Page 118 of Close Quarter
Isatis raised his head at the sound, and the sadness vanished. "Let me go, Silvanus."
"I think I can now." Before he turned away, he ran a hand through his hair and searched for words. They were all inadequate, but he tried anyway. "I love you all. And miss you. But Rhys--Rhys found me. Saved me. And now there's so much more to do. I can't leave him."
It was his mother who replied. "Then the gods keep you safe until we meet again."
"And all of you." He looked over his court, those who had died before him all those years ago.
And he let go. Because they were at peace.
But his rest didn't lie here, not yet. His solace was behind him, back in a world of chance and danger--and love. He turned from the stream and began the climb back out of the valley. By the time he passed the stone pine, he was running.
"Rhys! Wait!"
When he cleared the valley, fog rolled in and swallowed him whole. He stumbled and fell, pain bursting in his chest. He gasped for breath, large lungfuls that hurt and felt sweet all the same. When the ringing in his ears subsided, he heard Rhys's voice. "It's okay, Silas. You're going to be okay."
"Rhys." His vision swam but eventually settled down. He had an excellent view of Rhys's torn-open shirt. But the skin beneath was unmarred.
Gods, did he hurt. He cleared his throat and touched Rhys's chest. "You're alive."
"Yeah." Rhys sat back on his heels, and that beautiful grin of his stretched his lips wide. "So are you."
"I am, yes." Silas felt his smile grow, until he realized they were not alone.
He knew the other being. "Nathaniel."
Rhys stilled and glanced up at the Messenger.
"Silvanus," Nathaniel said.
"You--"
"No. It was Rhys who healed your body and Rhys who called you back. I came to collect Anaxandros's sword and to see."
"See? See what?"
It was Rhys who answered. "See what you would choose. He didn't know."
That knocked him speechless for a moment.
The Messengers always knew. They stood beyond Saturnus's reach, not touched by time. "How is that possible?"
Nathaniel gave him an enigmatic smile. "Call it a gift from the universe."
Silas pulled Rhys into his arms.
Rhys struggled for a moment before leaning his head against Silas's shoulder. "I thought you'd left me."
"I did," he said. "But I came back."
Nathaniel exhaled a breath that sounded exceedingly close to a sigh. Then he set a sword down next to them. "This is yours, Silas, should you want it. And for Rhys." He set a second sword next to it. "And now I'll take my leave."
Rhys called after the Messenger. "One more thing!"
Nathaniel paused. "Yes, but only one, Rhys."
Rhys tensed, and his breathing hitched. Then he relaxed and nodded. "There's a waiter named Vasil. He asked if you would pray for him."
True smiles from angels were rare. Nathaniel graced Rhys with one. "And so I shall." From his pocket, he produced a loop of beads that ended with a tassel and handed them to Rhys. "Give these to him."
