Page 76 of Death Will Follow

“You’ve been crying.”

“Just a bit.” She forced a dry laugh. “I only hope I have the will to do what must be done when the time comes.”

“I know you’ll do what’s right.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

She relaxed into him, allowing the care of his gesture to flood her, body and mind, drowning out the unease if only for a moment.

Callan crossed to the vanity, hastily wrapping the sword in the dark cloth.

“I will be the keeper of the blade until it is needed.”

Thirty

A letter arrived after supper, delivered by a mottled messenger owl. The seal stamped with the insignia of crossed swords identified Thorn as its sender. Nova occupied one of the seats at the round onyx table in her uncle’s Council room.

“The Aemorian Council has reached a decision,” Nox announced, tossing the creased parchment into the center of the table. “Only Maedwen abstained from casting a vote. The rest of the territories voted in favor of aiding us in our plight.”

Callan took up the letter, quickly scanning the contents before pushing it into Lucan’s impatiently outstretched hand.

“We may have the support of the Council, but what exactly is our strategy here?” Callan asked, ever eager to assess the merits of a plan. “Shall we use a small group to infiltrate Raven’s Isle to end this fight before it becomes an all-out battle as we did with General Idrian?”

“I’ve never set foot in the Shadow Court.” Lucan peered at Callan over the top of Thorn’s letter. “Have you?”

“Clearly not,” Callan replied, already annoyed with the commander.

The two worked well together, but Nova had observed that one of the pillars of their friendship appeared to consist of Lucan getting on Callan’s nerves, intentionally or otherwise. Lucan lowered the letter and slid it across the smooth stone to Nova. She read Thorn’s message absently as the others continued to deliberate.

“Even with a former resident of the Shadow Court on our side,” Lucan continued, indicating Bryn, “there are too many unknowns. Circumstances have changed since she left—let’s not forget the godsdamned mercenaries who’ve joined Omen’s cause.”

“Agreed,” Bryn said. “Perhaps we can draw Omen into Lunar territory. He felt Nova’s presence intensely when Idrian held her at Schadwen Mountain. Her closeness may be enough to lure him out.”

“What if you contact him and propose a trade?” Lucan suggested to Nox. “Imply you’ll turn Nova over, but only if he appears in the flesh.”

Nova looked to her uncle.

Beside her, Callan shook his head. “I don’t like the idea of using Nova as bait, but it may be the only way to get Omen to leave Raven’s Isle. Do you think he’d believe you?”

Nox relaxed into his seat and brought one hand to his chin, his mouth twisting as he thought. “My brother always thought me weak. He might just believe I’d be willing to sacrifice a single soul to save my own skin.”

Callan leaned in close to her. “You risk more than anyone else in this,” he murmured, speaking as if they were the only two in the room. “What do you want to do?”

Nova answered without hesitation. “Whatever it takes.”

“I like it better than storming the Shadow Court,” Lucan said, shrugging. “But we’ll need reinforcements.”

Callan stood, laying a hand on Nova’s shoulder. “I’ll write Thorn with instructions to convey to the other Nobles. Each territory can send as many blades as they choose. We’ll gather our forces along the northern shore.”

“Won’t an army lying in wait be a bit suspicious?” Bryn asked. “We don’t want to risk spooking Omen if he decides to show.”

“I’ll do my best to weave a strong shield around them all,” Nox said. “I’m fairly certain Siris and Sienna will help me weave it.”

“Samira, too,” Callan added. “If we’re all agreed, I’ll send word to my uncle in Nivali.”

When no one voiced any objections, Callan crossed to the writing desk in the corner and rustled through stacks of parchment for a fresh sheet. Nova watched as Lucan approached her uncle, leaning down to whisper something in his ear and brushing a smudge of charcoal off Nox’s chin with his thumb. She turned away to find Bryn beside her, leaning against the table’s edge, something cupped in her palm.

“Since we’ll soon be courting danger once again, I thought you should have this.” Bryn opened her hand, revealing a smooth stone.

Nova took it in her fingers. As she rubbed her thumb over the surface, flat and transparent like amber glass, a vague sense of recognition washed over her. She’d seen a stone like it in the market in Pyralis shortly after her arrival in Aemoria. A seeing stone, the vendor had told her. For seeing loved ones over great distances.