“ To the border with the land of Hivra .” She folded her arms . “ Then you must be wary of hunters too ,” she warned .
“ They cross into Arteman , despite the wolf patrols .” “ I will ,” he promised . “ My apprentices need to encounter hunters , anyway . It may as well be now .” “ And a rogue wolf ?” She scoffed . “ Any more talk like that and I will come too .” He chuckled . She scowled at him . “ I thought that I was supposed to be taking care of you , Imp .”
“ So did I , but it never seems to be that way . For all that you are the only man who shares my blood apart from the king .”
With her still scowling at him , Maximus rose and went to the window . He threw the apple core out before arranging a row of moonstones on the sill in the moonlight . Imperatrix watched him dourly . As he came back to his chair , the stones started to shine . “ Will those be enough stones ?” she asked . He glanced at them before looking back to her . “ Yes .” “ And will you perform a rite before you go ?” She thought for a moment before adding : “ Perhaps perform several .” Maximus rolled his eyes . “ I will .”
The door opened and one of Maximus ’ apprentices entered . Maximus wiped the knife that he had used to slice the apple .
“ We ride at dawn ,” he said .
24