Gabriol chuckled. Rydon shot him a look. “That’s a story for another time,” he said.
Sonah didn’t press.
“Do you have family?” Gabriol asked, his voice soft. She turned to look up at him. “Is there somewhere we can take you after…,” he motioned to Terena with his chin.
Sonah dropped her head. She caressed Terena’s thumb with hers. “No.”
“No? No one? Croak said you’re the Royal Taster. Your father must be one of the dukes.”
Sonah’s face flamed. “You would think, but no.”
She snapped her head up at him, shifting as a thought came to her. “May I travel with you? I mean, with all of you? I won’t be a burden, I promise. I’ll… I can gather wood and start a fire, I can wash your clothes?—”
“Child—”
“I’m not a child,” Sonah said vehemently. “I’m seventeen years old. I spent the last seven years in the White Palace as a glorified prisoner, tasting food for Prince Lerek, knowing any day I could die if someone decided to kill him by poisoning his meals. And guess what? They did. I spent the past week being questioned by the scariest men alive, spent some of that time in the catacombs they use as dungeons beneath the palace, terrified they would torture me like they did Terena and the rest of the time dreading today because I knew we’d die.”
Sonah angrily wiped at her tears, her mouth set stubbornly as she glanced between Rydon and Gabriol. “I think I’ve earned the right to be treated as an adult by both of you. I’d appreciate if you don’t condescend to me.”
“You’re right,” Rydon said. He laid a hand on her forearm. His touch was warm, and it brought her a small measure of comfort. “You’re right. Apologies again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around someone your age and it’s made me awkward.”
Sonah gave a small nod and mumbled her thanks.
They were silent for a while, Sonah lost in her thoughts, with no particular desire for further conversation. Sometime later, to her horror, she started breathing too fast, thoughts of that morning and how close she’d been to having her body ripped apart overcame her. Her chest squeezed tight and she panicked.
Wide eyed, Sonah’s gaze darted around, for what she didn’t know but when she caught sight of Rydon, her breathing became more shallow. She reached out and grabbed his arm, digging her nails into the skin of his forearm. He said something she didn’t hear, her pulse exploding in her ears and she thought she might faint.
Rydon pulled her to him and wrapped his big arms around her, pressing her to his chest, holding her head against him as he rocked her. She calmed and her breathing slowed.
“We leave you alone for one minute!”
Sonah heard Gabriol curse, and she jerked back from Rydon, who let her go even as he observed her.
She scrubbed at her eyes, still gulping for air. She hadn’t heard the horses, nor Croak and Orry as they arrived, but when she looked behind her, she saw Croak’s grin fade as he looked at her.
“Gods, Sonah, I’m sorry. I’m an ass, I?—”
“If she knows you at all, she knows you’re an ass,” Rydon snapped.
“Did anyone follow you?” Gabriol asked, still standing over Terena as he glanced over his shoulder at Croak and Orry when they ambled over.
Orry set himself down at Sonah’s side with a loud groan, giving her a sympathetic smile, almost making her cry again. He seemed to sense it and moved closer, putting an arm over her shoulders.
Croak went to Terena’s other side and dropped to a knee as he pressed a kiss to his sister’s forehead.
“Has she woken at all?”
“No,” Rydon answered.
“So, what now? They’ll be combing these woods next,” Croak said.
“Should we take a ferry at Lios? We can be across the Bay and into Elis by tomorrow night.” Orry replied.
“No ferries. At least not yet,” Rydon said. He dropped onto the ground, stretching out one leg and pulled his other knee to his chest. “The general will have men watching the ports nearby. And she’s in no shape to travel, so first we need to find someplace to shelter for a night or two before we decide our next move.”
“You don’t have a plan, then?” Croak asked, scowling across at Rydon.
“I’m not from here,” Rydon said, scowling right back. “We helped rescue them, but now we must rely on your knowledge. Gods help us. So tell us, young master, where can we take your sister until she’s well enough to sit a horse? And remember, we have all the empire looking for us, so make it good.”
