Deal with that when the time comes.
Right now, nothing matters but getting Onorato safety and making sure she stays out of harm. Whatever she needs, I’ll move mountains to make it so. I’ll escort her all the way to Oxford if need be!
There was no doubt in his mind that she’d been coerced into whatever had been going on, thanks to some romantic notion of who Seton was. Her eyes had certainly been opened, yet Jack could take no joy in that.
His cheeks were raw from being blasted by stinging sand, but they were close now, approaching the narrow track between the rocks that would take them to the cave in which he’d been working.
To his dismay, as he took the first upward steps, his legs faltered and he lost his grip upon Onora. She slithered down his chest but, this time, she stood firm. Her hand found his, there was a squeeze, and it was she who led the way, keeping her face turned to the rock, until they reached the opening and stumbled, exhausted, inside.
He thanked all the gods he’d had the foresight to leave supplies here. By feel alone he located a lantern and the means tolight it. The modest glow was as welcome as sunshine after the bleakest winter.
They moved well in, out of the sweep of the rampaging wind which had already blown a drift of sand against one wall.
She tugged down the cloth he’d fastened about her head, blinking and coughing.
Damping a fresh kerchief with water from one of the canteens, he passed it to her, and she dabbed her eyes, smearing the bright pigments that had adorned them.
“Here, let me.” He took it from her, making sure to wipe her skin clean. Only then did he refold the cloth, wetting it again, to press to his own face.
He passed her the flask and she took a long draught of water, then accepted a blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders.
“I’m so sorry, so ashamed!” Looking up at him, Onora’s expression was pitiful, her eyes wet with tears. She buried her face in her hands.
Crouching down, Jack sat beside her. He hesitated a moment before putting his arm abouther shoulder. She leaned into him and they sat in silence. Whatever she’d been through, he wouldn’t make her explain. She’d confide when she was ready, or not at all.
The wind whistled outside their haven. All was inky black beyond their small circle of light.
Jack woke,stiff and aching and chilled, and experienced a lurch of fear, realizing Onora wasn’t beside him. His relief was immediate, seeing she’d made her way to the mouth of the cave. She was standing very still, silhouetted against the first morning light, staring out, with the blanket wrapped close.
As he watched, she pulled something from her left hand, then cast it emphatically away.
Maneuvering past the sand blown in at the opening, he came to stand beside her. “What was that?”
“Something I’ve been meaning to get rid of for a long time.” She spoke quietly and, from the way she didn’t meet his eye, he knew better than to pry.
The storm had passed sometime in the night, vanishing as swiftly as it had appeared. The breeze was gentle once more and all was quiet. Even the birds seemed absent, though it wouldn’t be long before they ventured out. He supposed, like themselves, they’d sought refuge in the caves and nooks honeycombed through the cliffs.
The sun was rising, sending long shadows over the tawny desert, turning the river from silver to soft gold.
The encampment was gone—buried or blown clean away. Perhaps he’d find his trunk, or perhaps not. From what he could discern, the villa seemed intact, though the western side was covered by a slant of sand reaching the roof.
It took him a moment to notice what else was gone.
There was no sign of thetemple.
“Can they be dug out, do you think?” Onora was staring below, where the pit had been.
He couldn’t imagine how long that would take. The volume of sand to be moved was immense.
“I’ll speak to the men—get them to call back the others, as many as we can persuade.” Jack tried to sound hopeful. “But it will take weeks. I’m afraid…it’s impossible anyone will be alive.”
He thought about that for a moment, horror blending with contrition. His locking them in had sealed their fate. Perhaps they’d get through the sanctuary doors, but what good would that do them? They were entirely buried, with no way out.
No one deserved to die like that.
“You’re blaming yourself, but you mustn’t!” Onora grasped his arm. Traces of green remained across her lids, and her coppered curls were dusty with sand. “Whatever you might have said, they never would have come with you, and if you hadn’t done what you did, I’d be buried down there too.”
He was grateful that she wanted tocomfort him, though it didn’t stop him from feeling guilty.
