“Understood,” said Scorio. “Thank you, anyway.”
“You’re welcome. And one more thing.” She crossed her arms, leaned in again. “Dola’s been asking after you.”
“Oh yeah?” He turned to stare at her. “Why?”
“Don’t know. I told her people we’d lost track of you. This was after the city got torn up. Everyone was talking about you. Word must have reached her.”
“Oh.” Scorio considered, but he was too elated to hold onto the thought. “That life’s behind me.”
“So it is.” She stood up, considered him, then shook her head with a rueful smile. “You surprised me, Scorio. You’ve come a long way. Respect.”
“Thank you,” he shouted. “Couldn’t have done it without you guys!”
“I know.” She grinned, then leaned in one more time. “And don’t you forget it.” At that, she smirked and strode off into the crowd.
Scorio sat back, feeling tired, feeling good, feeling at peace. Saw Naomi drifting by, looking lost and out of place, and raised his arm. “Naomi! Over here!”
For a second, he thought she’d not heard him, would be swallowed up the crowd again, but then she caught sight of his waving arm and came over. Taking Feiyan’s chair, she smoothed her robe over her knees.
“Having a good time?” he shouted.
“Fine!”
“Good! Want another drink?”
“No, thank you.” She seemed to resent having to shout but didn’t lean in much closer. “We should go. Leonis is getting drunk. We need him to get us home.”
“All right, sure.” Scorio considered her for a moment, then leaned in himself. “We’ve got to enjoy moments like these, you know?”
“Sure,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
“No, I’m serious! What’s the point of all the hard work if we don’t get to be happy?”
She said something, but he missed it.
“What?”
“I don’t trust happiness,” she shouted, then recoiled as if startled by her own volume.
“What do you mean? We’ve earned this!”
She leaned in at last, cupped her hand to her mouth to direct her voice into his ear. “I mean, don’t get complacent!”
“Come on!” Exasperation arose within him. “Life doesn’t always have to be terrible—good things can actually happen to us!”
“You trust too easily!” He could barely hear her. “They’re not your friends! They just want to use you. The moment you stop being useful, they’ll get rid of you!”
Scorio sat back, dismayed. He studied her and shook his head.
She met his gaze, looked away, looked back.
“Can’t you be happy for me? Even for just one night?”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” she shouted, leaning in again. “You still don’t understand. House Chimera—”
“No.” He stood. “You just can’t stand to see anyone do well.” He knew his words were getting away from him, but the alcohol, the way she was crushing his good mood, it was too much. “We don’t have to be miserable all the time. Just because you don’t trust anyone or anything and don’t want to take advantage of the Academy’s opportunities doesn’t mean I shouldn’t—by the ten hells, Naomi, sometimes we’re allowed to just enjoy life for a damn second!”
Her eyes went wide, and she stood up. “You’re being naive! I’m trying to warn you, the danger is real—”
“Damn it, Naomi!” He raked his hands wildly through his hair. His rage came rushing to the fore, and he glared at her, incensed. “Stop pretending you’re still in your tower! Or is that it? Can you not stop? Are you going to be stuck inside that room forever, waiting for it to fall?”
She stared at him, startled, face pale, then stepped into the crowd and was gone.
“Naomi!” He went after her, but the crowd had swallowed her whole. “Naomi! Damn it!”
He fell back, sat down hard. Glowered at the crowd, then took a deep breath. The room swayed, music played on, the people danced, but something had been stolen from the night. Naomi had been right about one thing, at least.
It was time to start heading back.
Chapter 53
“Naomi’s still not here,” said Lianshi, emerging from her room with her hair wrapped up in a towel, looking slightly green in the face but refreshed from her dip in the grotto pool. “Her bed’s not been touched.”
Scorio sat at the dining table, propping his head on the base of one palm, trying to muster the will to plunge into the pool himself. Last night’s excesses plagued him, and he felt turgid, stale, a headache pounding behind his eyes and with a mouth that tasted like an ashtray.
“Great.” He stared bleakly at the tabletop.
Leonis emerged from his room, dressed in his training robes and looking half-dead. He withdrew a black pill from a small box and popped it into his mouth; a second later Scorio felt his Heart ignite, and the massive man’s face regained some color. “Ah. The perks of being a Great Soul. You ignited yet, Scorio?”
“No.” The last thing he wanted to do was exert his will on reluctant mana.
“Do so. Nothing cleans the system out like a burning Heart. Trust me.”
“Hello? Naomi didn’t come home last night.” Lianshi placed her hands on her hips and stared at them both. “Aren’t you worried?”
Scorio sat up, summoned his Heart, and though it caused his headache to redouble, he forced a modicum of Coal into his core, then willed it to light. It took far more effort than it should have, and he felt his brow prickle with sweat, but the moment the black flames lit up his Heart, he felt the pain and sickliness burn away before the strength that flooded into his system.
“Of course I’m worried,” said Leonis. “But Naomi is an Emberling and tougher than the three of us put together. Wherever she is, she wants to be there. And I respect that.” He paused, eyed Scorio. “Even if I don’t respect the words that offended her so.”
“I was angry,” said Scorio, standing up slowly. “And drunk. She was being negative—”
“So you told her that not everyone in this world is a miserable person,” said Lianshi, repeating what he’d told them last night. “Very smooth. Exactly the kind of thing someone like Naomi would relish hearing.”
“I know, I know, I’d apologize if I could find her. My temper got the better of me.” Scorio knuckled his eyes then sighed. “I bet she returned to the ruins. You guys up for heading down there and looking around?”
“Given the amount of celebrating we did last night? Sure.” Leonis’s jaw cracked as he yawned hugely behind his fist. “Not like I’ve much of an appetite for fine food and wine before lunch.”
“Yes,” said Lianshi. “And when we find her, you’d better let me do the talking. Who knows how upset she is? The mere sight of you might send her into her Nightmare Lady form.”
“Fair enough.” Scorio leaned back, causing his spine to pop, then rubbed at his head. “All right. A swim in the pool, fresh robes, and we can head out. Deal?”
“Deal,” said Leonis. “I’ll join you.”
A knock sounded at the door, stiff and official.
They all froze and glanced at each other.
“Don’t worry,” said Leonis. “Not only is it absolutely normal for tournament winners to head out and celebrate, but I promised to take the fall for last night, and I will. Leave it to me.” He padded over to the door and cracked it open. “Yes?”
A voice sounded from outside, officious and impersonal. “Chancellor Praximar has summoned Cinder Scorio to his office. Is he here?”
Leonis stiffened. “If this is about last night, I can explain.”
“I don’t know what it’s about,” said the man. “Is Cinder Scorio here?”
Leonis reluctantly opened the door wide, and Scorio saw a servant dressed in House Hydra colors standing stiffly in the hallway.
“Here,” said Scorio, stepping forward. “Is there a problem?”
“That is for the chancellor to discuss with you, and not for me to reveal in a public hallway. Please get dressed immediately and accompany me.”