Amara arched an eyebrow. “All three of his Legions?”
Bernard nodded. “Said he figured either Aria would be freed, in which case he’d be able to aid Ceres at the earliest opportunity, or else she’d be killed, in which case he was taking every soldier he had and going after the crowspawn who had done it.” Bernard shook his head. “He doesn’t strike me as the kind of man to live and let live with someone who touches his wife.”
“No,” Amara said quietly. “He isn’t. But there will always be fools who believe that if a man dislikes violence and goes to great lengths to avoid it, it is a sign of weakness and vulnerability.”
Bernard shook his head. “There’s an unlimited supply of fools in general. Take, for instance, Lord Kalarus. You remember you told me you thought he must have been in cahoots with the Canim?”
“I’m fairly sure he never used the word
“Hush and eat,” Bernard scolded. “Gaius asked me to make sure you knew that there has, apparently, been a significant Canim incursion, which began at approximately the same time as Kalarus’s rebellion.”
Amara sucked in a breath. “Indeed? What has happened?”
“Details are still sketchy,” Bernard said. “The Cursors in the area were under attack from Kalarus’s Bloodcrows. Several are dead, many more missing and presumed underground. But apparently Gaius has some way of seeing things that are happening out there once the clouds were out of his way. The Canim came ashore near…” He frowned, brow furrowing. “It’s a big bridge over the Tiber. I can’t remember the name, I hadn’t heard of it before.”
“The Elinarch,” Amara said. “It’s the only place a sizeable force can cross the river securely.”
“That’s it,” he agreed. “He sent the First Aleran Legion to hold the bridge.”
“First Aleran? That… dog and pony Legion? There’s a pool on in the Cursors as to how many years it will be before that circus actually sees combat.”
“Mmm?” Bernard said. “I hope you bet low.”
Amara’s eyebrows lifted.
“Apparently, they managed to stand off about sixty thousand Canim.”
She nearly choked on the bite of chicken. “What?”
Bernard nodded. “They landed near the bridge, but they’ve moved south, and they’re securing several fortified towns in the area and along the coast.”
“The Canim have never done anything like that before,” Amara said. “Or come in numbers like this.” She fretted her lower lip. “Sixty thousand…”
“The next best thing to ten Legions of their own, yes,” Bernard said.
There was a knock at the door. Bernard rose and went to it. His deep voice rumbled quietly as Amara finished her meal, and he returned with Plaeidus Aria in tow.
Lady Placida was once again regal, calm, and immaculately dressed in green silk. Her deep auburn hair was worn loose and flowing, and she smiled warmly at Amara as she approached and bowed her head. “Count, Countess.”
Amara started to set her tea aside and rise, but Lady Placida lifted a hand. “No, Amara, please. I know you’ve been injured. Please, rest.”
Bernard gave Lady Placida an approving glance and offered her his chair.
“No thank you, Count,” she said. “I shan’t keep you long. I only wanted to see you both, so that I could thank you for taking me out of that awful place. I consider myself to be deeply indebted to you both.”
“Your Grace,” Amara said, shaking her head. “There is no need to-”
“Thank you,” Lady Placida cut in, “because you were only doing your duty and my thanks should rightfully go to the First Lord, yes, yes. Save yourself the trouble of making the speech, Amara. What you did was more than simply a job. Especially given the murky group dynamic of your associates. Which was, by the way, very well handled.” Her eyes flashed, wickedly merry. “Especially the bit where you took their clothes.”
Amara shook her head, and said, “It probably would have been better not to do that.”
“Never fear, dear,” Lady Placida said. “You’re too decent to court her favor, too smart to believe everything she tells you, and too loyal to the Realm to involve yourself in her little games. You could never have been anything but In-vidia’s enemy.” She smiled. “You just… started it a bit early. With style.”
Amara felt a little laugh escape her.
Lady Placida’s expression sobered. “You went beyond the call of duty.” She turned her head to Bernard and bowed again. “Both of you did. I and my lord husband are in your debt. If you are ever in need, you have only to ask.”
Amara frowned at her, and then glanced at Bernard. “Is Rook…?”
“I spoke to Gaius on her behalf,” Bernard said quietly. “Pardoned and free to go.”
Amara smiled, somewhat surprised at the sense of satisfaction his words brought her. “Then, Lady Placida, there
“Only,” she said sternly, “if you stop Ladying me. I have a name, dear.”
Amara’s smiled widened. “Aria,” she said.
“Name it.”
“Rook and her daughter have nowhere to go, and don’t even own the clothes on their backs. She doesn’t want to remain involved in the game-not with her daughter to care for. If it isn’t too much to ask, perhaps you know a steadholt where she might fit in. Somewhere quiet. Safe.”
Aria pursed her lips, looking thoughtfully at Amara. “I might know such a place.”
“And…” Amara smiled at Bernard. “One other thing.”
“What?” Bernard said. Then his expression changed to one of understanding, and he smiled. “Oh, right.”
Amara looked back at Aria and said, “She’ll also need a pony. Her daughter, you see. Rook had promised her, and I want her to be able to make good on it.”
“She’ll need two,” Bernard said, smiling at Amara. He glanced at Aria, and said, “My favor can be the other pony.”
Lady Placida looked at both of them, then shook her head, a smile growing over her mouth. “I think I’m going to like you both very much,” she said quietly. Then she bowed to them again, more deeply this time, and said. “I’ll see to it. If you will excuse me?”
“Of course, “ Amara said, bowing her head. “And thank you.”
Bernard walked Lady Placida to the door, and returned to Amara. He stopped to regard her for a moment, pride in his eyes. Then he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, on both eyes, on her lips. “I love you very much, you know.”
Amara smiled back at him. “I love you, too.”
“Time for something nice,” he said, and slipped his arms beneath her. He picked her up lightly, carrying her to the bed.
“Bernard…” Amara began. “You drive me mad with lust, but today isn’t the best time…”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Bernard replied. “But all that flying around in that little red silk number wasn’t good for your skin.” He laid her down on the bed and gently removed her clothes. Then he took a small jar from the night stand drawer and opened it. A warm scent, something like cinnamon, rose into the air. Bernard settled down on the bed beside her, and poured some of the jar’s contents, some sort of scented oil, onto his palms. He rubbed his hands together for a moment and murmured, “The healer said this would be best to help your skin mend itself. Your legs first, I think.”
Then his strong, warm hands began to slide over her legs, spreading oil over irritated, tender, dry skin. Amara felt herself melt into a puddle of contented exhaustion, and for the next hour or so, she just lay beneath his hands. He would move her limbs from time to time, and then he turned her over to take care of that side, too. The warmth of the oil, the sensation of his gentle hands on her worn muscles, the satisfying, heavy heat of the meal in her belly combined to keep her warm and send her into a languid torpor. She shamelessly reveled in it.
Amara woke up later with his arms around her, and she laid her cheek against his shoulder. It was dark. The only light came from the last embers of the fire.
“Bernard?” she whispered.
“I’m here, “ he said.
Her throat swelled up, tightened, and she whispered, “I’m so sorry. I haven’t ever been late before.” She
