Diomere's Exile

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

When they returned to the Emerald Mermaid later that night, Nadia ordered a runner to the port to purchase passage on the next ship to Diomere. Now that she had her nephew’s cooperation, she was determined to reunite him with his parents before someone else tried to take his life. She knew another attempt could come at any time. She prayed Gregor would be able to keep her nephew safe until she could get him away from Thuno.

The servant returned to let them know that the next ship would leave at first light. Nadia called for the servants to bring Arri’s trunks and ready a carriage.

“Lareina is due to arrive in six weeks’ time for the betrothal ceremony with Madelena. Surely, we can hide our nephew until then,” Arriana groused. “I bet she saw this in a vision and is even now making plans to come early.”

Nadia shook her head. “We can’t know for certain. She didn’t see that Areisteo would be taken, did she?”

They’d hastily tossed Arriana’s belongings into her trunks.

“Careful.” Arriana took the soft leather satchel Nadia was about to toss into one of the trunks. “That holds my herbs, tinctures, and ointments. If the glass vials break, their contents would ruin my clothes. I’ll carry it with me.”

Nadia rolled her eyes. “Why one person needs so many dresses, I’ll never know. You’re as bad as Zephyra.”

“Says the woman who dresses like a man,” her sister said in a bland voice. “You still own exactly three sets of black and three sets of brown salvar. Two of each in cotton, one of each in linen. Am I correct?”

Nadia scowled. “I had to add two each of wool to keep my legs and backside from growing icicles during Thuno’s excruciatingly cold winters, and don’t forget the silk salvar for formal occasions.”

Arriana’s face softened into a sad smile. “I’m not ready to leave. I’ve missed you so much.”

Nadia stared hard at the books she was stacking inside a chest. “I don’t want you to go, either.”

They continued packing in silence until the trunks were full. They shared Nadia’s bed the way they’d once done as children, talking long into the night, neither able to sleep.

Early the next morning, Nadia climbed in the carriage and sat beside her sister, one arm wrapped around her shoulders and the other holding a sack of blooms she’d picked from the garden.

“We’ll be together again when Areisteo is returned to Diomere.”

Arriana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “No, our days of living together in the same home ended when we scattered to look for him. I think you’ll find Thuno more difficult to leave than you would have only a fortnight ago.”

Nadia frowned and ignored the part of her that agreed. “My goal has been the same for twelve years. That hasn’t changed.”

Arriana smiled sadly at her sister. “Hasn’t it?”

They finished the drive in silence. When the carriage pulled to a stop, Arriana turned to take the footman’s outstretched hand. Nadia shoved her chaotic feelings aside and stepped down out of the carriage to see her sister smiling up at the reason for those feelings. Her heart jerked in her chest, followed by a surge of irritation. Why had her heartbonded chosen this time to reveal himself? And why did he have to keep popping up everywhere she went?

Gregor looked up, a smile on his face. “Good morn, my lady.”

“What brings you to the docks at this early hour, Lord Cyrene?” Nadia snapped.

Arriana laid a hand on Gregor’s arm and smiled up at him. “Please forgive my sister, my lord. I’m afraid she’s being forced to rethink certain of her goals, and it’s put her in a foul mood.”

Gregor lifted a dark brow. “Goals?”

Arriana winked. “Apparently, returning to Diomere may not hold quite the appeal that it once did.”

Gregor studied Nadia’s scowling face. “Indeed.”

“My sister has recently developed a nasty habit of assuming more than she ought, my lord. If you’ll excuse us, she has a ship she can’t afford to miss, and we’ve still to ask the gods for their blessing.”

Gregor’s eyes widened. “Returning to Diomere so soon, Lady Quinones? I understood you were scheduled to stay another fortnight.”

Nadia pushed her sister ahead of her toward the ship readying to leave for Diomere. “You were mistaken.”

“Has something happened?” Gregor persisted, following them.

“It’s none of your concern, Lord Cyrene.”

Arriana shot her an annoyed look over her shoulder. “I’m perfectly capable of moving toward the ship on my own, Nadia. Do stop pushing.”

“Don’t, Arri.”

“Don’t what?” Gregor asked.

Nadia stopped, shot her sister a hard look, then turned to glare at Gregor. “Arriana has been summoned home, not that it’s any of your business.” She glanced around. “Surely you have someone else you can go harass.”

Gregor studied her, his face inscrutable. “Why was she summoned back?”

Nadia inhaled loudly through her nose. Why wouldn’t he just go away? Arriana stepped up beside her, a smile on her face, as if she found Nadia’s predicament amusing.

Nadia squeezed the bridge of her nose. “Someone is sick. She’s needed to heal them.” She smiled tightly. “Happy now?” She ignored Gregor’s narrowed gaze and whirled around to pull her sister to the waiting ship. “Let’s go.”

“Fair winds and safe travels, Lady Quinones,” Gregor called. “We’ll save that discussion until you return.”

Her sister smiled over her shoulder. “Farewell, Gregor.” Pulling against Nadia’s hand, Arriana leaned toward him and whispered. “Heartbonded, Gregor. If you have any access to knowledge about the A’mi, look it up. Remember that nothing worth having ever comes easy.”