Chapter 14
Cassian was still lying in bed an hour later—Yashiv’s arms tightly holding him—when the elders knocked at the door. Yashiv stood from the bed, taking his customary place leaning against the far wall. Cassian sat up, his legs curled under him. As he called for the elders to enter, he couldn’t quite meet their eyes.
“Master,” Kassim said softly, “we lost Cian.”
“I know,” Cassian answered, his voice rough and sore.
“We must act swiftly to make sure someone is appointed to serve in his place,” Berit added. “Now is not the time to appear weak in front of the other clans. Especially with the Orvokki’s attention so keenly on us.”
“Yes,” Cassian agreed. “We must do something soon.”
“And about the child,” Obasi said, “we must think of what to do with her.”
Cassian nodded. Cian had
