Vi sighed softly. Her leaving would be enough stress on her mother. If there was something she could do to alleviate it, she should. As usual, Romulin’s decision was flawless—even if it thwarted Vi’s attempts to, just once, look after her younger brother.
“All right.”
“Is that a, ‘Yes, Jayme, I’m not going to fight you’?”
“Yes, Jayme, I’m not going to fight you. But I will stress that it’ll be dangerous—”
“Since when have I been afraid of danger?”
“And I will be leaving the Empire.”
“If I don’t want to go, I’ll turn back.” Jayme straightened away, resting her hand on the pommel of her sword. “I’m more than capable of making my own decisions.”
“Let’s go then.” There wasn’t much more time to waste. Romulin may already be working to stall their mother, prolonging Vi’s discovery.
“Lead on.”
Vi stepped back out into the sunlight, starting once more down the road—this time, with Jayme at her side. From time to time, she would look over her shoulder, half expecting a small military party to be racing after her. But, much like the first time she’d snuck out in Soricium, Vi was surprised at how easy it was for her to slip away. Minus telling Jayme of her plans, Romulin had done well.
“Did you have another vision of him?” Jayme finally asked, long after there were no more buildings around them and only the endless sands of the desert.
“Yes.” Vi didn’t have to guess whohewas. “Right before I left, I found another Apex and saw the future—this time, my father.”
“He’s alive then?”
“Perhaps, for now…” Vi shook her head. “It’s hard to say, since my visions can change.”
“But this seems like a good omen.”
“I hope so.” Vi adjusted the pack on her shoulders. “Did you find anything more about Fallor before you left?”
“I tried, but there wasn’t much time. I was in the process of settling into the temporary barracks with the soldiers when Romulin sent for me. After that, I was more focused on packing… Don’t give me that look.” Vi raised a hand to her face, trying to feel what look she’d been giving Jayme without realizing it. “I made sure to mention everything you told me about Fallor to Romulin. He’ll have someone else look into the brute and will be on guard.”
“Good.” Vi breathed a sigh of relief.
Jayme flashed her a bright smile. “I’ve always admired that about you.”
“What?”
“How much you want to protect your family. I know that’s why you didn’t tell me you were leaving.” The smile continued to play on Jayme’s lips as she looked over her shoulder, eastward.
“Guilty.”
“I would do anything to protect mine.”
“I know.” Vi reached over, giving her friend’s hand a squeeze.
Jayme looked down, squeezing back as her eyes trailed up Vi’s arm to her face. “I’m glad. That means you understand me.”
“Of course I do.”
The day progressed without incident. It was surprisingly peaceful. The lone cry of a bird of prey, soaring so high overhead that it was merely a silhouette against the bright blue sky, was the only thing to break the sound of the wind and whispering dunes.
“We should stop and set up camp,” Jayme said finally.
Vi turned, looking back. The Crossroads was now a distant point on the horizon. She’d been watching it shrink for hours, but it still didn’t seem far enough away.
“We can go a little further,” she insisted.
