>>6160385“Anyway! I paid a visit to that wandering soul,” she adds, changing topic. He hesitates, but then nods, allowing it. “Remember that time on the beach? I did feel a powerful desire. Definitely a Strander. And guess what, it was from one of Carnaval’s little knight attendants in a steel skirt.”
“Do you plan to offer her a deal?”
“Nay,” she shakes her head, taking another sip from the chalice. “For a Strander, she is quite mediocre. I would have valued such a soul three hundred years ago but now I wouldn’t invest on that.”
She goes back to her glass, but Helias gives her one of his looks.
He knows this is not all.
The Stilladìa lowers her gaze as her cheeks darken a few shades of silver.
She has always been such a terrible liar, even by omission.
“There is something else on your mind.”
“It is merely a figment of an idea.”
He waits, patiently.
The Stilladìa slumps against the table, setting her chin on her hand once again.
“The other knight in training. The one with silver hair.”
Helias’s glassy moth curls.
“She already wears your colours.”
“Ha! Her heart burns for Ansàrra.”
“So you don’t plan to make an offer?”
“A paltry soul like hers? It would be of even less use than the Strander’s. No… it’s something else. It’s—” she bites on her platinum lips, as if words were stuck to her throat. And then— “A young woman, smitten with Ansàrra’s love, carried by her support, on this important mission, surrounded by friends. Four people, at that. A mission involving the Seven Sisters.”
He nods. The calm understanding burning in his eyes. He already know what she is implying.
“And she is in the Thronelands now. She and her group of lackeys are about to visit that Temple.”
“I would like to comfort you and tell you it’s just by chance,” he smirks.
“She does not work like that.” The white pupils set in her crimson eyes flash with an ancient anger, roused like a sleeping dragon. “Ansàrra spins chains of the finest gold, so gorgeous, so fine. So light to wear, so comforting. No, love. She is behind this.” A pause, as she finishes her red wine in one gulp. “And I can’t see the reason for it. Something is hidden to my sight, and with the Seven on the prowl…”
“I can deal with our business for a while,” he says rubbing the back of her hand. “You go investigate this.”
“Helias—”
“There will be no rebuts.”
She opens her mouth to do just that, her cheeks flush dark again, and lets out as long sigh.
“I will make it up to you,” she gives him a heated look, and Helias grins. “Thank you, love. Well, no reason to waste any more time. The sooner I set my heart to rest, the sooner I can show you just how much I appreciate your support.” She entwines her fingers with his. Oh, she is going to get creative, indeed.
But first — a visit to the Thronelands, and to a certain Saint’s temple.
[cont.]
