Praetorian Rising, стр. 40
Theo's eyebrows scrunched in discomfort. "Vee—just tell her man, what have you been doing since you rescued her?"
Vesyon glared at Theo. "There hasn't been much time between running from the Chimera, finding you in the forest, and getting attacked by Equestrian Guards."
This threw Camille for another loop. "Why would they be sent so far outside the High Court?"
Vesyon shook his head wearily. "The High King wants you back, Camille. He sent a pack of Chimera after you, and now he's sending his best guards. You must understand that I only left you in Sierra Village because I thought you wouldn't be found. It was my mistake—I should've come for you much sooner."
"What do you mean he wants me back?"
"There's a lot I haven't been able to explain to you," Vesyon murmured, gaze downcast.
"Yeah, I can see that. Answers would be nice," Camille retorted.
He blanched; her sarcasm obviously hit home. She could feel that something was off, but no matter how intently she stared into Vesyon's grey, storming expression, she couldn't place what it was. Her stomach felt uneasy, and her intuition set off a warning bell of uncertainty.
Vesyon collapsed into the closest chair, balancing his elbows on his knees as his head fell into his hands. "An army of two thousand Equestrians left Whiskey Wharf this morning. They're headed in our direction as we speak."
"But why? I don't understand," Camille said.
"You aren't the only one," Theo said dryly.
Both Camille and Vesyon turned a sharp eye on the arrogant blond before silence settled in. She could run; she could take her sword and find a way to make do.
"I know what you're thinking, and it's not possible," Vesyon said with a shake of his head.
"Why not? Can't we just leave? Disappear." If the High King was after her, she wanted to be as far away from civilization as possible.
"The idea itself isn't horrible, darling—it's just not an actual possibility," Theo said gently. "I'm sure you've noticed this isn't a typical village of Aspera. There are a lot of things we are protecting here. We can't just abandon it."
"Theo," Vesyon warned.
Camille looked between the men. "Okay, seriously. What's really going on?"
"Just tell her!" Theo said, flinging his arms out in exasperation.
Vesyon glared at him without restraint, a silent argument taking place that still left Camille in the dark.
Theo finally broke the silence, ignoring Vesyon and regarding Camille with frank honesty. "We're hiding a weapon—something we can destroy the High King and his army with."
"Theo!"
"A weapon?"
"Yes, and the High King has sent an army to break down our efforts to reform, as well as to collect you, apparently," Theo said, completely ignoring the fire blazing in Vesyon's expression. "We've been building this compound for protection from the High King, but it appears even steel walls and cement ceilings can't keep out the rats. So, we didn't stop at protection—we targeted our efforts toward defense."
"Is this true?" Camille asked, turning around to see Vesyon's face slide into a mask of neutrality again.
"I should've brought you here sooner," Vesyon said, ignoring her question and raking his fingers through his shoulder-length black hair. "You have to understand what we've been trying to accomplish, what we've been working toward. I should've kept you under lock and key, but I didn't want to keep you from living. I knew once someone recognized you, the King Regent Metus would be close behind," Vesyon said.
The syllables of King Regent Metus's name crashed viciously against Camille's memory, forcing all other questions out, leaving a disgusting taste in her mouth. She'd heard this name again and again in Sierra Village, but always on the tongues of the villagers. Metus was the unyielding King Regent, the right hand to the absent High King, the one enforcing Asperian laws. Yet hearing his name spoken by Vesyon shook loose a recollection long forgotten, and she shivered in response.
Theo squinted, scrutinizing her reaction. "You remember him?"
"I don't remember him, no. But something strange did happen to me down in my bedroom this morning..."
"What?" Vesyon asked, his voice thick with worry.
Camille blinked against the barrage of images infiltrating her mind. "I saw things that weren't really there. One minute I was fine, and the next I was covered in..." Camille couldn't bring herself to go on. Explaining the entirety of it would bring the memories roaring back, and the last thing she wanted was to see them again. "Words spark a memory that I can't seem to suppress, and then suddenly I'm hallucinating. I don't understand what's happening to me."
Vesyon's steel façade slipped as his shoulders slumped. "The wall in your mind is beginning to crumble, and your past will flash into your vision with incredible realism when you are weak or exhausted. It's my fault; I've pushed you too hard since we left Sierra Village."
"So, everything I've been seeing—it really happened?"
Vesyon nodded his head and began to massage his temples. "Memories will continue to return until the wall blocking your past is completely broken. It's not just you who experiences this—all Praetorians see things in our moments of weakness. It'll get easier with time, and, eventually, it won't catch you so off guard."
"I'm not sure I'm ready for this," Camille said in a rush.
"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice."
"But these flashes, these images—they make me sick. Make me feel like I'm turning into something I'm not."
Vesyon turned away, most likely to avoid meeting her pleading expression. Vesyon was still hiding something from her, and she had a sneaking suspicion he was afraid of her memories returning. "You always can control who you are, Camille. Being a Praetorian just makes it even more important to control your reactions to situations."
"I'm afraid of what I'll become."
Theo grasped Camille's hand, a gentle, soothing motion that sent a rocket of heat up her arm