Scorio and Naomi departed.
“Maybe ease up on the decapitation threats,” Scorio suggested mildly.
“Hardly.” She smirked at him. “They’re lucky I’m only a Dread Blaze and can’t do worse.”
“I’m just saying. They’re ostensibly on our side now. We need to work together. Ruining what little goodwill we have with that kind of language doesn’t help.”
Naomi stopped, forcing Scorio to do the same and turn back.
“Scorio.” She glared at him. “Don’t be a trusting fool.”
“I’m not a fool. I’m a dead man that’s grasping at straws. I know they can’t fully be trusted, but we need them. Remember how long it took Xandera to enter her fully grown form? Odds are we’ll be fighting the Blood Ox’s fiends with a bunch of twelve-year-old blazeborn queens. We need the Iron Vanguard. If they run, if they betray us, we’ll deal with it. But we need to increase the odds of their helping turn this tide. Otherwise we’re dead.”
“You know what’s going to happen. We’ll fight the fiends, the Blood Ox will show up, and then we’ll all die.”
“The Imperators are here this time. There’s a chance they’ll intervene.”
“Not in time.” Her eyes filled with tears and she dashed them away. “Damn. Why did we do this? If I lose you now, I’ll…”
“You won’t lose me.” Scorio stepped in close. “Also, if I die, I’m pretty sure you’ll do something incredibly stupid right after, and then you’ll be dead and happy, too.”
She snorted. “Idiot.”
“That we can agree on. Nothing is certain, not even our defeat. There’s a chance. Which is why we need all the allies we can get.”
“Fine.” She sniffed and wiped her forearm across her eyes. “Just don’t do something incredibly stupid for no reason and get yourself killed.”
“You know I can’t promise that.”
“By the gods, you’re the worst!” But she grinned and fell in with him as they resumed walking back to the main spire. “Why did I have to fall in - I mean, why did I decide to use a complete idiot for his body?”
“Fantastic taste, I guess.” He grinned and slung an arm around her shoulders. She leaned her head into him, and they walked in silence till Alain sprang into being before them.
“Guys! There you are.” He was panting for breath.
“He’s here?” Scorio tensed. “It’s begun?”
“No, no, I’ve finally got Moira. She was getting impatient waiting while I ran around like an idiot trying to find which caldera you all were in.”
“And?” asked Naomi. “Are the Imperators in position?”
Alain raised a finger, asking for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. But. They can’t stay long. Something big and very bad is happening in the Twilight Cradle. They need to return very soon. If the Blood Ox doesn’t show within the next hour or two, they will leave.”
“You’re kidding me!” Naomi bared her teeth. “And just leave us to fight the Blood Ox alone?”
“Twilight Cradle stuff,” said Alain helplessly. “It’s apparently a really big deal? Makes our fight look trivial? I don’t know.”
“Well, fine.” Scorio fought the urge to curse. “Understood. Have you told her everything?”
“Yes. Bravurn, Xandera, the works.”
“Does she know anybody that can read the journals?”
“She said she’d have to see them.”
“Well, I’ve hidden them in an empty royal suite. Tell her to come back and find them in case we’re all killed by the Blood Ox.”
“She says alright. Also, I told her you were a Pyre Lord now.” Alain winced as if in anticipation of a blow. “She shouted for a bit and then ordered you not to die.”
“Ha,” said Scorio. “Fine. Since she insists.”
“Also, she’s fascinated by your relationship with the blazeborns. Especially Queen Xandera. She wants to know if you’ve agreed to any formal treaties or alliances or the like.”
Scorio stared at Alain. “What?”
“Because—and she’s making me say this—you don’t have the authority to act as a signatory on anything binding between her kind and our own. And that you shouldn’t make any official offers or—”
“Alright, I’ve heard enough. Tell her to shove it.”
Alain’s eyes widened. He frowned, glanced away, then back. “I told her you’ve not done any of those things, and won’t.”
“Fine. I don’t care. We’re heading to the caldera to see how Xandera is doing. And maybe—just maybe—I’ll sign an official alliance between her and every Imperator that ever lived while I’m at it.”
Naomi shook her head at Alain as she followed Scorio past him.
“Hey! I was just passing along her words!” Alain hurried to catch up. “I don’t know, it seemed important to her. Anyway, she’s gone now. She said she’ll be back. She didn’t like your idea of just staying present till the Blood Ox shows up.”
“We’d hate to inconvenience her,” sneered Naomi.
“No, more like she said the Imperators can sense what’s going on, or probably can.”
“Fine,” said Scorio. “I’m done arguing with people.”
“Also, I know this might not be the best time, but I was hoping you two could give me some advice.”
“Sure,” said Naomi. “Stop spying on people, stop trying to be funny, take more showers, focus on making Dread Blaze, and leave us alone.”
“Ha. Nice. No, I mean with Fyrona. You see, when I left I promised I’d see her again in LastRock, and I might have promised to take her on a spectacular first date, which she agreed to, but now I have no idea what that should be.” Alain skipped alongside them, expression half-panicked. “What do you do in a war zone? It’s not like back in Bastion with nice restaurants and canal walks, right? Also, it has to be something pretty spectacular so she doesn’t forget I’m there.”
“Really?” Naomi stared at him. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”
“Says the lady who just spent who knows how many hours trying to shatter Scorio’s pelvis -”
This time Naomi really did lunge after him, and Alain only escaped by already having taken off at a run. Naomi chased him halfheartedly, then fell back, expression half-furious, half-embarrassed.
“Break my pelvis?” Scorio grinned. “I think we need to explain to Alain what really goes on when a girl likes a boy. Otherwise he may be disappointed in Fyrona’s attempts.”
“No, I think he needs his pelvis broken. And I’m happy to do it. With my tail blade.”
Scorio hesitated. “I’m trying to decide if you’re trying to be erotic with that one.”
“What?” Naomi looked aghast. “No! Ew. Scorio!”
He laughed. “Good. Though I’m surprising myself by actually rooting for him and Fyrona. Maybe they can go for a walk?”
“He’d disappear on her.”
“Maybe they can do some friendly sparring?”
“She’d cut him in half with her eye beams.”
“Maybe they can… hmm. I’m starting to see why he’s concerned.”
“If we get to LastRock, I’ll help him think of something.” Naomi shrugged nonchalantly. “If I haven’t killed him by then.”
“You will?” Scorio glanced at her skeptically. “All you ever do is drive him away with death threats.”
Naomi shrugged. “What can I say? He’s growing on me. While we were fighting below you and Bravurn, he may have actually saved my life at one point.”
“Really?”
“I mean, probably not. But he was definitely trying. So.” Naomi shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe I’ll help him think of some way to impress Fyrona.”
“Wonders never cease,” grinned Scorio. “I guess you two really are becoming best friends.”
To which Naomi could only scowl at him in annoyance .
The caldera was guarded by a mass of Titans; the hallways leading into the great space were choked with the drudges, who, despite being immobile, radiated wary danger. The air was baking hot, and that heat came not just from the blazeborns but from the caldera beyond.