Page 15 of The Oracle of Dusk

“Can you heal with your divine power, Silvanus?”

“If the wound was inflicted by a monstrosity, yes.”

Aurora very much doubted she would ever ride a loper-shaped monstrosity. More's the pity, given her current predicament.

“Are you injured?”

“Just…sore.”

“I would have thought you used to riding, being acquainted with the princess. And Neptune is quite the graceful racer.”

Neptune could be the embodiment of grace and liquid speed but that wouldn’t change the fact that hours of hard riding was injurious to one’s backside. And it wasn’t as though scholars did their reading and writing atop galloping lopers.

“We’ve led very different lives. It’s not as though we’re joined at the hip.”

“Doessheknow that?” he asked, amused.

It was the first bit of dry wit she’d heard from him. Aurora risked turning her head to ensure she wasn’t dreaming it. But there on his face was a smile.

“Great Goddesses, was that a joke?”

“Not a very good one, if you’re asking.” He frowned.

“Just a surprising one.”

“Are prophesied heroes not supposed to crack jokes?” His lips curled upwards.

“I’m not entirely certain. You’re the first I’ve met.” Aurora found herself smiling back.

“Likewise.”

“I’m not a—”

“Except that you very much are.”

Aurora gripped the reins as her palms turned clammy. Even now, there were moments she slipped into comforting denial about that. It probably said as much about his soothing presence as it did about her need to escape her dread.

“How did you find out? How did you become Justice’s avatar?”

“I was called to the Temple by High Priestess Nerio and asked if I could wield the holy sword for them. I thought it was some hazing ritual for the imperial guard, that the sword was a fake. You’re probably the only other person in Trisia who can appreciate my surprise at finding I could actually hold it.”

Quite.

The holy sword was said to incinerate any who attempted to wield it without Justice’s permission.

“Were you scared?”

“Oh, absolutely. When I realised it wasn’t burning me to a crisp, I puked all over the fancy marble floors. And myself. Not something I recommend doing in full plate. There’s a good reason wild and divine magic only ever mix in an avatar.”

Aurora barked out a laugh.

“Merciful Triad, I’m sorry.”

“Not as sorry as my squire was, let me tell you.”

Aurora suppressed a few giggles at the poor squire’s fate. Some part of her eased, knowing that even a warrior of the hero’s calibre felt fear at the prospect of what lay ahead. Perhaps that made her less unworthy for feeling the same.

“I had no idea you were training to be in the imperial guard.”

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