“How long will that be?”
“Two days. We hope. Three perhaps.”
“Okay. Good.” There was nothing more that could be done then. She frowned and offered Willow her hand to shake. “I want to say sorry for thinking you a bad person for being my judge that day.”
“I see.” She looked at Cyn’s hand then reached over and shook it firmly. “I think we owe each other an apology.” Then she grinned. “I’m glad you did this. You are so very much a partof this endeavor. We will make it through because of you. I’m certain of it.”
A lump formed in her throat. How had she ever thought this woman awful? Those words had pricked tears to her eyes and made her feel both humble and welcome. “Thanks, Willow.”
She should say more but was lost as to what or how, and she contented herself with just looking happy.
A few hours later, on the way down that staircase, she went blind.
She gasped. Her stomach flip-flopped.
This was not from dust or lack of light or anything she could make sense of. A cloud had descended and wiped out her vision. She felt for a wall, found nothing, and had to lower herself to the stairs and pray nobody would knock her over the edge. Vertigo was affecting her too with the unseen world out there swaying, spinning, and making her dizzy.
Little Mo chose that moment to clatter up and touch her arm. “I detect oncoming stinkers, Miss Cyn.”
“Fuck!” She clutched her head and tried to think. “Alert everyone, Mo.” She gulped down nausea. “Stinkers are coming!” Mo ran off saying the warning as loudly as his speakers would accommodate.
People heard him and shouted it too, and ahead she heard curses then the first sounds of guns firing. The shooting came closer, ascending the stairs.
And she was helpless. Without sight she was nothing. Maybe she’d just lost the night vision that beasters had? Maybe if she waited there’d be some light?
“What’s wrong, Cyn?” Vargr asked and she heard him lower himself to her right.
“I can’t seeanything.”
“Okay. Okay.” He clasped her shoulder. “Stay there. Everything is in hand. Who’s going ahead, Rutger? She can’t see. You or me?”
She didn’t hear the answer properly, but Vargr clearly stayed and she heard the creak of leather as he unholstered a weapon or two. “It’s all fine. They’re handling this.”
The noises of fighting continued for another minute at least, and it felt like an eternity, even though she’d been counting under her breath.
“Seems to be all done. I can’t see any wounded, just two dead stinkers below us. Here.” He rose and pulled at her arm, hauling her up. “Still nothing?”
“No.” She shook her head, resting her hand on his hip, maybe, some part of him. She wobbled for a second, and again her equilibrium lurched and made it feel as if she were on a storm-tossed ship’s deck. Without any visual clues, balancing was difficult.
They waited awhile longer and shouts came up the stairs announcing that below was safe.
“Let’s go slow… Wait. I’ll fly you down.”
At that he scooped her up, settled her in his arms and launched. The rush of air told her they were moving, though there was no change in shadow or light, even when she fully opened her eyes. That was the scariest. She might be strong and determined, but without eyes she was useless. She shut them again, scared that something would hit her eyes when she couldn’t see it coming.
The voices grew louder and there was a bump or two and a shuffle of boots as Vargr landed. He lowered her to her feet, keeping hold of her waist.
“All good down here?”
“Yes.” That was Rutger’s voice. “How are you, Cyn?”
“Blind.” She frowned, swallowed, hating this. “I don’t know why,” she added, pre-empting any questions about how this had happened. “It just went from one second to the next.”
“I’m going to find Willow. Here, hold Rutger’s hand.”
She heard Vargr walk away. Willow was her best hope, she supposed. Some solution must be possible?
“There’s a seat over here. This used to be an office, but the wall’s been blown apart. Let’s sit.”
