Croak ran a hand over his mouth but didn’t answer.
The silence was deafening. Sonah squirmed and glanced up at Orry.
“What about Lethe Monastery?”
Orry blinked at her. “What about it?”
Sonah looked around at the others, then lifted a shoulder, her eyes dropping when she realized they were all watching her.
“I… spent some time there. Before the White Palace. I know the abbot there. He and the monks would take us in.”
“Where’s this?” Gabriol asked, shooting a look at Croak before turning back to her.
“It’s in Ravos,” Orry said. “Twenty-five miles or so northwest of here, near the border of Ermanel. How did you come to spend time there?”
“They will take us in? Are you certain?” Rydon asked Sonah. She was grateful not to have to answer Ormano.
“Aye,” she said, nodding as she pulled out of Orry’s arm. “Abbot Malis knows me. He will keep us safe.”
“Even if the empire comes knocking? Or, more to the point, threatening death to anyone harboring us?” Gabriol asked, arching an eyebrow at her.
Sonah lifted her chin. “They would protect us with their lives. But I don’t expect soldiers to go there. They wouldn’t know to.”
Orry looked at her quizzically, but she ignored him. Only Terena knew of her past and she didn’t think it was something she should share with these men, not until she could be sure of them.
She did not fear Croak, and she was fairly certain Ormano would do her no harm, but… the less she shared, the better off she’d be.
“Just over the border, then?” Gabriol asked, breaking into her thoughts.
She opened her mouth to answer when Orry said, “A day’s ride, maybe more if we need to go slower for Terena.”
As if his words pierced her subconscious, Terena stirred. Croak leaned forward, his face close to hers as he whispered her name.
Terena said something, her lips moving as her good eye fluttered and she raised her left hand to her brother. He took it gently, holding it to his chest as he leaned closer.
“Terena, I’m here. I’m here and you’re safe. So is Sonah.”
She tried to say something again, but it was so soft no one caught it.
“What was that, Ren? What did you say?” Croak asked, his voice sweet as if speaking to a baby.
“Your… your…”
“Aye? Aye, it’s me! It’s me, Ren.”
Terena pursed her lips and her brow furrowed. Then she swallowed and opened her good eye.
“Your breath stinks.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
They spent the next week at Lethe Monastery while Terena recovered.
Sonah had been right. The monks welcomed them as soon as they had seen her. Abbot Malis had embraced Sonah so tightly, Croak had cast a look at Orry, both of their eyebrows in their hairlines.
When they’d gotten Terena settled and one of their healers to tend to her many injuries, the abbot had requested their presence in his private room. It was bare, as Croak had expected, but had a wonderful view of the pretty courtyard below.
“Do you have any news from Metilai, Abbot?” Rydon had asked, getting right to the meat of it as Croak closed the door behind him. Rydon and Gabriol had declined a seat so Croak had as well, standing as they did with arms across their chests. Sonah had taken a seat on the tiny couch across the room, looking as if she’d done so hundreds of times. In fact, she looked so at home in this place, Croak wondered again how she knew the monks.
