"Silence," Aditya corrected. "A dimming of our power. An absence of magic. A void. There are many words for it but it's nearly impossible to describe. That's why they came up with that word for them in the old language. Andhakaar."
"She can... stop magic?" Neva asked, and looked at Calliope now in a whole new light. 
"It's more than that," Aditya replied. "But yes. That's the crux of it. There hasn't been an Andhakaar in centuries but they used to serve the human kings, stay by their sides to ensure that magic could not be used against them."
Calliope looked down at her hands, staring in simultaneous horror and fascination as if made newly aware of the incredible weapons she had been walking around attached to all these years. Neva caught Maverick's eye and he knew immediately what she was thinking. He needed protection. Calliope was protection. He shook his head and she frowned.
"We should go," Zephyr interrupted the silent communication taking place all about the small group. "If she truly is an Andhakaar, we need to get her back to the palace. She's far too valuable to have out here in the open."
"No," Maverick replied, shaking his head and thinking. "The Chaos will have come to the same conclusion we have. He will know what she is and he will be after her as well. He'll suspect we'll try to take her back to the palace so that's where he will be looking for us."
The retaliation hit them all hard and they all fell silent again, considering their options.
"What are we supposed to do then?" Neva asked after a moment, impatient and annoyed. "We can't just pitch another tent out here for the night. That didn't work out so well for us the first time."
"No, he will have his men combing the forest," Maverick agreed.
"So where do we go?" Sebastian asked. His injury must have been making him more inclined to play nice with the prince.
Maverick met Aditya's eye and knew that she was aware of what he was going to suggest before he suggested it. He felt for her, truly he did, but there was nothing else to be done. He turned to the city of Beceni and sighed. 
"I know someone down there," he told them, pointing to the city below. "They will help us."
Aditya frowned, turning away from him and crossing her arms. 
"You're sure?" Neva asked. "Loyalties have shifted since the war, Maverick. I know you trust Chaya but–"
"I'm sure," Maverick answered with some finality.
Everyone exchanged glances for a moment but, when it became clear that the city of Beceni was their only viable option, they dusted themselves off and started heading down the long incline to the bottom of the cliffs where the city gates lie.
As everyone walked on in silence, much to consider in each of their minds, no one noticed when Aditya fell in beside the prince. She didn't say a word, just kept walking along like the others, but he saw the frown on her lips just the same.
"I know it must be difficult for you to be back here," Maverick said under his breath so that the others would not hear. "If you would have preferred to remain in the woods awaiting our return–"
"If he found me, he would torture me for your location and I cannot say I would not give you up," she answered. He nodded. He had always admired Aditya's shrewd honesty. 
"Perhaps it would help if you told... someone," Maverick suggested, gesturing covertly at Zephyr's back in front of them.
Aditya sighed.
"We aren't on the best of terms at the moment," she said.
"He would want to help you through this."
"He would. And that might be the problem."
Maverick frowned. Aditya fell silent. They walked on for a time before either of them spoke again. 
"She's more important than any of us, Maverick," Aditya whispered then. "Even you."
"I know," he answered, watching Calliope as she walked on in silence, back stiff and gaze on the ground in front of her.
"I didn't see it before, why she mattered. I thought Delphi might have lost her touch. But this... I've got to hand it to the seer. This is extraordinary."
He didn't answer. He just watched Calliope walk, every now and then reaching over to stabilize Sebastian who refused to lean on anyone or let anyone else help him. She didn't seem too bothered by it. She was used to his stubbornness, no doubt. It was a warrior's pride which kept him from accepting help. Maverick imagined there was plenty of that to go around growing up with the Ysuelt. A few times, though, he caught her staring at her hands and marvelled at what she must be going through.
"Whatever is between you–" Aditya said then and Maverick's attention snapped to her.
"There's nothing–" he started but she held up a hand, too exhausted to hear any more denial on the subject.
"Whatever it is, Maverick, be careful with it," Aditya warned. "Delphi has seen things. Terrible things. And she's a part of them in some way. So until we know how, guard yourself. And that includes your heart."