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ARIA PACED IN THE FRONT room, both aware of and amused by the guards hugging the walls to keep out of the way of her wings. She wondered if they thought she would hit one of them if they moved too close. It was a silly notion — she was completely aware of the space that she inhabited, and how much room she needed around her. She hadn’t knocked something or someone over with her wings since she was a toddler, still learning to walk and fly.
“What will happen to him now?” she asked, stopping and turning to face one of the men. He had more braid on his uniform than the others, although not as much as Karse or Trey wore.
“You’re meaning Fandor, Lady?” he asked. He frowned and looked thoughtful. “Well, we’ll hold him in chains until the Council meets. Seeing as he’s on the Council until they say otherwise, that’ll be soon. And interesting.”
“Interesting how? And what’s your name?”
“Leesam, Lady,” he answered. “And interesting in that I don’t think a Council member has ever been expelled before. There are rules for it, sure. But it’s never happened before. But kidnapping? Assault? And whatever else he was up to here? Those are capital crimes, and the penalties are clear. Council members don’t get a pass, just because they’re Council.”
Before Aria could ask any more questions, she heard footsteps coming from the corridor, and Karse’s voice.
“We’ve got him,” he called. “Everyone can stand down. He’s alive.”
He came into the room, followed by Memfis and Aven. But Aria only had eyes for Owyn. Her Owyn, looking as small as a child, bundled in blankets in Memfis’ arms. She moved in close, touched his cheek.
“What happened to him?” she asked. “How badly was he hurt?”
“He’ll be fine,” Aven said. She looked up at him, and blinked.
“Will you be fine?” she gasped. “Aven—”
“I’m tired, Aria. Hungry, thirsty, and tired to my bones,” he answered. He smiled slightly. “The drug that Fandor gave him must have taken a while to take effect, because... well, Fandor hadn’t done anything to him yet.”
“Except poison him,” Trey said from behind Aven. “The drug... actually, Aven, Rut hits hard and fast. Fandor... he left him like that as part of the torture.”
Aven turned and frowned. “Fandor had him for at least a couple of hours. Trey, you never told me how long that this drug takes to kill.”
Trey shook his head. “Let’s just say that we’re lucky that we got here when we did. And that you’re a better healer than you thought.”
Aria stared at them in shock, then went back to Owyn. He looked pale, and small. It wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be pale and small. “Why isn’t he awake?”
“Because I want him to wake someplace safe,” Aven said. “It’ll help, I think, if he’s safe, and if we’re with him when he wakes up.”
Aria nodded. She looked up at Memfis. “And you? How are you?”
“Better,” Memfis answered. He looked down. “Better now.”
“I’m going to go find Owyn’s clothes, and see if I can find Trinket,” Trey said. “Did he leave clothes here? Should I bring them? And you’re going back to Meris’ house?”
“That’s the plan,” Memfis said. “And yes, clothes would be good.”
“Trey, our boots,” Aven said. “They’re still outside.”
“I’ll fetch them. Then I’ll meet you there.” Trey patted Aven on the shoulder. “See you later, Fishie.”
Aven rolled his eyes. “You don’t get to call me that!” he called after Trey, who laughed.
“Fishie?” Aria asked. Aven sighed.
“I’ll tell you later,” he said.
******
KARSE HAD ARRANGED for a carriage, which turned out to be similar to Memfis’ cart, except instead of being an open box, it was closed. Aria looked at it and balked.
“I’m not getting into a cage. Not again.”
“It’s not a cage,” Karse said. “It’s a carriage.”
“I will not,” she repeated. “I will fly. I will meet you at Meris’ house.”
Karse looked as if he wanted to argue, then shook his head. “Yes, My Heir. Now, if we could get moving?”
Aria scowled at his back and went to stand with Aven, who was leaning against a wall, putting on his boots. “Are you riding in this cage?” she asked.
“I’m not seeing much of a choice. Not for me,” he said with a tired smile. “I can’t fly. I’m not getting back onto a horse if I can help it, and the last time I tried to walk, I got lost. And I need to stay with Owyn.”
Aria nodded. “I don’t like you being in a cage, though. I can’t see you. If anything happens, I can’t help you.” He reached out and tugged her close, pulling her into his arms. She melted against him, resting her head on his shoulder, slipping her arms around his waist. She didn’t want to ever let him go. “Aven, I can’t lose you. I already almost lost you both.”
“We’re on guard now,” Aven murmured, rubbing his cheek on her hair. “It won’t happen again. Mother of us all, you smell good.”
“Aven!”
“Like the wind,” he added. Then he chuckled. “I’m tired. I need to sleep. But I can’t until we get to Meris’ house.” He straightened and rubbed his hand over his face. “I’ll need to bathe again.”
“Explain ‘Fishie’?”
Aven grinned. “Owyn called me Fishie when he was out of his head from the drug. Trey thinks it’s funny.”
Aria smiled. “It’s adorable. Will you let him keep calling you Fishie?”
“I don’t know,” Aven answered. “I don’t even know if he’ll remember doing it.” He paused for a moment. “Aria, he told me he loves me.”
He said it slowly, hesitantly. Almost as if he was confessing to something wrong. And the look on his face...
She reached up and touched his cheek. “Did you think it would bother me? That he said it first?” she asked. “I’m not surprised. You’re very easy to love.”
Aven’s eyes widened. “First?” he repeated, and his voice cracked. She smiled.
“You sound as if you’re right out of the sea and your voice isn’t back yet,” she told him, and he laughed. She leaned against him, and his arms around her tightened. “And yes, first. I should have said it sooner. I didn’t understand, though.” She stretched, and kissed him gently. “Yes, Aven. I do love you. I knew you were mine, from the moment I saw you. And I know you love me, even though you haven’t said it. Aven, I found the pearl.”
“The... the pearl.” He blinked. “My bag! I didn’t even think of it. But you have the Diadem, so Fandor didn’t take it—”
“The strap was cut,” Aria said. “I fixed it, but to do it, I had to take everything out of the bag. And I found the pearl.”
He nodded, his face turning red. “I meant it for you. For... for the morning after. And... I asked Owyn if he’d set it into a rose. I thought it would mean more if it came from both of us.”
Aria stared at him for a moment. “Oh,” she breathed. “Oh, Aven—”
He smiled. “Maybe you could act surprised when we give it to you? So he doesn’t know? I think he’ll be disappointed if he knows the surprise is spoiled.”
“It isn’t,” Aria protested. “Because it’s not finished yet. So no matter what, I’ll be surprised.”
Aven nodded. “Good. That’s good. Karse is waving, and I think Memfis and Owyn are in the carriage. I should go and join them.”
“I’ll see you at Meris’ house,” Aria said. She kissed him again, then stepped back, pulling gently out of his arms. He straightened, met her eyes, and smiled.
“I love you, Aria,” he said. And even knowing it already, the sound of the words made her heart soar.
“I love you, too,” she replied. Then she grinned. “Fishie.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed. She giggled and took to the skies, circling overhead until she saw him get into the carriage, until it started moving, trundling off toward Meris’ house.
******
AVEN SETTLED ONTO THE bench seat across from Memfis and leaned his head back against the carriage wall.
“You can nap, if you want,” Memfis said. “Until we get there.”
“If I sleep, I won’t be able to keep Owyn asleep,” Aven said without opening his eyes. “Which means he’ll wake up and panic. I don’t want him to hurt himself, or you, if he wakes up flailing.”
Memfis hummed. “How did you know that he might do that? He hasn’t in years, but he used to.”
Aven opened one eye. “I guessed?” He smiled and sighed. “I need to eat. Mother of us all, I’m hungry.”
“I’m surprised you’re still going,” Memfis said. “But then again, you are your father’s son.”
Aven raised his head. “What?”
“Saw him go almost three days without sleep once, and almost without food,” Memfis said. “Has he taught you about mountain fever yet?”
“I’ve read about it,” Aven answered. “He never told me that he treated it.”
“He didn’t?” Memfis’ raised his brows. “That’s Jehan for you. Always hiding his light under a basket. It went through the Palace like flame through dry tinder. And he went to work with the Palace healers.” Memfis paused, looking distant. “I don’t think any of us had really seen him working before — I think we’d only been together a few months at that point. We didn’t know each other, not the way Aria says you all do. Our bond wasn’t the same. So we were all a little wary then. Until we understood where we all stood. Jehan was still a bit awkward. I don’t think it had really sunk in for him yet that he was a Companion. But then he went to work, and he went from awkward to scary confident. He knew what he was doing, and the rest of us saw what Milon saw in him.” Memfis went silent, and all Aven could hear was Owyn’s soft breathing, the sound of the wheels, and the rhythm of the horse’s hooves. “You’re the Heart, you know.”
“The what?”
“Meris told Aria. I’m telling you. It’s a role that no one really talks about. There’s the Heir. And there’s the Heart. Most of the time, the Heir is the Heart. They’re the one who holds the group together, who soothes the little jealousies and makes the... well, the group marriage work.”
“Is it really a group marriage?” Aven asked. “Fa said that was a thing that happened in the Earth tribes.”
“It is, and it is,” Memfis said. “And really, what else would you call it? The Heir chooses their Companions, and they all spend the rest of their lives together. Isn’t that a marriage?”
Aven nodded, leaning forward a little. “So if the Heir is the Heart, how am I the Heart?”
“Sometimes, the Heart and the Heir are two different people. Sometimes, there’s too much for one.” Memfis shrugged a little, the movement bouncing Owyn in his arms. “In times of strife, the Heir needs to focus on ruling and guiding the people. So the Mother gives the role of the Heart to another. This time, that appears to be you.”
Aven considered it, and nodded. “So, I take care of the Companions, so Aria can take care of everyone else?”
“That’s a good way of putting it.”
Aven nodded again, leaning back. “I can do that. Is that why I know who they are, too?”
“I have no idea why your bond is so strong that you all know each other,” Memfis said. “But I have a theory. You’re not going to like it.”
Aven arched a brow. “I’m listening.”
“Your bond is stronger because you need to be fully one immediately. You don’t have the time to figure out where you stand with each other. You need to know each other, and be certain of each other, from the first day. Because this isn’t going to be an easy road for her, for any of you,” Memfis said slowly. “You’re looking at war. Civil war.”
Aven coughed. “You really think so?”
“He’s not going to stand down without a fight, Aven,” Memfis answered. “You have to know that.”
Aven nodded. “I know. I just don’t like it. How do we fight him, Memfis?”
“They’ll come. The ones who are waiting for her, for the true Heir. They’ll come, and we’ll take Adavar back.”
“That doesn’t answer how,” Aven grumbled.
“And we can’t answer how until we know who. And we won’t know who until we get to the Earth tribe lands. Which means going before the Council to get what we need.”
“Which we’re not doing until we all have a chance to eat and sleep,” Aven said, his voice firm. “And if I don’t think Owyn is ready for it, it’s not happening.”
“We need to leave tonight, Aven,” Memfis insisted. “With Mannon in the city, it isn’t safe–”
Aven snorted. “I think I know that, Memfis,” he said. He glanced down at his wrists, at the abrasions left behind by the ropes. “Owyn and I aren’t going to forget that any time soon.”
Memfis’ answering snort was even more rude than Aven’s had been. “You’re alive to remember it,” he pointed out. “If we don’t get out of the city, that’s going to change. I can guarantee that, by dawn, we’ll all have prices on our heads. And there are people in this city who will sell their own mothers.” He scowled, looked down at Owyn. “We can’t wait, Aven.”
******
BY THE TIME THE CARRIAGE stopped inside Meris’ gates, Aria had already landed, and was waiting with Meris as Aven stepped down to the ground. He nodded to them, then looked around. He knew the faces of all the men, and relaxed slightly.
“They’re all mine,” Karse called from above. “If that’s what you’re looking for.”
“It is, and I noticed,” Aven said. He turned and looked up. “I didn’t know you were up there.”
“Best place to keep an eye on you,” Karse answered. “Lady Meris, feed this Water boy before he falls down?”
Aven grinned and turned, only to find Meris had come up behind him. She looked up at him, then smiled and took his hands. “Aria told me. You saved his life. And you brought him back. Thank you.” Aven smiled back at her, and on impulse, leaned down and kissed her cheek. She giggled like a girl and took his arm. “Come inside. There’s a bedroom for the three of you, and I’ve had food brought. You can rest before the Council meets.”
“I want to be sure that Owyn is up to meeting them,” Aven said. “So we need to wait for him to wake.”
“Oh, of course!” Meris agreed. “Aria, my dear, come along. Memfis, bring Owyn.” She took Aven’s arm, then took Aria’s, leading them both into the house. Aven looked over her head at Aria, who met his eyes and smiled.
“Owyn’s going to need a bath once he wakes—”
“There’s a bath off the room I’ve given you,” Meris assured them. “And I’ve overseen the food that’s waiting for you. Which is guarded.”
“By who?” Aria asked.
“One of Karse’s men who stayed behind. Leist, I think his name is. He also acted as a taster, to make certain that there was nothing untoward added under my nose.”
Aven nodded. “And is there extra salt?”
“There’s a bowl especially for you,” Meris said. She led them to a door, let go of their arms, and opened it. “Leist, it’s me. It’s us. They’re here.”
Aven followed her into the room, seeing Leist standing by the window, next to a table laden with covered bowls. The room was dominated by an enormous bed. Aven blinked and stepped out of the way so that Aria could come in. Behind her was Memfis, who stopped just inside the door.
“You could have warned me that you were giving them this room, Meris,” he said. He came the rest of the way in and laid Owyn down on the bed.
“Nonsense,” Meris sniffed. “Where else would I have a bed that would hold all of them? Now, Aria, the bag you were working on is in the chest there. I’ve got fresh clothes for all of you, and the bath is through that door there. Oh, and the food is here.” She looked around. “The door will be guarded, and there are guards outside the windows as well. Is there anything I’ve missed?”
“What’s wrong with this room?” Aria asked, coming up next to Aven and resting her hand on the small of his back. “Memfis, why did you want to be warned?”
Memfis looked up from Owyn, then sighed. “Because this was Milon’s room, back before he became Heir.”
“And after he became Heir, and left for the Palace, I had the room redone so that if he came to visit with his Companions, that there would be room for all of them,” Meris added. “But that never happened.”
“Oh,” Aria said, looking around. “This was my father’s room.” Her voice was quiet, and almost expressionless.
Almost.
“Does that bother you?” Meris asked, her eyes wide. “I hadn’t thought of that. We could move you to different rooms—”
“No,” Aria interrupted. “No, if this is how we can be in the same room, then this is where I want to be.”
Aven put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “We need to rest,” he said.
“The Council is going to meet with you in an hour,” Meris said. Aven coughed, glanced at Aria. She looked up at him, frowned, then drew herself up.
“The Council is going to meet with us when I am ready to meet with them,” she said, her voice firm. “And I will be ready to meet with them once I’m certain that my Companions are ready to accompany me. I will not be rushed, not for anyone.” She looked at the bed, then back at Aven. Then she turned back to her great-grandmother. “If they want to know a time, tell them that you think I may be ready in two hours. But perhaps three. My Companions were assaulted. I want to be certain that they’ve come to no lasting harm.”
Meris looked stunned, but it was Memfis’ chuckle that drew Aven’s attention. He was shaking his head.
“Come on, Meris,” he said. “We’ll let them rest. Let her see to her men. And we can debate who she just sounded like — Milon or Liara.”
“It would probably be a combination,” Meris said slowly. “I’ll tell them. Three hours won’t give you much time to get out of the city before dawn.”
“We’ll manage,” Aven said. “If necessary, we’ll find a place to hide until tomorrow.”
Meris looked at him, then shook her head. “I don’t want to see you hurt. Any of you.”
“We’ll be careful,” Aria said. “Grandmother, we need to sleep.”
Meris took Memfis’ arm and let him lead her out of the room, with Leist following them. The door closed behind them, and Aria sagged against Aven’s side. He turned to face her, holding her tightly, finally giving in to his need to hold her.
“Come to bed, Aven,” she murmured against his chest. “We need to sleep. And you need to eat.”
“Which first?” Aven asked. She chuckled and led him to the table. They faced each other and ate, leaving bowls covered for Owyn for when he woke. They didn’t talk, but every so often, one of them would reach across the table to touch the other’s hand. The lightest touch, almost a reassurance. They were together. They were safe.
When they were done, Aria went into the bath while Aven took off his swords and his shirt. He took off his boots, lining them up next to each other against the wall. When Aria came out of the bath, they went to the bed, gently shifting Owyn to the center of the wide bed. Aria lay down against his back, and Aven stretched out on his side, facing the two of them. On impulse, he reached across Owyn for Aria’s hand, lacing his fingers with hers, resting their hands on Owyn’s side.
They were together. They were safe.