Free Divined by Emily Wibberley Page B

controlled expression. “Please.” He held his hand out and gestured for Clio and Ashira to walk ahead into the next room. “You know, Ixie, even if I fail to amuse you tonight, I have a feeling you will find my cousin somewhat interesting, despite his unfortunate relation to me.”
    “Ealis,” Ixie said with feigned shock. “ You never fail to amuse me, in some way or other.”
    They walked into a wide sitting room. A low table surrounded by red and gold pillows took up the center of the room. The white walls were left bare of any murals or carvings, instead decorated with the flickering dance of golden candlelight.
    “But I’m curious. What about your cousin do you think might interest me?” Ixie asked, taking a seat on one of the large pillows.
    “Well, his opinion of me is not completely dissimilar from yours.” Ealis sat only after Clio and Ashira had been seated. “And if that’s not enough, he’s been living in the Empire for a couple years now. I expect he could give you news from your home.”
    Ixie did straighten at this, and Clio found herself reaching for the blade she no longer carried.
    “He was filling me in on some of the latest Empire news. Apparently, the offerings quotas have only gotten steeper in the face of this mass exodus of the borders.
    “Yes, the Order really has gotten out of control.” A familiar voice spoke from behind Clio. She turned, and was on her feet before another word could be said.
    Nox stood before her, dressed in the amber robes of the Order.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    “What are you doing here, Nox?” Clio asked, blood roaring in her veins. She felt Vazuil stir in the back of her mind, and pain pulsed through her thoughts.  
    Nox was much changed since the last time Clio saw him, and she realized he had grown into a man. His cheeks were narrower, his neck longer. Still, the same intelligent eyes shone in his unreadable face.
    “I’m here to see you, of course.” He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and for the second time that evening, Clio found her hand unconsciously drifting to her thigh.
    “You came to Cearo for me?”  
    Ealis was going to find out who she was. She could trust him, she felt certain of that. But she should have done so long ago. Now, after having lied to him, what kind of man would forgive that so easily? After everything he had done for her. Clio glanced at Ealis. She was to lose his friendship soon, and the realization hurt more than Clio expected.
    “Of course not. I came to Cearo on Order business, and my cousin asked me if I could help brew a certain elixir for a young woman who recently entered the city. I quickly put it together.”
    “I’m sorry, you two know each other?” Ealis asked, looking between Nox and Clio.
    “He’s the one who made the draught for me in the first place,” Clio answered.
    “You said the man who made you the draught was your friend. I’m struggling to understand why you seem on the verge of darting from the room. Maia, what’s going on?” Ealis’ eyes were wary.
    “Because,” Nox answered. “She’s afraid I’m going to reveal who she is or drag her back to the Empire myself. Isn’t that right, Clio ?”
    The words hung in the air. Clio spun to face Ealis, expecting to see surprise and anger war across his face. Instead, he folded his hands in front of him. “Nox, you do not intend to do this, right?”
    Nox glanced at his cousin. “Like I said, I’m not here for that. The Order sent me out to track a slave train that recently disappeared just outside the Empire.” His eyes landed on Clio. “I’m now realizing what may have happened to them.”
    “You cannot track slaves or fugitives inside Cearo, not unless you wish to incite war,” Ealis said with more force behind his words than Clio had ever before heard.
    Something darkened in Nox’s expression as he looked at Ealis. “Serving the Order was never my choice, or have you forgotten how you and your fellow councilors made that