The Ciphers of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood #2)(94)
Maia stared at him, feeling her heart fill with buttery warmth. “And so . . . you truly intend to become a maston?”
He gave her a small, soft smile and nodded once.
She squeezed his hand and then hugged him fiercely. He put his arms around her and held her, gently stroking her hair. As she squeezed her eyes shut, she felt as if she were living in a dream she might awaken from suddenly.
“We have visitors,” he whispered in her ear, and she pulled away, feeling a little shy. She was surprised to find Colvin and Lia approaching them, hand in hand. Colvin was tousling the purple mint as the couple walked, and their faces were so full of contentment and joy that Maia yearned to someday have with Collier what they had built.
Maia bowed to them, but Colvin gestured for her to stop, his expression amused.
“We have been enjoying the grounds as well,” Lia said. “They have changed since our day. There is a walled garden over there that was not here before. Your mother’s, I understand. What a lovely display of flowers and a precious place of solitude.”
“The gardener was kind,” Colvin said. “He explained some of the flowers and the history. But I have always enjoyed this particular spot the most.” He gave Lia a knowing look and a tender smile.
“May I speak to you?” Maia asked Lia. She glanced at Collier and gestured that it would not be long.
“Can we trust these two not to start a sword fight?” Lia teased. “The Earl of Dieyre and Earl of Forshee were once great rivals, you know.”
Collier laughed at that. “I would never presume an old man is incapable with a blade,” he said saucily to Colvin. “I saw him fight this morning, and I am satisfied his reputation is well deserved.”
Colvin smirked at the remark, and the two men began to talk as Lia and Maia wandered a short distance away.
“What is it, Maia?” Lia asked, putting an arm around her as they walked.
“How long will you stay at Muirwood?”
“We go to Pry-Ree on the morrow,” Lia said. “I have given your grandmother the rights and authority to open the Apse Veils throughout the kingdoms. I will go to Tintern, for I made a promise there as well. From Muirwood to all the other kingdoms, if you recall from my tome. Then I will write about our role in what happened at Muirwood today and seal that part of the tome with a binding sigil so that no one can speak of it. The memory will fade when there is no one to tell it.”
Maia wrinkled her brow. “But why keep it secret? You . . . you saved us!”
Lia shook her head. “You saved your people, Maia. Not I. Your faith and strength in the Medium are what allowed me to pass through a century. This is not my time. It is yours.”
A heavy sadness began to weigh on Maia. She had hoped against logic that Lia and Colvin would stay. Maybe some of that disappointment shone on her face. Lia smiled sadly at her and hugged her.
“The Apse Veil is open. The dead are returning to Idumea as we speak. I have sensed them all around us today. While everyone here is preparing for the festival, there have been celebrations happening unseen in the other realm.” She stroked Maia’s arm. “I have sensed your respect and affection for Richard Syon, your Aldermaston, which is how I feel about Gideon Penman, who was the Aldermaston here when I was a child.” Her voice became thick with emotion. “I saw him in the abbey, Maia. He is remaining on the grounds until all the dead who were trapped have passed through the Apse Veil. And he will stay behind until the future of the abbey is secure.”
Maia started. “What do you mean?”
Lia shook her head. “The danger has not passed. It is only delayed. Sabine must go to Assinica to open the path for the refugees from that land. The armada has already arrived on their shores. They are beseeching the Medium to fulfill the Covenant of Muirwood and deliver them from death. Sabine will arrive, as High Seer over all the lands, to bring them to safety. That will take time, Maia. The Victus will hear rumors of what happened in Muirwood this day, and the armada will return for vengeance.” Her gaze was serious and concerned. “Maia, they will launch an invasion of Comoros unlike any seen in any kingdom before. They will seek to make this kingdom void of life. They will use every power, every soldier, every warship they possess to crush the mastons and raze the abbeys.” She shook her head, her eyes full of sorrow. “I have seen it.”
Maia’s heart felt the dread. “A void,” she whispered. “What must we do?”
Lia shook her head. “I cannot tell you. The Medium forbids me.” She smiled sadly. “No one told me my future before it happened. I had to make my decisions without knowing the full consequences of them. Just as you did today with your father.”
“You know what will happen?”
Lia nodded. “Sometimes the Gift of Seering is a curse. I will not be here to face those challenges with you. You must learn what to do on your own, just as I did. Trust the Medium, Maia. Whatever happens. Trust the Medium.”
The overwhelming feelings made her knees tremble. “I must ask you this, Lia. It may be my last opportunity.”
“Very well.”
“I visited the Leering in Dahomey. The hetaera Leering that you cursed.” She swallowed, summoning her courage to ask the question, fearing what the answer would be. “I did not accept the brand . . . willingly. I abhor the hetaera and what they stand for. Being a maston now, I understand the implications more fully, and I deeply regret what happened. Is there no way—Lia, I killed an Aldermaston with a kiss. I would give anything for this stain to be purged from me.”