Rydon turned toward the hall and pointed, his hand dropping back down at his side.
“Good,” she muttered and stood. He heard her moving about the room but his eyes were closed as he concentrated on breathing.
At last, he opened his eyes to see her lift the cleric. With one hand braced at his waist, she hauled him around the bed. The girl, Sonah, was beside her, hunched over as she clutched a bundle to her middle, her face ashen.
“Wait,” he whispered, but Terena was already moving past him and out of the room, the girl at her heels. He looked around dazedly, regarding the dead man near the foot of the bed, his black clothing giving no clue to his allegiance. Blood pooled beneath him. Rydon looked up, hearing Terena saying something in the hallway before their footsteps receded.
It took him a few minutes to stand. He was still weak, but he had to find Gabriol. With some difficulty, he stepped into the hall and saw Gabriol sitting up against a wall, eyes closed. His steps halting, Rydon sighed and leaned against the wall next to his friend.
“What happened?”
Rydon shook his head, then immediately regretted it. A thousand sparks shot across his eyes and his head throbbed. He took a few seconds before responding.
“I don’t know, but the girl seems unaffected. Pale, but otherwise fine. Terena too.”
“And the cleric?”
“Alive,” Rydon answered. He opened his eyes and looked down at Gabriel. “You?”
“Alive. Croak?”
Rydon warily looked around the empty hallway and slumped his shoulders. “Terena’s going to find him. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.”
With a groan, he pushed away from the wall. He walked like an old man, his body still aching from whatever that blast was earlier. He was still foggy when he reached the common room downstairs. The innkeep huddled outside the door with the maid clutching at his apron. They startled when he coughed, then jumped out of his way, eyes down. He didn’t pay them any mind as he walked past and out into the darkness.
To his right, he heard the sounds of feet scuffling and low voices. As his eyes adjusted, he saw shadows moving. He walked toward them until he could make out their voices.
“And don’t stop until you get to Villadelle,” Terena was saying.
The other shadow jumped on the horse and pulled on the reins. As Rydon came to stand by Terena, he watched Croak’s horse gallop away, leading another horse with what he assumed was the cleric atop.
Terena stole a glance at him. “You all right?”
Rydon continued to stare off into the distance after the horses. Long seconds passed before he turned his gaze to her.
“That was you.”
“What was me?”
“That blast,” said Rydon, his teeth gritted as he turned his body to face her. “Whatever that was, it was you.”
Terena didn’t answer, but he caught the gaze she flicked up at the girl. Rydon turned to look at Sonah, but her head was down. He looked back at Terena, frowning at him before striding away.
Over her shoulder she said, “Croak will meet us in Tursk, but we ride for Pyrgos.”
“We?”
“Aye,” she snapped. She turned and walked right up to stand close enough her hot breath fanned his cheeks. “If you and your man want to live, we ride for Pyrgos. We can go north from there to meet Croak. We’ve a few days before word gets back we escaped again.”
“And what about the innkeep? The maid?”
She didn’t reply right away, turning instead to the frightened girl and spoke to her in a low enough voice he couldn’t hear. The girl nodded, her hands still shaking, but she straightened and went to the stables.
Terena turned back to Rydon, eyes narrowed. “I’ve plans just now for him. When I’m done, we tie them up. Should give us until at least midmorning before someone stumbles across them.”
She strode toward the inn as Gabriol appeared at the door. Terena walked past without acknowledging him.
Rydon wiped a hand down his beard and cursed. He looked down at his hands and frowned to see them still trembling. He threw another curse before striding after Terena.
