“Did you call for Cassius and Elena?” Mars asked True.

“Yes,” True answered.

“Would you like wine?” Farah offered.

“Please,” Silence accepted and began to move, but Mars’s hold strengthened.

He felt her eyes, so he looked down at her.

“I’ll be right here, my love,” she said softly.

He drew in breath.

And let her go.

“I’m assuming you were visited by a unicorn,” True noted as the women bustled to a trunk.

Mars jerked his head up in assent. “You?”

“Yes.”

“Thank the gods,” Mars muttered.

“Yes,” True agreed. “Even the damned caravans at the back that weren’t keeping up came through whatever the hell it was we leaped through.”

“Same,” Mars grunted.

“Did you have purple?” True inquired.

“Yes,” Mars told him. “Magic is back in Airen, this is certain.”

“Of course,” True replied. “The Nadirii are here.”

Without a call, the tent flaps opened and both men turned to them, hands going to the hilts of their swords.

But they relaxed when Cassius walked in.

Without Elena.

“Where’s Elena?” True asked.

“She is tending the wounded,” Cassius answered tightly.

As he took in his friend’s expression, Mars felt his wife come to him and press to his side.

For undoubtedly, she’d seen it too.

He slid his arm along her shoulders, and she called gently, “Cassius?”

“Jasmine was slain,” Cassius said tersely, the words rough and edged with pain.

The reason Mac was uncontrolled at battle’s end.

“Gods, Cassius,” True murmured.

“Rosehana as well,” Cass grunted.

Silence pressed closer to him as Farah emitted a pained mew.

“Elena’s mother was just lost. Elena is…she is…” Cass began. They all gave him time, but he shook his head sharply and declared, “Antonius will not recover. He’s in great pain, and it is unknown when that pain will be over if the end is to come naturally. He’s asked for the soldier’s poison.”

“Fuck,” Mars bit.

“I cannot brief you. I have agreed to give it to him, and he is taking time with our gods. I must see to Tone, and then find my woman,” Cass finished.

Silence gave Mars a demanding squeeze.

He looked down to her.

“True will look after me,” she whispered.

True would die for her.

Thus, Mars acquiesced to her demand.

“Do you want company?” he offered.

Cass barely met his eyes but that did not mean Mars missed the pain dwelling close to the surface of his friend’s.

“Suit yourself,” he muttered, bowed shortly to the women, then disappeared between the flaps.

Mars pressed a brief kiss to his wife’s mouth and followed him, not even bothering to gesture to Basil and Kyril as he left the tent.

They stayed with their queen.

Cassius was walking fast, and thus it was a good thing Mars’s legs were as long as his.

He caught him up and asked, “Mac?”