Page 9 of Ensii
Chapter Three
Talitha had never thought she would have to fight her way into her own city, but here she was with her armor, a sword in her right hand, and a shield in her left.
Ashek flexed his shoulder experimentally. “I think it will do.”
The young magian nodded, hands on her hips. Her wrists were bruised with dark rings from the shackles of the mines. “I won’t be able to keep healing you as the battle goes on, so don’t let yourself get hurt too many more times.”
Ashek nodded with a chuckle. “There go my plans for the night.”
“It’s going to be dawn soon,” Talitha said, looking to the east.
“So it will.” Ashek stepped up behind her as the sky began to blush far across the sand dunes. “We’ll take the city before another dawn.” Ashek didn’t touch her, but he stood close enough she was sure she could feel his heat.
The two of them waited at the edge of the courtyard while the last of the trinkets and idol charms were cast into the fire. Shaza and Kurzik oversaw the purging of the charms. Zula barked orders in the clipped, trite way she always did when she was repeating an order she didn’t particularly like. Nonetheless, as best Talitha could see, she was a faithful enforcer of their prohibition on all things of Anakti.
Talitha shifted her sword and shield, one shoulder leaning on the broken wall. “We should send someone down into the city. Someone who can find what loyalists there are to me still. They could help us to at least see Nehemian doesn’t escape.”
Ashek nodded. “I would suggest the boy Saorin.”
“Saorin?” Talitha frowned. “He’s young.”
“Gilsazi tells me he used to work for one of the overseers here. Besides, he needs a task,” Ashek said. “His sister was murdered in front of him. He won’t be satisfied as a mere footsoldier.”
“What if they turn on him or that priest’s followers catch him?”
“Then it will be no different than if he came with us.”
Saorin would do whatever she commanded, that she was certain. His sister’s death protecting Gilsazi weighed heavily on her conscience, but Saorla had been a soldier, just as Saorin was. “I will speak with him.” She caught the arm of the first soldier to come within reach. “Tell Saorin I want him.”
The soldier bowed and sprinted away.
“Your people are more loyal to you than you realize, my love,” Ashek said. “Once they know you are alive and have returned, I have no doubt you will have scores of supporters ready to fight for you.”
Talitha shook her head. “Where were these supporters every time Nehemian insulted me?”
Ashek laughed. He was in a good mood. “People have a remarkable ability to ignore a problem if they think it isn’t theirs.”
Talitha pushed back her hair. “So I’ve noticed.”
“Take heart, lover. As I said, we’ll be home soon enough.”
“Home.” The word tasted strange on her tongue. “There’s a golden relief in my room, one of Anakti.”
“We’ll have to deal with that, then.”
“It’s over my bed. I think I’ve looked up at it my whole life.”
Ashek was quiet for a moment. “You’re thinking about your bed?” His brows quirked and the corners of his mouth twitched.
Talitha was grateful for the darkness of the predawn. “You aren’t?”
Despite everything, Ashek laughed. “When this is over and we take the city, I mean to take you and lock us both in your room for a week.”
Talitha smiled wanly. “There won’t be time for that.” As the new ruler and joint ruler, there would be far too much work to be done.
“We’ll find time.” Ashek laid a hand on her lower back. “And we’ll make it count.” There was a promise in those words, an eager promise.
Ashek in her bed—that was something to look forward to, something to fight for.
