Chapter Sixteen

O rion watched as Evienne disappeared into the crowd milling around the garden. This snake of a woman—her former wife, apparently—had clearly shaken her. Orion struggled to contain his anger over how she had treated Evienne. He turned to look at Cecelia, who had a deep scowl on her face.

“What a horrible woman,” she hissed.

“I was not expecting such rudeness from someone of her standing; a surprise indeed,” Jac mused.

“Is she always that awful?” Solon asked Cecelia.

“Unfortunately, yes,” she answered with a sigh.

“Excuse me,” Orion said, bowing his head to the group before striding after Evienne. He knew he couldn’t just let her go; she had clearly been upset. He found himself wanting to comfort her, to ensure she was alright.

He followed the path she had taken into the vast wooded area outside the manicured, eerily perfect lawn that hosted the party. This part of the garden was natural and full of seemingly untamed life.

He found her on one of the forested paths, surrounded by hundred year old trees and mossy ground. Red and yellow leaves caught the fading rays of the sun, and the sound of songbirds floated on the air.

“Evienne, are you alright?” He asked as he approached. She was flushed and breathing faster than normal.

“Yes, thank you. I am sorry you had to see that.”

“Why would you apologize for the rudeness of another? You did nothing wrong.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.

“That is not exactly how I imagined you learning about my past,” Evienne said with a nervous laugh. “I honestly didn’t expect it to come up at all, and I don’t know why it is bothering me so much that you know now. It’s not as if whatever is between us can last beyond this month.”

Evienne’s words sent a jolt of sadness through Orion, but he ignored the feeling for now. He already knew he wanted more with her, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it.

“She had no right to speak to you that way, but please do not be embarrassed on my account. You don’t owe me any answers, but I am here to listen if you need me.”

Evienne nodded and looked at him then, shame written across her features though she was clearly trying to stifle it—it broke his heart.

“Dominique and I separated three years ago. Our relationship was one of the darkest times of my life.”

“Thank you for sharing with me, Evienne. Would you like to walk?”

Orion offered her an arm. He wasn’t all that surprised that she had been married before; she was an incredible woman who had lived a full life. He was glad, selfishly, that it hadn’t been the right fit for her; that they had a chance now.

Evienne accepted his offered arm, and they started down the lovely forested path in the late afternoon light. As they walked in silence, the urge to tell Evienne everything about the true reason for his trip to Ichorna returned in full force. Her honesty had him wanting to confide in her even more. Every moment he spent with her made him feel more sure that she would prioritize what was right over her loyalty to Ichorna. He was sure her curiosity, at the very least, would have her eager to help him find answers.

Now that he was here, he realized that to truly find answers, he would need someone who had been here in Ichorna to observe—knowingly or not—what may be happening. He and Solon had discussed the possibility of finding someone on the inside to help them in their search; perhaps Evienne was the right one for the job. His longing to be open with her, to trust her, further stoked his suspicions around who she may be to him, no matter how impossible it seemed. He would never know without his magic though, and he felt the ache of sadness at the thought.

He suddenly found he had made his decision. Caution and withdrawal had not gotten his people any closer to restoring their magic. He had an opportunity here to make things right, and he would trust his intuition.

“Evienne, there is something I’d like to share with you, if you are willing to hear it,” he began, pausing their stroll. “Do you believe we are quite alone here?”

Evienne cast her gaze around the forest, listening. In the next breath, she pressed the tip of the bladed ring she wore to her palm, and the cold, salty smell of her magic filled his senses.

“We are quite alone, but just in case, I’ve just shielded us. I am happy to hear whatever it is you have to discuss.” She assessed him openly, her curiosity apparent on her face.

“You must know that there is a reason Solon and I have come to Ichorna that runs deeper than attending the celebration,” he began. She blinked and nodded her understanding, tilting her head slightly to the side in an invitation to continue.

“I would like to share our purpose with you in confidence. I have not known you long, Evienne, but it is apparent to me that you possess a noble heart, and a kind spirit. You have a love for your people that is admirable, and I would like to believe your empathy extends to all the peoples of Domhan na Rùin.” He paused, waiting for her response.

“I am flattered by your assessment of my character; I should hope your trust in my integrity is not misplaced.” Her eyes softened as she spoke, and she stepped toward him slightly.

“Solon and I are here to find what answers we can about the disappearance of the Tuanadair’s magic. I shared with you that it has now fully gone. We can trace its slow draining to the first royal union between Ichorna’s King Bastille and his consort, a Beitaran noblewoman named Alina, two hundred years ago. We do not know how the siphoning continues to take place, or for what purpose, but we believe it has been Ichorna’s doing. The timing cannot be only coincidence. I am here to research and make some sense of our plight if I can.”

He held her gaze, hoping she could see the truth of his soul—that his intentions were noble, that he sought to help his own people just as she served hers each day.Evienne’s mouth opened slightly in shock; she was unable to keep her surprise from her features. She blinked slowly, clearly processing all he had just told her.Orion second-guessed himself for a moment, but mostly he felt relieved. He wanted desperately to find her an ally, to be closer with her.

“If what you say is true, Ichorna has committed, and continues to commit, a grave injustice against your people, Orion. As difficult as this is to hear, and as impossible as I hope it to be, I cannot dismiss what you’ve told me. I just hope it is some kind of misunderstanding.” She raised her hands to press against her temples, her sadness, shock, and worry clouding the air between them.

“I understand this is a heavy accusation to level, and I hope it is not true; but you understand I must search for answers. My people deserve the truth of what’s been done to them,” he said, his tone soft. Orion knew this was a difficult thing to ask her to hear out.

Evienne turned her delicate round face to meet his gaze with her honey-colored eyes. “I will think on it.”

Orion nodded. He wished her answer had been an immediate yes, but he respected what a significant decision it would be for her. Her thoughtfulness gave him hope, but his anxiety at having to trust her was rising. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he had nothing to fear from her; that did not, however, make the rest of his racing thoughts any calmer. He supposed he would have to wait and see if she chose her duty or the truth.