Page 301 of Scorched Earth

“She told me.” Agrippa’s gaze slid to Lydia. “Any chance I can call in a favor?”

“I don’t owe you any favors,” she answered, “but I’d be more than happy to haveyouinmydebt.”

Agrippa rolled his eyes. “Fine. Fine.” He hesitated, then reached for Malahi’s hand, tugging her closer. “Though first, let me introduce you to my wife, Malahi. Love, this is Quintus, my best friend among the living.” His eyes flicked to Killian. “Hopefully that doesn’t hurt your feelings.”

“My feelings are intact,” Killian answered dryly.

Quintus inclined his head to Malahi. “It is an honor to meet you, my lady. I know your face from across the battlefield, but I am glad circumstances have changed so that I might meet you as a friend.”

“Well met, Quintus,” Malahi said, then she turned her gaze on Agrippa. “You go with Lydia to help your friend. Killian and I will see to getting the people settled.”

Quintus led them away from the long train of civilians, heading toward a copse of dead trees. “The city is unnerving,” he said. “A lot of unburied bodies and echoes of old violence. Sleeping on the ground was preferable.” Turning his head, he met Lydia’s gaze. “Is Teriana all right?”

“I don’t know.” She bit the insides of her cheeks. “The last I saw of her was when she set sail to organize the attack on the Empire, andwhile we know the Maarin were successful, I’ve not heard from her since.”

“Right.” He was quiet for several strides, then he said, “I was one of her bodyguards, but we became friends. I was with her through just about everything.” He again fell silent, the muscles in his jaw working back and forth. “Someone needs to tell her that he did the right thing, in the end. Doesn’t undo the damage, but she should know.”

“Marcus didn’t want me to tell her anything,” she answered. “I think he plans to tell her himself.”

“No.” Quintus exhaled. “That’s not his plan.”

After she’d aided Quintus’s friend, Lydia left the three of them to their reunion. But instead of heading into the city to find Malahi and Killian, she made her way down to the harbor, stopping on the stretch of beach where she’d had that fateful meeting with Bait.

Pulling off her worn boots, Lydia stepped out into the water, knife in hand. She drew it across the back of her arm, allowing blood to drip into the froth and foam. Not knowing if anyone would hear, Lydia cast a message for Teriana out into the sea.

118TERIANA

For all her plan had failed to come to fruition in time to stop Marcus from invading Mudamora, it had been effective in liberating the Southern Continent from the Empire.

Communication flowed between Magnius and Lysander across the Endless Seas, and information slowly trickled in that Teriana’s allies had been successful in their united attacks. Silvara and the Bardenese rebels had taken control of the legion base at Hydrilla, and then detonated the path leading to Arinoquia. Facing the united force of Ereni’s clans and the inlanders, the legionnaires located in Arinoquia had retreated to the dubious safety of Sibern, xenthier destroyed in their wake. Likewise after Teriana and her crew had taken out the stem in Padria, Zimo and his Thirty-First had been unable to hold the city or the fortress of Imresh and had retreated, the Gamdeshians detonating the stem in their wake. The Gamdeshians had also regained control of Revat and destroyed the stem used by Marcus to travel to Mudamora. Along with their victories, Teriana heard stories of the great earthquakes the destruction had set off. And the death it had left in the wake.

No victory without cost.

Yet what was happening in Mudamora remained a mystery, the fate of Teriana’s friends unknown. There was no information on whether Marcus had attacked. No information as to whether Lydia and Malahi had made strides against the blight. It was possible that Teriana wouldn’t be able to reach them in time to make a difference in their fight, but she intended to try.

“Lower the anchor,” she ordered as theQuincensedrifted close to the small island where the Maarin had agreed to meet. “Ready the longboats.”

“I’ll wait here,” Baird said. “This is a meeting for the Maarin people.” Then he disappeared below.

On the island, there were signs her people were already celebrating the victory. Bonfires burned, and familiar smiling faces danced around them with cups in their hands. Music drifted over the water, musicians moving between the fires to give rhythm to the dancers. They deserved to celebrate. Deserved to lift their glasses to toast the first victory against the Empire in generations.

Yet as she listened to dozens of voices laughing and cheering that the legions would suffer, starve, and die, cut off as they were, there was another part of Teriana wanting to scream that it was wrong to celebrate victory when it was achieved with violence and death.

So many lives had been lost, dozens upon dozens of her people dead, to say nothing of the Bardenese, Arinoquian, and Gamdeshian people who’d died in the battles. Lives lost under her command, and Teriana felt the weight of them pulling her down and down, because more would follow. And not just them, but hundreds of legionnaires. Thousands.

And the dying wasn’t over yet. The war wasn’t over yet.

Urgency bit in her chest, because if there was to be any chance of the Maarin helping Lydia, they needed to be making ready. Needed to be organizing supplies, not dancing and drinking their weight in rum. “This isn’t right,” she snapped, eyes searching for the ships’ captains. “We’re not done yet.”

“Easy,” her aunt murmured. “This is an important moment, and if you go in swinging, you’re not going to achieve the goals you’ve set.”

Teriana gave a tight nod. Catching sight of the captains, she strode in their direction. Cheers rose at the sight of her, shouts of “Victory!” filling the air. Her people pressed in, surrounding her, yet she found herself flinching every time someone clapped her on the shoulder or squeezed her hand. Found herself wondering how many of those here had once called for her death.

“We grieve the loss of your mother,” one of the captains said. “Triumvir Tesya was a force to be reckoned with, a backbone of our people, and we pray that Madoria holds her close.”

“Thank you.” Teriana dug deep in her chest for the strength not to break down into tears at the reminder her mother was dead. The reminder that she’d never turn around to see her mum walking up the beach nor hear her shouted orders across the deck of theQuincense. “She will be missed.”

“She will be proud of what you have accomplished. And on that note, what news do you bring us?” he asked. “We’ve been waiting to hear from Magnius what happened across the Endless Seas. What has Lysander said?”