ever had a choice.”

He sighed loudly through the stone. “The Emartis are still out there! And you’re still their target, especially…especially now.”

“I know.”

“You should expect those who were arrested the other night to be released soon if they haven’t been yet.”

When I reached the wall, I hit it. Above my hand was a small hole Rhyan had punched into the wall after my lashing. I traced the rough edges with my fingers.

“Knowing what we know,” he continued, “that’s going to be your aunt’s next likely play.”

“I know.” I found a loose piece of panel and picked at it until it broke off.

“Lyr, we need you to stay safe. I….” There was a long pause. “I need you to stay safe.”

I turned, leaned back against the wall, and slid back to the floor with my head in my hand. I wanted to tell him to stay safe, too, that I needed him safe, too, but I couldn’t get out the words.

“How are you feeling otherwise?” he asked. “How are your, um, your cramps?”

I clutched my belly. “Not as bad as yesterday.”

“That’s good. Listen, if you’re alright, I can’t….” His voice shook. “I can’t really talk long. We just arrived at the border and have our assignments.” Metal sang in the background like he’d just sheathed his sword. “I’m in the first hunting party.”

“Is that the most dangerous?” I asked.

There was a long pause. The light faded from the stone before it flared back, and blue filled my palm. “Yes.”

“And you’re part of this party because you volunteered or were assigned?”

“What’s the difference?”

“Rhyan. Don’t try to do word play with me now. Assigned or volunteered?” I demanded.

“Volunteered,” he said, voice clipped.

“Like you volunteered to go in the first place.” My voice was shaking.

“I had to go.”

Just like that, I was back on my feet, pacing again. “No, you didn’t. You didn’t have to.”

“I am the only soturion to have killed two akadim within the span of a few months. Three akadim, if you count…if you count Haleika. I couldn’t not volunteer.”