Sacrifice (Catalyst Moon #5) by Lauren L Garcia

Author:Lauren L Garcia [Lauren L. Garcia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lauren L Garcia
Published: 2022-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

The estate house cast a long shadow across Seren’s Children in the early evening light. Every instinct screamed at Eris to flee the manicured lawns and exotic flowering plants—no doubt imported to the second-tier mansion at great expense—but she kept the urge in check. She and the other mages were meeting the Assembly as equals, not prisoners, and she had to focus on the task at hand.

Adrie craned her head to take in the turrets and spires of the house, many made of crystalline-like glass to mimic the royal palace’s grandeur. “Amazing,” Adrie breathed. “I’ve never seen any home as grand as this.’

“It’s not a home, it’s a statement of power,” Eris replied. “I grew up in one of these, you know.”

“Which explains why you look like you’re about to be sick,” Adrie said, only half in jest.

Indeed, Eris’s turning stomach had nothing to do with her pregnancy. “I’ll be fine once this meeting is over.” At least the dozen or so other mages who’d chosen to accompany them were all too fascinated by the frip’s manor to pay her any mind. Brice and Rilla led the way, with Drake and Atanar between them. Leal wasn’t in sight; no doubt the Sufani man was scouting the surrounding area, searching for enemies. Thank Seren for his stubborn adherence to his role, since Eris did not want to risk shifting to crow shape.

But she was far from defenseless. All the mages were ready to fight, should matters reach that point, although Eris refused to lose any more of her people.

While fields and farmlands surrounded this property, they were far too close to Lasath—and the sentinels there—for Eris’s liking. It was only a few hours’ travel to the capital city – as the crow flew.

“Look alive,” Adrie murmured. “I think I spy the gentlefolk of the manor.”

Indeed, a group had stepped onto the gravel drive to meet the mages. Rilla called greetings as Brice bounded ahead to meet the woman with dark hair who led the group.

“That must be the leader of this cell,” Adrie said. “Brice said she was a friend.”

The two women embraced before Brice pulled away, gesticulating at the mages behind her. The Assembly leader looked at Eris, who knew her own measure was being taken. She squared her shoulders and met the other woman’s stare.

The sun had dipped below the horizon when both groups met in front of the house. Leal returned, coming to Eris’s side with a single nod that meant, all’s well. Despite this, Eris’s nervous tension didn’t ease.

Brice and Rilla stood at the center of the two groups while Brice made the necessary introductions. “Some of you may remember Drake.” She pointed to him, and he lifted a hand in greeting. “But I don’t think any of you know Eris Echina.”

The Assembly leader’s gaze snapped to Eris. “Echina?” she repeated.

She was a flute of a woman, thin and spare, with a nose that looked like it’d been broken a few times. Her eyes were black and hard, like shards of broken glass at midnight, and they fixed upon Eris with a hunter’s aim.

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