Divined Read Free Page B

at her side. The commander.
    He hadn’t seen her yet, and Clio took the moment to take in his appearance. As always, he had donned his golden cloak. Underneath, Clio knew he wore no fewer than four blades at a time. His hair was shorter than the last time she’d seem him. She noticed the ends were jagged, as if it’d been chopped off in a hurry or, knowing Riece as she did, he’d likely taken a blade to it himself with little concern or care for his appearance.
    “Excuse me,” Derik began, and Riece and Zarae turned.
    Riece’s skin was darker. It always was whenever he came back from a long journey, as he opted to walk among the men rather than ride in one of the carried cabins. His brown eyes widened as he saw Clio, and she could tell by the way his gaze drank in her appearance he was pleased to see her. But something twitched in his grin, and the thick scar around his neck tightened, which Clio knew meant he was restraining his anger.
    “Commander Riece, Princess Zarae, you remember Sheehan’s prized warrior, the Lady Clio?” Derik asked while the nobles watched.
    “How could we forget?” Riece said. He reached for Clio, his eyes never leaving hers as he laid a careful kiss on the back of her hand. Clio looked around at the crowd and blushed as she snatched her hand back. A small grin broke through Riece’s controlled demeanor. “My apologies, my lady. A common custom at the Corner. I’ve been among them so long, certain habits are hard to break.”
    “How very forgetful of you, Commander,” Clio said, trying to ignore the pleasant burn his lips always left on her skin.
    “I wonder what could have brought you all the way here into the city on this day, Lady Clio.” Clio didn’t miss the reproach in his tone.
    Zarae glided between them. “Commander, as a high-ranking warrior, Lady Clio is part of the nobility.”
    “I’m aware.” Riece shifted his gaze to the princess.
    “And I was sent to lend support to you as you put forth this difficult question to the nobility of Sheehan. While we are graced with the presence of Lady Clio, perhaps it would be prudent to put the question forth sooner rather than later, while we have her, that is. After all, you did say you wanted all the nobility present, did you not?”
    Clio watched something pass between Riece and Zarae. Something that had Riece straightening up, every muscle tense. He risked sending Clio a quick, nervous look, and Clio realized he hadn’t wanted her to be here for this at all.
    Riece paused, his gaze landing hard on Zarae. “Of course, Princess.” Turning away, he walked over to the center of the room and motioned for the palace drummers to silence the crowd into attention.
    Clio caught the satisfied smirk that played across Zarae’s lips. “He didn’t send you to fetch me, did he?” Clio asked, knowing the answer.
    Zarae lifted her chin so as to look down on Clio. “Let’s see you try to stay out of everything now,” Zarae whispered as every face in the room turned toward Riece.
    “Noblemen and women of Sheehan, I thank you for making the time to greet me today. I promise I will not keep you long, but I’m afraid my betrothed and I come to your glorious city with upsetting news.”
    Zarae stepped forward to stand at Riece’s side, a show of beauty that relaxed the room. Surely, Sheehan wasn’t in danger if the princess was here.
    “You recall years ago how Sheehan relied on a woman who styled herself as the Oracle,” Riece continued.
    Clio felt herself shrinking into the crowd. She caught Derik’s eye for a fraction of a heartbeat, but dared not make any sudden movements.
    “We thought she and her entire line had already suffered death for the treason they committed against your good king and our great Emperor. But the Emperor has recently heard one girl survived.” Gasps echoed across the stone, but Riece held his hands up, urging silence. “She has claimed the powers of the Oracle, and is by her very nature a crime