Page 151 of Scorched Earth

There was a flash of light in the center of the city, and a heartbeat later, aboom. Teriana blinked, watching as a stream of crimson smoke floated up into the sky. “Red,” she said. “Red smoke.”

But Marcus was already on his feet, staring out at the plume. “Padria. The genesis is in Padria.”

Teriana looked to Felix, who said, “It’s an hour’s hard ride east of Celendrial. Wex must have had a signal chain waiting for this to have happened so quickly. Using black powder with xenthier can go… badly.”

“Will…” She swallowed hard. “Will the Senate deem Padria secure?”

“There could be no more secure a location,” Felix replied. “We’ll send terms to Kaira to remove her army from the city. She’ll have no choice. Once we hold Emrant, the Senate will send a few individuals back and forth to confirm, and then—”

“It’s done.” Marcus turned away from the city, then slid down the wall to sit on the stone. She dropped to her knees next to him, her heart aching as his bloodshot gaze met hers. “It’s over, Teriana. These paths are good, which means Cassius has no grounds to deny your people their liberty. They’ll be free in days. So will theQuincense. So will you.”

Why doesn’t this feel like victory?

She was spared speaking as Racker knelt before Marcus. “I should have you restrained in medical. Should remove you from command, for as it stands, you are not fit to serve.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t test me, Racker. I need to be in control of this.”

“You’re not even in control of yourself.” The Thirty-Seventh’s surgeon radiated disgust as he looked Marcus up and down. “Give me one reason why I don’t go to Zimo the moment his ships make port and ask him to assume command.”

“That would be unwise of you.” The threat in Marcus’s voice sent a chill over Teriana’s skin, and she fought the urge to rub her arms.

“Let’s not allow this to get out of hand.” Felix pushed between them. “We’ve won the day, and we’re finally going to get the chance to breathe.”

“He won’t be breathing long if he keeps this up.”

“Marcus,” Felix said, “just promise you won’t take any more. Please.”

Silence.

“Fine.”

“You have to look me in the eye every morning and every night,” Racker said. “Submit to search every day until I say otherwise. Agree, and I’ll hold my tongue.”

Marcus’s voice was half growl as he said, “Fine.”

Racker sat back on his heels, and Teriana couldn’t fault him for the distrust painted across his face, for Marcus’s tone implied everything but concession. But he gave a slow nod. “I’m only agreeing to this because I believe you are capable of pulling yourself straight, sir. And because, while I don’t agree with your choices, I do support the reasons you made them.” His brown eyes fixed on Teriana. “Assuming the Gamdeshians yield control of Emrant, which I suspect they will, the cost of this mission was ten Gamdeshian lives taking the Orinok ford and perhaps two dozen injured, who will all recover. The historians prefer to write about victories that are bloody and brutal, but this was truly an undertaking that should be remembered for all time.”

Rising to his feet, the surgeon saluted, then departed.

“Felix, get word to Kaira that I want her out of the city within twenty-four hours,” Marcus said. “And I don’t want her army within fifty miles of Emrant until we come to terms on how this will go.”

How would it go?Teriana couldn’t help but wonder. And would she even be part of that conversation? Her people would be free, her ship and crew set loose upon the seas, which meant there was no reason for her to remain. “What if she refuses?”

“She’ll do it,” Marcus answered. “Everything Kaira does is to protect her people. That’s why she lost to us today.”

Felix inclined his head. “I’ll have a message sent. I trust Wex will wait for word from us before taking action.”

“That was the plan we agreed to, but I’d rather not trust to chance. Go now.”

“I’ll stay,” Quintus said to Felix. “You do what needs doing.”

Teriana could see that Felix was torn between doing his duty and remaining with Marcus, but he gave a tight nod. “I’ll post guards.”

After Felix left, Quintus said, “I’ll be in earshot. But short of our flying friend making an appearance, you should be safe enough up here.”

Shifting so she was sitting next to Marcus, Teriana rested her head against the stone and stared up at the sky. Not a single cloud marred the blue. Seagulls danced above them, filling the air with their cries, the sun warming her skin.

There was so much to be said. Weeks and weeks of words thatboth of them had locked in their cores that needed to come out, but Teriana said nothing for a long time.