When I return to the inn a few hours later, Simon and Lieutenant Fredrick are waiting for me downstairs. Simon stands up and pulls me into a tight hug. “Thank you.”

I freeze in his arms. “What?” I glance back at the guards Pirovo has offered me, who have their hands tight against their hilts. I wave them down. “It’s okay,” I tell them. “He’s a friend.”

He steps away quickly, wiping his heel to his eye, and he kneels. The lieutenant bows his head. By now the tavern patrons’ eyes land on us, and I squirm under their gaze.

“At ease?” I frown, my voice unsteady. These are my friends, not my subjects. My subjects, too, but definitely my friends. “You don’t need to bow to me.” I grasp Simon’s shoulder and pull him to his feet. “You’re my mentor. I would sooner bow to you, if you’d let me.” I gesture around at the tavern. “In fact, everyone should give you that respect.” I bow at the waist. The people that are within earshot – which is quite a bit of that small room, start to bow their heads.

Simon’s hands flutter to my shoulders as he rushes, “No–I, never. Please don’t.” He pulls me up. “I’m just a man.”

“You’re a necromancer,” I remind him. “A priest.”

“Hardly a priest,” he reminds me, “I’ve only just–”

“Antonio!” I hear, and I look up to find Sybil running down the staircase. Her face is splotchy from tears. She slams into me, wrapping her arms tightly around me.

“Slow down,” I pry the necromancer off of me.

“You got him out. We were going to have to break him out and–”

Via bounds up beside her and puts a hand on her arm. “Holy bones, child,” she mutters, rubbing Sybil’s back. She smiles up at me. “You’ve certainly made room for yourself, haven’t you, kid?”

My guardsmen stare down at her in shock, but I ignore them, kneeling. “I do hope so. Can we go somewhere more private?” I mutter. “All of us?”

Via nods and gestures upstairs.

I wave at the assembled crowd who cheer and follow my friends upstairs. One of my guards stands protecting the staircase from below, and the other stands at the door to our suite. The windows are shuttered to make the suite a dark, cool cave for the man who is curled up in a makeshift nest made of blankets and pillows. He is thinner than I remember just a few weeks ago, when we left. I crouch near him once we get in, Haven is curled up at his side, their hands locked tightly together.

“How is he?” I ask Sybil who shakes her head.

“Tired,” she explains. “And hungry. They weren’t feeding him right. He can’t process bread. He says he ate the occasional rat that came his way, but we’re not entirely sure they weren’t poisoned. He’s running a bit of a fever.”

“Is there anyone I can send? A physician maybe?”

“Does Pirovo have someone that knows how to care for Driders?” Simon asks.

I shrug, “I can ask.”

Sybil deflates onto a chair and Via perches on the back of a sofa. “It’s worth a try, Syb.” Via suggests. The Lieutenant stands at the door and Simon sits. My fingers itch for action – any action – that might help my friends.

“I’m just… so tired,” Sybil whispers between her fingers. She smiles meekly at me. “I’m so thankful that he’s safe. That Haven is safe.”

“I’m glad, too.” I tell her. “I’m glad Led isn’t what I expected when I invaded,” I murmur, chancing a glance at Via who smiles sagely at me. “I need to finish what I started.” I look at the sleeping bodies of Haven and Soleil. “Will you come with me?” I ask Sybil without turning toward her.

I hear her hesitate: a quick intake of breath. I chance a look and see her exchange a glance with Via. The goddess looks up at me, “There’s a lot we can’t tell you, Antonio,” she tells me.

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“I’ll do it,” Sybil says, still looking at Via who returns her look in surprise.

“What?” Via asks, her eyebrows scrunching up. “Syb, are you sure?”

“Yes.” The necromancer says. “I’ve spent too much time hiding, cowering, running away. I’m done. They can…” Her voice drifts off.

My eyes cut to her, frowning. Who can? What?

Via shrugs. “Okay,” she looks up at me. “We’re in. Well. I was in before, and now Sybil is also in.”

Simon looked at the sleeping bodies and winces. “I need… I think I need to return,” he tells us.

Sybil nods, “Please. Take Haven and Soleil home. You might carry druidic magic, but you should be able to bind some of the working skeletons to you, I’ll show you how. Manage the farm in my stead?”

Simon blinks at her. “Priestess–”

“None of that,” she scolds him. “I am not a priestess to be put on a pedestal. And I am going to return if it’s within my power. I will claw my way back home if I must.” Her eyes dart to her lovers curled up in their nest, then back to mine. “You too?”

I think about Tolstoy, about our promise. I grit my teeth and nod. Promise be damned. I would come home to Tols – as a king or as a beggar, I would make sure to hold him in my arms again.

“It’s decided then.” Via claps her hands together. “We’re committing to the bit!”

“What bit?” I ask.

Sybil shakes her head, “It’s a long story. We can’t talk about it.”

“That is the closest we’ve been able to talk about it,” Via commends with a wry smile.

I finally take a seat, letting the day set into my bones

I don’t feel very king-like after the last few months of being a prisoner and laborer. The outburst I pulled on City Councilman Faulkner had been exhausting, although worth the outcome. It was the closest I’d been to the self I was before my capture. I would bargain that I’d be playing politics from here on out.

I inhale deeply through my nose and count, 2, 3, 4… then let it go.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” I say, straightening. “Simon, take Haven and Soleil and some of the bones home. Sybil will teach you to bind them before you leave–yes?” Sybil nods. “Then Sybil, Via, and I will march with the army through to Kisvas. We will continue to grow our numbers, just like we have been.” The group nods. “If we go to war with Herman, we will go to war.” I breathe in deeply, and eye Lieutenant Fredrick. I lean forward and drop my voice. “I have suspicions my brother will not fight us, but we need to be prepared. At the end of the day, even if we seize the capital without bloodshed, my father is just behind him.” I catch Sybil’s eye and hold it. “You may not return home soon. It could be months. It could be years. Are you okay with that?”

She nods. “I will be careful in saying my goodbyes this time.”

I press on. “Via, you’re going to be our mediary between home base and our front.”

Via tilts her head with a grin. “Of course I will be. Not that I mind, mind you.” Her voice returns to its child-like cadence that gives me uneasy goosebumps: “Granny Maggie will be needing to hear from me now and again.”

“Good.” I clap my hands and lean back. “In that case, I’m going to go dine with Faulkner and his allies, see what we can do about adding to our numbers from here, and see if they will send word on ahead.”

The group nods.

“From here on out,” I take another deep breath, trying to steel my nerves, and start again. “From here on out, you all are my advisors.” I lower a finger to Sybil. “You are my Second – no, my First. I will be your First, your Second. This means you’re going to need a lot of time getting trained the way I need you to be. I need you sharp, I need you agile, and I need you ready. Not for the first battle, but for the last.”

“The last?” She frowns, confused.

Via claps her hands together, excitedly. “It’s just like the olden days!” Her feet bounce on the sofa cushions. “A druid and a necromancer, ruling Led!”

Sybil frowns at me. “I’m not sure what that entails.”

“We’ll be equal-ruling monarchs. Oh goddess, don’t make that face. I don’t mean marriage,” I tell her firmly. “No offense, but you aren’t my type.”

She grins. “Neither are you, kid.” She sighs and rubs her forehead. “I just wanted rest,” she mumbles beneath her breath, but she straightens and stands, popping her back. “Okay.” She shakes her head. “If that’s what we need to do to unite the country and fight back your father, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Via smiles proudly at us, and I see the faint outline of the goddess image beyond her smiling just as fondly. I blink the after-image away from my eyes and I take a deep breath again.

“Good.” I let the wave of relief pass over me. “In that case, you two get on with it, and I’ll meet you at dinner this evening.” Simon nods and Sybil blanches. “Yes,” I tell her firmly, “you have to. Via?”

Via’s grin widens facetiously. “I’ll make sure she’s there.”

“And say goodbye,” I grasp Sybil’s arm, giving her a pointed look. “It’ll be awhile.”