Parmella set down the jug and trudged away, but rather than leave the reception completely, she hung back near the hallway leading to the store room. She watched as Nilus contemplated his vineyards. As always, he drank quickly, muttering under his breath.

She didn’t know whether she was afraid that it would happen, or that it wouldn’t.

But then Nilus suddenly staggered. He put his goblet down on the table and raised a hand to his temple.

Parmella approached him once again. ‘Is everything all right, Lord?’

He turned to face her, his expression suddenly stricken. He took great gulps of air. His face was steadily turning white.

‘Wha—?’

His knees gave out from under him and he collapsed, sprawling on top of the table, knocking the empty goblet onto its side. He stared at Parmella as she came closer until she was standing over him. He toppled onto his back.

She knew she had made a promise. It was important that she said these next words.

‘I am to give you a message,’ she said. ‘This is for Aristocles.’

Nilus twitched and shuddered as he looked up at her.

The name of his old friend was the last sound he ever heard.

55

55

It was late in the evening and Chloe stood at the top of the sloped embankment, staring out to sea. The full moon was just beginning to rise, casting a glistening silver shimmer on the water. She kept her ears carefully pricked. They had arranged to meet at this time.

She watched the breaking waves that hissed as they struck the white pebbled shore. The sound was soothing. The salty breeze tossed her dark hair around her face, but this wind was gentle, nothing like the winds she’d experienced before.

She smiled. The home of Aristocles would be a happy place once again, a place where the new first consul and his adoptive niece would get covered in flour making meal cakes and find strength and purpose from each other. Important consuls would throng to the villa for banquets and discussions. Amos would finally let go of his guilt at failing Aristocles. And if the shifting tides put Phalesia onto a war footing, there would be no better man to lead.

She cocked her head when she heard a sound.

It was the sound of sails catching the wind, or wings snapping in a final descent. She glanced up, but the sky was empty, and she wondered if she’d heard it at all. But then she whirled and her smile broadened.

Liana was walking toward her; they’d agreed to make this rendezvous. But she wasn’t alone. With her were two other eldren, both tall and lean, although one was old, with a crescent scar on his cheek, and the other wore a crown of laurel leaves on his head.

‘It is good to see you, dear one,’ Zachary said.

‘Zachary!’ Chloe cried.