“Get my cloak from my saddlebags, would you?” Rydon called out to Gabriol. When the man came back with the folded garment, Rydon tucked it around Terena’s body.
“Are you a friend of Terena’s? I’m sorry, I haven’t seen either of you before at the palace,” Sonah said. She reached out and slipped her hand into Terena’s, careful not to bother the crusted wounds of her missing fingernails. Her eyes welled as she took in the damage to the woman’s poor body.
“We hope to be friends,” Rydon said. He crouched down next to Sonah and looked at Terena.
Sonah looked over at him. “How do you know her?”
Rydon gazed at Terena for a few more seconds before turning to Sonah. “We met her brother in Laurica. He promised us coin to help his sister.”
Sonah’s eyes widened. “Oh! I thought you were Imperial Guard. You’re mercenaries then?”
“Aye.”
She looked up at Gabriol. “It must’ve been a lot. I don’t know what he offered, but for my part, I’ve only my thanks to give.” Sonah fidgeted, only now realizing she was alone with two large warriors and no friend in sight. She scooted closer to Terena.
“Have no fear, girl,” Rydon said, his voice low as he clapped a large hand on her shoulder, making Sonah fall over onto Terena’s arm. She shifted quickly so she wouldn’t cause Terena any pain.
“So what now for you both?” Sonah asked, more to kill time than any genuine curiosity. She hoped Croak and Orry found their way to them soon.
Gabriol came to their side and Sonah looked up to see him looming over her, arms crossed at his chest, bracing his weight on his left side.
“We were going north when the boy found us,” he said. “We’ll have to wait until she’s better.”
Sonah blinked up at him. “You plan to stay with us, then?”
Rydon shared a look with Gabriol, then grunted his assent. “Until we can head north. The king there has charged us with bringing him trackers.”
Sonah’s mouth dropped open, and she glanced between the two men. “You’re… you’re going to sell her?”
“What? No!” Rydon scoffed, affronted. “No, of course not. The king asked us to find her and recruit her.”
“Recruit her? For what?”
Rydon shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked flushed. “Don’t know. But it’s not to harm her.”
“How do you know?” Sonah asked, narrowing her eyes as the color continued to creep up his neck. That wasn’t a good sign.
“I trust him. He’s a good man.”
“No one’s heard of him before. No one even knows his name,” Sonah muttered. “I was to be part of the convoy the emperor was sending north to meet with him.”
Rydon turned and gave her a frown. “Aye? What for?”
Sonah shrugged. “Diplomatic stuff. Private, empire stuff.”
“Ah,” Gabriol said with a smirk. “Worried about the man’s rise to power in such a short time?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I… didn’t want to go. We were supposed to leave… that day. I prayed to Gaia for something to happen, so we wouldn’t have to.” The blood drained from her face and she felt sick. “Do you think she heard me? Is that why Prince?—”
“Don’t be foolish, girl,” Rydon grumbled. He reached out a hand and laid it on Terena’s forehead. Sonah inched away so he wouldn’t accidentally brush against her.
He shot her a look of irritation. “Those gods don’t bother with mortals. Prince Lerek’s death was nothing but the scheming of men with a grudge against the empire.”
Sonah ducked her head. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “I’m the one who should apologize. You’re a young girl, raised to believe the gods are good. Some are. Most aren’t. The ones you pray to, though, don’t give a shit about useither way and wouldn’t lift a gods damned finger to help. No way for you to know that.”
“How doyouknow that?”
