Page 94 of Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4)

TERIANA

“We’ll get you your things, then you need to go,” Quintus said, hurrying her up the steps.

“When Marcus comes up, ask him to arrange the release of the Quincense and an escort through the xenthier stem. I’ll go with you.

We’ll get your people released, you on a ship that will take you to the Quincense , and all of this will be a bad memory. ”

“What about you?” she asked, feeling oddly unwilling to tell her friend that she’d be coming back to join the legions. The plans she had with Marcus seemed tenuous and new, and putting voice to them felt like tempting fate.

“He said that once you were freed, he’d fake my death and arrange for me to take Miki.

” His eyes roved for anyone who might be listening.

“And then I was hoping we’d be able to join up with you.

” He was quiet for a minute, then added, “You said one of the healers in the West might be able to help Miki.”

Teriana bit the insides of her cheeks because her new plans changed things.

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be able to help her friend.

She could make arrangements for the Quincense to take them aboard, have Yedda bring them somewhere out of reach of the Empire, and help Miki find a healer.

“Healers can mend any injury. I’ll speak to Marcus before I go and ensure he’s thinking of a plan. It’s…”

She trailed off, because it was all happening so quickly.

As they reached the top of the tower and headed to her room, Teriana stared at the precious letter.

It seemed like a lifetime ago that she’d first set sail with the legions because she’d believed it was the only way to save her people, and now she had accomplished what she’d set out to do.

But she wasn’t done.

Teriana shut the door to her room behind them, then said, “After my people are released, I’m coming back to Emrant.”

“Pardon?” Quintus turned to stare at her.

Her tongue felt thick, every word needing to be dragged from her lips. “Marcus thinks he can hold the Senate in check. That together we can negotiate peace between Celendor and Gamdesh, as well as mutually beneficial trade terms. I’m going to stay with him. Be with him.”

Quintus stared at her, eyes full of shock.

“Teriana, that’s madness. I don’t know what he’s said to convince you such a thing is possible, but he doesn’t have the power to hold the Senate in check.

You heard what Grypus said. What they think of us.

Marcus’s days of controlling everything are over.

The Senate is going to roll right over whatever dreams you two have concocted, because they don’t want peace. They want profit.”

Her lips parted, harsh words rising in response, but Teriana bit down on them. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Quintus, I have to try. I… I’ve never told you this. I’ve not even told Marcus, but I was chosen by our goddess. Madoria. I was supposed to find a way to defeat the Empire.”

Before he could speak, she continued, “For the longest time, I thought that meant finding a way to sabotage the legions so that you’d have to retreat, but maybe…

maybe it doesn’t mean defeating the Empire in battle but rather defeating the Senate at their own game.

Forcing them to play by our rules.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “It sounds mad saying it aloud.”

“Because it is mad.” Quintus gripped her shoulders, staring into her eyes. “What you are proposing is not possible, Teriana. Are you hearing me? You’re grasping at straws in order to keep this ill-fated romance you have with Marcus alive.”

“It’s not about that.” She twisted away from him, angry that everyone believed her sole motivation was Marcus.

He was important to her, but he wasn’t what drove her to make every choice.

“What would you have me do, Quintus? Sail into the sunset and leave the West to deal with the consequences of every decision I’ve made?

Abandon Marcus to stand between Celendor and Gamdesh alone? ”

“Yes.” Quintus’s tone was cool. “That’s exactly what I think you should do. But hearing you, I can’t help but wonder if half the reason you plan to stay is that you’re afraid of what he’ll do if you go.”

Teriana’s heart slammed into her throat at his words, shock rippling over her and leaving her shaky. “You’re wrong! I’ve made my choice. I will hold to every promise I’ve made to you and will ensure Marcus does the same, but right now, I want to be alone.”

“Fine. I’ll be outside, waiting for you to see reason.”

The ground trembled beneath her as he slammed the door, and for a long time, Teriana didn’t move because it felt as though the world around her was crumbling.

It’s fine, she told herself. He’s just angry that you changed the plans and afraid he’s losing his chance to be with Miki.

“Breathe,” she muttered. “Just keep breathing.”

Yet the conversation with Grypus reared in her mind. The proconsul had not hesitated to claim authority, and with the Senate having such easy access between Celendor and Gamdesh, he had every right to. He was the voice of the Senate.

But Marcus controlled the legions. He had won their loyalty and admiration, which was no small thing.

Surely the Senate would recognize that level of power for what it was?

Surely they could be made to see reason?

All it would take was showing them how they could make a hefty profit even if they weren’t in total control, and she was well equipped to do that.

Walking to one of the many tables, she carefully put the letter down and then began stripping off her clothes. She could still feel the proconsul’s gaze, and though Marcus had not allowed Grypus to touch her face, she felt dirty. Needed to be clean.

Teriana climbed into the cool waters of the bath and sank beneath the surface, the water muffling all the ambient sounds and giving her peace.

She stayed under for as long as she could, then floated on her back, staring at the mosaic design of the tile on the ceiling, endless fears and doubts consuming her.

Though none more so than the doubt she had in herself.

A knock sounded, then the door to the room opened with a click, and Marcus said, “Teriana?”

Her heart immediately accelerated, because for better or worse, the next part of her journey would begin now. “Come in. I’m in the bath.”

There was silence for a long, painful moment, and Teriana squeezed her eyes shut, abruptly afraid that everything had already fallen apart. Then Marcus’s familiar tread filled her ears, moving through the expansive room, and onto the balcony that held one half of the pool.

“Beautiful view,” he said softly. She opened her eyes, expecting to see him admiring the sea. Instead, Marcus’s eyes were on her.

Teriana’s cheeks warmed. “You’re looking the wrong direction.”

“I’m not.”

His tone made her breath catch, but she managed to say, “Is everything all right? Grypus—”

“Don’t worry about Grypus,” Marcus replied. “He’s not going to be a problem.”

How that could possibly be, Teriana wasn’t sure, but before she could ask, Marcus said, “The Quincense should reach the harbor soon.”

She sat upright in the pool, splashing herself in the face. “What? How?”

“I knew what our timing would be for taking Emrant,” he said. “I left orders for them to be allowed to set sail to join us, along with our injured.”

“Miki?”

“He’ll be aboard,” Marcus answered. “I haven’t figured out how I’m going to do it, but I’ll honor the agreement I made with Quintus.

Hopefully he’ll agree to go with you and your escort through the xenthier path back to Celendor before he goes his own way.

” He hesitated. “I would go with you myself, but—”

“You need to stay here,” she said. “There is no question of that. Our position is too fragile, and the last thing we need is Grypus making decisions in your absence.”

Marcus grimaced, and not wanting to hear him argue, Teriana added, “Let’s be realistic; if it comes to a violence, Quintus is better able to fight me out of a bad situation alive than you are.”

“If it comes to a fight, one man isn’t going to do much good.”

Teriana sighed. “Perhaps. But I haven’t forgotten that Cassius tried to kill you. He’s had plenty of opportunity to kill me but has never lifted a finger against me.”

Marcus’s silence was the closest he’d ever get to admitting she was right.

“I still wish there was a way I could go with you.” He scrubbed a hand over his hair, which had grown longer during the march from Arinoquia. “I don’t trust that Cassius won’t find a way to twist circumstances to get out of freeing your people.”

“He has no argument,” she said. “There is no safer route than this, and it isn’t as though he’s an emperor to change his mind on a whim. He is still beholden to the Senate and—”

“A senate he controls by blackmail and bribery.”

“And to the citizens,” she finished, raising an eyebrow at the interruption.

“The Cel are a political people, and while they know every man in the Senate is at least a little bit crooked, they won’t accept a consul so overtly breaking his word.

At worst, they won’t vote him in again. At best, they’ll riot. ”

“Would you riot against the Twenty-Ninth?”

“There are more than a million people in Celendrial,” she said.

“If Hostus starts killing them, every man in that legion will be strung up in the Forum. I’ve been to very nearly every major city on Reath, and I can tell you with confidence that no one riots like the Cel.

Do not stand there and attempt to argue that keeping five hundred Maarin in prison to maintain a leash on me is worth that risk. ”

“But it might be worth it to leash me .”

Teriana bit the insides of her cheeks. “You just gave Cassius exactly what he wanted. There’s no reason for him to suspect that you won’t continue to do so.”

Marcus didn’t answer.