“You’ll have trouble with nobles and certain Magoi, like healers. Both are a minority. Most Sintans are happy with Egeria. They even like you,” I say with a go figure look that makes him chuckle outright. “Your family gives instead of takes. That’s a huge change. It’s unexpected.”
“Are you finally warming up to Egeria?”
I shrug. “She’s all right.”
His eyes sparkle. “Such high praise.”
“Recruit,” I say, ignoring his sarcasm. “If that’s not enough, we’ll think of something else.”
He cocks his head and looks at me with curiosity. “You have something in mind.”
“I always have something in mind.”
Griffin leans toward me, his voice deepening. “So do I.”
His suggestive tone instantly heats me up. Despite my growing weakness, desire takes up a steady beat inside me.
“Don’t tease,” I admonish. “This is serious.”
“Who’s teasing?”
I give him a flat look. “Ipotane.”
He gives me a flat look back. “Not what I had in mind.”
I roll my eyes, trying to catch my breath, which takes a lot more effort than it should. “But you know what they are?”
“Magical creatures. Half-human, half-horse.”
I nod, and his lips thin.
“Magical creatures aren’t trustworthy,” Griffin says.
“True, but there’s always a way to ensnare them. It’s their universal flaw.”
“And you know how to ensnare a lot of Ipotane?” Griffin asks. “Enough to protect a half-dozen cities?”
“No, but I know someone who might. A Chaos Wizard in northern Fisa, just below the Frozen Lake.”
A thunderstorm rolls into his eyes. “You would go back to Fisa?”
I swallow the anxiety welling in my chest. “Recruit first. We might not need the wizard or the Ipotane.” I really hope not because I never want to set foot in Fisa again, and I really don’t want that wizard spouting another prophecy at me. The first one was bad enough.
“We’ll think about it,” Griffin says. “Let’s see how the recruiting goes first.”
I would nod, but I don’t seem to have the strength anymore.
The sun gets hotter and even more intense as we travel west. My dark braid absorbs the heat and burns a line down my spine. Weak and shaky and on fire, I grit my teeth and keep going. That’s what I’ve always done. But strength and courage are in short supply, and I quickly stoop to silently begging Zeus for a storm. Nothing happens. Either he’s not listening, or he doesn’t think my being incredibly uncomfortable is an emergency.
Griffin hands me fruit and glowers at me until I eat, but I feel nauseous, and the heat is a constant, horrible plague. The only thing keeping me sane is the glacial shard around my neck. I push on the vial again and again, grinding it into my skin until its iciness brings some relief.
When it starts getting dark, I think Zeus heard me after all and sent a storm to cool us down. I don’t realize it’s my vision failing until Griffin’s arm is around my waist and he’s dragging me off Panotii’s back.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“You’re about to fall off.” He settles me onto his lap, tucking my head under his chin. “I’ve got you.”
I know. And it scares me half to death. “Everyone will think I’m weak.”
“They won’t think you’re weak. They know you’re recovering.” His deep voice sinks into me, soothing. His steady heartbeat thumps against my back. I feel like sighing, but that would be ridiculous. “My soldiers worship you. You saved me. You saved them.”
“I didn’t save them,” I mumble. “They weren’t even there.”
“Under Piers’s command, they would have fought to free Ios. How many lives did you spare?”
Sleepy, I scratch my forehead against his bristly jaw. “I didn’t do it for them.”
Griffin’s arm tightens around my waist. It’s almost too tight, but I don’t have the energy to complain. Or maybe I just don’t want to.
CHAPTER 28
“You can’t trust her. She’s northern. She’s Fisan!” The voice is a woman’s, and she’s hissing like a snake.
My eyelids are so heavy I panic. I slowly slide them open, driving them up by sheer force of will. The glacial shard in my pendant pulses with magic, searing my skin with cold. It gives me the strength to turn my head enough to face the tent’s wide-open door. Outside, there’s a darkening sky and a canopy of leaves. Griffin is standing with a woman on the far side of a campfire.