Page 119 of Scorched Earth

The whole room fell silent, and Lydia said, “Madoria told me that Teriana is exactly where she needs to be.” When Bait opened his mouth to ask the obvious question, she added, “That’s a long story for another hour, but I personally choose to have faith in Madoria. And faith in Teriana.”

“Regardless of what the truth of Teriana’s situation may be,” Malahi said, “we cannot aid Gamdesh. Captain, what can you tell me of Mudamora? Where are the high lords and ladies? Who leads?”

We cannot aid Gamdesh,Lydia thought,yet the first thing we intend to do is to ask them to aid us.

She didn’t envy Malahi’s role. Always having to weigh the needs of one group against another, which inevitably required hard choices. Much like Teriana. Lydia’s heart demanded that she try to save everyone despite knowing that walking that path risked catastrophe for all involved.

“I think the question you are asking, Your Grace, is whether you’re still queen.” Vane rocked on his heels. “When we left Serlania, you had not been replaced, but I think that more to do with the fact they can’t agree on who should rule than any loyalty to House Rowenes. They were all in Serlania, but Hacken Calorian holds the most influence and seems content to rule in proxy given your absence.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does.” Malahi turned away and walked to the windows at the rear of the cabin, watching their wake.

Lydia bit the insides of her cheeks as she met Killian’s gaze. While Malahi had released him from both an unwanted engagement and his oath to protect her, Hacken was likely to have different views on the matter. She had not forgotten how Killian’s older brother had manipulated circumstances the night of that awful ball, making his support of Malahi’s rule conditional on an engagement to Killian, and there was nothing to stop him from doing the same again. For Lydia didn’t for a heartbeat think that the spreading blight or an army of the dead were enough to curb Hacken’s desire for power.

Judging from the anger seething from Agrippa, Malahi had alreadyshared Hacken’s previous schemes with him, so Lydia said, “It’s a different circumstance now, if all the High Lords are together. You don’t need his vote, Malahi. Once everyone knows what we learned from Ceenah and that you are marked by Yara, they’ll support you.” Both Bait and Vane raised their eyebrows in surprise, but they said nothing, and Lydia added, “We support you.”

Malahi cast her a small smile over her shoulder, then went back to her contemplation of the wake. Agrippa moved to her side, his murmured words too low for Lydia to hear, though she expected it was something related to cutting the throats of anyone who didn’t bend the knee, for Malahi laughed softly and shook her head.

“There is little to be done other than to sail to Serlania with all haste,” Vane said. “Your Grace, I will gladly give up my cabin for your use on the journey, and we will attempt to make your companions as comfortable as possible. What information we have, we will freely give to you, and I hope you will extend the same courtesy.”

Malahi turned around to face the captain. “Our conversation has been grim, Triumvir Vane, but we have learned information in Anukastre that gives us hope the blight can be defeated. The sooner we can return to Mudamora, the better.”

“I believe I can help with that,” Baird said. “All I need is some space and a drum.”

Vane gave the giant a wary look but led him toward the door. Before he disappeared, the captain called back, “I’ll have someone bring up food, drink, and water for washing. I imagine your journey has taken its toll.”

“Hacken is going to be a problem,” Malahi said once he was gone. “He was already the most powerful high lord, and given the Calorian lands are the most removed from the blight’s progress, his strength will have only grown.”

“Fortunately, no one likes my brother.” Killian was staring at Teriana’s letter, smoothing the creases. “And they trust him even less. He can plot all he wants. Once you return, they’ll turn to you to lead.”

“Perhaps.” Malahi met Lydia’s gaze. “Vane called you Lydia Valerius. I’ve never thought to ask, but do you wish to be known by your birth name?”

Malahi may have forgotten to ask, but in truth, Lydia hadn’t given the idea much thought. “No,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like who I am anymore.”

“I understand.” Malahi reached over to squeeze her arm. “It willremain between us unless you wish it otherwise. Though I think if Dareena knew the truth that she’d welcome you.”

An image of the High Lady of House Falorn filled Lydia’s eye. Her aunt. Her only blood relation left living, and yet Lydia recoiled from the idea of Dareena learning the truth because it felt like a betrayal to the father who had raised her. “I’ll think about it. But for now, we’ll give you some space to rest. Bait and I have a great deal to catch up on.”

She, Killian, and Bait departed the cabin, leaving Agrippa and Malahi standing by the window in quiet contemplation of the ship’s wake.

“Birth name?” Bait asked once they were on decks, but Lydia shook her head. “I’ll explain later.”

The Maarin who weren’t busy sailing the ship were all watching with interest as the captain handed Baird a drum, the giant frowning as he eyed the sky overhead. With a slow, deliberate motion, Baird lifted his hand and began to beat the drum. The sound was thunderous, vibrating through Lydia’s bones, the rhythm a call to the skies above and the god who controlled them.

“Marked by Gespurn,” she said by way of explanation as Bait gaped.

Baird circled the mainmast, his movements fluid and graceful, belying his immense size. Each step reverberated through the deck, sending shudders through the timbers. His feet pounded out a rhythm that grew faster and more insistent with every beat. The wind began to rise, dark clouds gathering on the horizon, swirling in response to the giant’s summons.

“It’s going to get gusty,” Killian said. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“Galley.” Bait led them below and down a narrow corridor to the ship’s kitchen, which was empty but for a cook busy with a half-dozen fish. They took a seat at a scarred table on stools that were bolted to the floor, the clatter of copper pots hanging from the ceiling over the cook’s workspace more than serving to drown out what words they might say.

“I was looking for Killian, but I’m glad I found you, Lydia.” Bait rested his elbows on the table, head in his hands. “I’m gods-damned terrified. I have no idea how the legions are treating Teriana, whether she’s been harmed, or… or anything. The Gamdeshians are furious with her. Our people are furious with her. Everyone is acting as though she’s on the Empire’s side, mostly because—” He broke off, throat moving as he swallowed. “Marcus is the Empire incarnate. Herepresents everything Teriana hates, and I can’t believe that she’d—Gods, I can’t even say it.”

“I agree.” Lydia’s chest tightened at the tears gleaming in Bait’s eyes. “Lucius is evil, and what he’s using Marcus and the legions to accomplish is no different than what the Corrupter is using Rufina and the blight to accomplish. Everyone is looking for someone to blame, and it’s falling on Teriana, but the truth is that she got into this mess trying to help me out of a horrible situation. It wasmy faultthat Vibius foundTreatise of the Sevenin my library. I should have hidden it better. Or destroyed it. Instead, it landed in Cassius’s hands, and while his discovery of the West may have been inevitable, if there is anyone who should be blamed for setting these events in motion, it’sme.”

Killian’s hand rested on her back. “We know that the Corrupter has some form of connection with this Lucius Cassius, and if the Six were aware of who you were, and where you were, the Seventh surely was as well. You were involved even before Teriana gave you that book, so I think that even if you’d shown every caution, events would have transpired in much the same way. Regardless of who did or didn’t know, it’s still easier to blame Teriana because her actions are visible.”

“I love her,” Bait whispered. “I’ve loved her since we were children, and I know she doesn’t feel the same way but that doesn’t change how I feel. I want to get her out of this mess but I don’t know how.”