Page 187 of Scorched Earth

Marcus’s cloak swirled on the draft rising the stairs as he circled down the steps and through the fortress that had been both salvation and damnation, mounting his golden mare the moment he reached the courtyard. She frisked beneath him, tossing her head, and he rested a hand on her neck. “Easy, easy. This will be a short journey.”

Felix silently mounted his horse, then, surrounded by Gibzen and his men, they trotted through the gates and across the bridge. Above, Astara circled far out of reach of arrows, watching their every move.

Marcus gave the slightest nod, and from the ramparts of the fortress came the retort of a crossbow being deployed. Above him, a shrill shriek of pain broke the silence.

“Got her,” Gibzen said, and a second later, the massive hawk struck the ground before them.

Its shape shivered and shuddered, then transformed into a nude woman with long dark hair. Her thigh was speared through by the bolt, and she was injured from the fall, but Astara still turned her head to look at him. Marcus met her gaze and said, “Have Racker see to her, and then lock her in irons. She’s coming with us.”

“Want her put to question?” Gibzen asked, his eyes bright. “She will know Kaira’s plans.”

“Kaira’s plans won’t matter in another day, but a hostage might,” Marcus replied. “Tell Racker I want her alive, and give the order to march.”

Signal flags waved and horns blew as he rode through the ranks to join the Thirty-Seventh. His men pivoted, then began to file down the road in neat rows, the crimson and gold banners flapping on the wind. Behind them, the other legions fell in to form a deadly serpent winding itself north.

69TERIANA

Teriana went down to the beach where she’d once abandoned Lydia to her fate what seemed like a lifetime ago. There, she watched the two ships depart Celendrial’s harbor, remaining on the burning sand until the blue sails disappeared into the horizon before notifying Magnius that she was going to Senator Valerius’s villa. She planned to tell him about Lydia while she waited for her mother to be brought to Celendrial.

Teriana’s legs burned as she climbed the Hill, and though the trees overhanging the pathways provided some respite from the heat, she still gave a sigh of relief as a servant admitted her into the villa.

It was short-lived, for Teriana was immediately assaulted by memories of this place. So much had happened within these walls, good and bad, and part of her wanted to run away rather than remember. Instead, she perched on a divan, sipping chilled lemon water while she waited for Lydia’s father to appear, wondering if her mother would be with him. Wondering if her mother would evenacknowledge her, or if Tesya’s back would remain turned on her failure of a daughter.

The soft pat of sandals filled the air, and Lydia’s father appeared. He said nothing as he sat across from her. Though his color was infinitely better than it had been before all of this began, shadows marred the skin beneath his eyes, his hair had grown more silver than gold, and a deep crease had formed between his brows. “Your mother will be here by nightfall.”

Though she was desperate to be gone so that she might find Lydia, there was a part of Teriana that was relieved she didn’t need to face her mum just yet.

“Am I safe to speak freely?” she asked. “I have news to tell you.”

“I’ve sent all the servants out,” he answered. “Only the guards remain, and they are outside.”

Taking a mouthful of water to wet her dry tongue, Teriana said, “Lydia’s alive.”

Valerius straightened. “Pardon?”

“She’s in the West. In Mudamora.” Taking another drink, Teriana told him everything she knew about what had happened, including the identity of the perpetrator. The spark of joy that filled Appius’s gaze as he realized the girl he’d raised from infancy was still alive was a light in the dark night of this day.

“He shoved her down the drain like refuse.” Appius’s hands fisted. “I visited those baths so many times searching for clues. Sat in that cursed pool myself and never once considered that possibility. Never once thought to investigate where the water went.”

Teriana prayed that Cassius hadn’t either. Prayed that the consul remained blissfully unaware that the underground spring beneath Celendrial led to a xenthier that crossed the world to Mudaire. The only mercy was knowing that the path was not viable by any of the Senate’s standards, for Mudaire was abandoned and overrun by blight.

“I didn’t know it was Marcus,” she said quietly. “If I’d known…”

“I have never doubted your affection or your loyalty to Lydia,” Valerius said. “She would not hold this against you, and neither will I.”

“I intend to go to her after I leave Celendor.” Teriana’s eyes flicked to the window, noting that the sun was drifting lower. “If you wish me to bring her a message, I would be glad to do so.”

“Only that I am sorry for the grief that I caused her. And for keeping the truth of her heritage a secret for as long as I did.” His throat moved as he swallowed. “I hope she knows that there is a home here for her as long as I am among the living.”

“Bait told me she’s in love.” Teriana wasn’t sure if this was her story to tell but hoped that it would ease his sorrow. “With a young man named Killian Calorian. My family is close with his, and he’s been my friend all my life. I don’t think there is a better man on all of Reath, and Bait says he loves Lydia with all his heart.” And because Appius was Cel through and through, she added, “His family is one of the most wealthy and powerful in Mudamora.”

Relief flooded his eyes, and Appius gave a nod. “For her to have found a love match is what I should have always sought for her. I’m happy Lydia found it herself.”

“Dominus,” a male voice called from a distance. “A word?”

“Come.”

One of the retired legionnaires who served in the Valerius house guard came into the room, inclining his head. “The Domina Cordelia is here. She requests an audience.”