The Dragons of Nova (Loom Saga #2)(49)

Cvareh emerged from the smothering blackness into a room of pure light, feeling like he had been born again in the process. His eyes narrowed to thin slits, adjusting to the sudden change in brightness. They found the room’s focal point. Not any sort of art, but a woman. Muscles bulged from her skin, fueled by frustrations that Petra had yet to relinquish. Her eyes were locked on the Temple of Lord Xin, visible in the far distance through the glass windows that made up more of the walls than the stone.

“Brother.” Petra shifted slightly on the pedestal where she sat.

He accepted her invitation, sitting on the opposite edge. He leaned so their backs and heads would touch. One mind, one body, one unit that existed for House Xin. Cvareh closed his eyes and readied his ears for the words of the Oji.

“Yveun seeks to root out weakness in our House.”

“He does.”

“I informed Cain that all are to be ready, that we are to be the ones to fight duels. We will open our land to his Court, but I will not give him our blood easily.”

Cvareh expected no less. “I will seek out Finnyr for potential challenge opportunities.”

“Let it be done.”

None could ever say that Petra hesitated. In moments she could assess a situation for an opportunity and decide upon the best course of action. It was more than Cvareh could do in hours some days.

“I cannot keep you from this Court.” Her voice shifted slightly at the mere notion of him.

Cvareh gave the world a tired smile. “We knew this day would come.”

“I cannot stand for you.”

“I understand.”

Petra could stand for nearly anyone in House Xin, but not Cvareh. He was her brother and the chosen Ryu. All eyes turned to him to defend the House in her name and carry the title of Oji should she be felled in some form of misfortune other than a sanctioned duel. He would have to defend himself, or he would never be accepted as the Ryu again.

“How many could you kill?”

Cvareh considered it a long moment. The first time he’d really put training to application was on Loom, and that had been a failure overall. Though using any combat against Arianna was entirely unfair… Responsibility suddenly crushed him, the supports that held it over his head breaking the moment he awoke to the real truth of his standing.

“No more than three beads.” He put it in the perspective of the King’s Riders—a somewhat universal standard for the might of a warrior.

Silence was Petra’s way of screaming her displeasure. “You must work with Cain.”

“I will.”

“Daily.”

“I will.”

“Cvareh.” Her body was so tense he was surprised her muscles had yet to snap her bones from the strain.

“Petra.”

“You must not die on me. That is an order from the Oji to her Ryu.” The room was so silent he could hear her swallow. “We did not come this far together for you to fall to Rok scum. Go beneath the surface, find duels, gain practice killing.”

Unsanctioned duels were something the Oji should discourage at all costs. Yet here she was, doing the exact opposite. The ends would come before the ideals sacrificed to reach them. They were Xin.

“I will.”

A different sort of quiet passed between them. A comfortable separation of realities where Nova existed elsewhere and they were the only people in the world of Petra’s meditation tower. Cvareh played with Arianna’s name in his head, trying to figure out how best to broach the topic.

“Out with it.” Petra sensed his turmoil.

“Arianna and I… We went into Napole, and she wore the guise of a Xin.”

“Good. I could not handle dealing with the common populous knowing we harbored an odd Chimera.”

“I introduced her as an Anh.”

Petra didn’t move; she hardly seemed to breathe. “You are truly an idiot, brother.”

“I did not expect a Crimson Court.”

“No, and you wanted to make it known you had found a potential mate.” Petra’s tone was stretched between amusement, frustration, and exasperation. “She could have been nothing more than a slave, and yet you chose to give her a name of our House.”

Was that what it was? Cvareh wondered to himself. “I was merely trying to protect her.”

Petra broke the room’s stillness with unabashed laughter. “From what you tell me of our Chimera, you should be more worried about protecting yourself. I do not think the woman wants nor needs you to fight her battles.”

“You know her surprisingly well for someone who has spoken to her once.”

“Cain tells me things.”

It was Cvareh’s turn to tense. It was no secret that Cain delighted in his sister’s happiness. They weren’t a poor match, either. But Cvareh didn’t relish the notion of any man with Petra. Furthermore, the last one who had aspired ended with a few holes in unexpected places and a gouged out throat when he had ultimately displeased Cvareh’s sister. And Cvareh actually liked Cain.

“You’ve introduced her as your own. If she’s challenged, you’ll stand for her.” Duty pulled the command from Petra’s lips.

“She won’t be challenged,” he offered hopefully, not wanting to linger on the fact that Petra had just all but said that Ari’s life would ultimately be worth more than his. “Those who know she exists won’t care enough to interrupt the flow of the pit with all the duels we will be challenging in Rok. It would be against the spirit of the Court.”