“Do you remember that day in the gardens? My uncle’s birthday. The day I first met you?” Samia asked.
“How could forget such a moment?” Varga smiled as he looked into her eyes. His were a dark brown, just like hers. His face was so chiselled and handsome, shoulders and chest so broad. He’d grown into quite the man in the years since he’d left Octoton. “Nobody else seemed to want me around, except you.”
She took his hand, leaning hers out of the bath. “The Reyes family were not kind to yours; I know. Your father was a great man, and you have become one too.”
“I am a shadow of my father. I have achieved little.”
“You came to my rescue, Captain. I shall forever be grateful.” She gave him a wry smile. “Anyway. Back to that day. Do you remember my cousin, Flavio?”
“Of course. The brutish one who wouldn’t let me anywhere near you.”
Samia sighed. “Yes.”
“What happened to him?”
“He’s still around. In fact. With my uncle Javier ill, he is going to become the next lord of House Reyes.”
“Is that a problem?”
Samia turned away. “If that was all, then no. But do you remember Giuliette? The girl who always had a crown braid in her hair?”
“I remember little of her. I only had eyes for you, back then.”
“Well Giuliette is to marry Flavio.”
“Is that bad?”
“Oh yes. She is a witch, and I don’t just mean she’s mean. She has the power to use the crystal tiara of House Reyes.”
“But the tiara is useless unless…”
“Unless she has the orb of House Perez, and the sceptre of House Cruz.”
Varga placed a hand over his mouth. “You mean to tell me she already has those?”
Samia merely nodded in response. "She has replaced the real ones with fakes. Since nobody ever uses them, everyone just stares at a replica on the wall. Since it's been centuries since they were used, none of either house knows the difference."
“With those, she could overthrow all three houses, and destroy the human presence in Octoton. She could… take down the empire. There’d be nothing to protect us from the orcs or elves.”
“That is why I must stop her.”
“But how?”
“I have a plan. You must tell no one of this. Promise me, Varga.”
“But, the people have to know.”
“Not yet. No one will believe you, and my plan will be in vain. Please, promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
He looked at her sternly for a while as the bath water splashed against her skin. “I promise. Will you tell me what your plan is?”
Samia talked for a while about how she’d sought out the Shadow Blades, about Vernia, and Novilla, and even the shame of Jocia, although she left some details out.
“Once my punishment here is served,” she said. “I must seek out the Shadow Blades, and complete our mission. When we get to Octoton, we must steal the tiara, and prevent Giuliette from ever getting her hand on it. Without all three items, two together are useless.”
“But, how will you steal it?”
“I have a plan. Trust me.”
