Looking shy and uncertain, she approached me.
“Pharis, I—”
I cut her off, my apology demanding immediate expression.
“I’m sorry for what I said. It was cruel and inappropriate. And perhaps… perhaps your father’s condition will take a turn.”
It wasn’t true, but maybe futile hope was better than none at all.
Raewyn shook her head. “No, I apologize. I didn’t mean what I said about wanting you to leave… and the, uh, monster thing. You’re right. I need to start facing the fact that he is in his final days.”
She blinked and looked away, her face deepening in color. I had to fight the urge to pull her against me again.
“He can’t keep going like this.” Her mournful eyes beseeched me. “I was wondering… that is, I wanted to ask you… could we perhaps make camp here for a while and… let him die in peace?”
She swallowed hard, appearing nauseated by the words. “Instead of jolting along on a horse, which must make the pain even worse.”
“Of course,” I said immediately. My hands cupped her shoulders. “We can stay here for a few days, and let everyone… rest. It’s an excellent idea.”
Raewyn’s big, sad eyes were filled with gratitude.
“Thank you, Pharis.”
The sound of my name on her lips sent shivers down my back and through my legs.
“The girls and I will begin foraging,” she said. “I know the raff is running low.”
“Yes, good. I’ll hunt for some meat.”
I gestured around at the mountain valley. “This area is very remote, far from any roads, but stay close, okay? Don’t wander too far.”
“We won’t.” She gave me a small smile. “You be careful, too.”
Raewyn turned to go, but I stopped her.
“Rae…”
She turned back to me, her face expectant.
“Is it true what you said… that you never cry?”
She gave me a nod. “It’s true. Well, a bit more lately I suppose.”
“Same here,” I said. “I haven’t cried since losing my mother. But I thought girls cried all the time.”
Now Raewyn gave me a smile, and it was like the sun bursting through storm clouds.
“I’m not like most girls.”
No. She. Was. Not.
And I was in so much trouble.
Thankfully the little valley was teaming with small game, and I managed to find a bounty to feed us without leaving the others for very long.
I hated leaving them at all, but we had to eat. And as I’d told Raewyn, this area really was off the beaten path—we hadn’t seen or heard another soul in at least a week. I’d stayed within hearing distance of them while hunting anyway.
Wyll would ingest nothing but a little saol water, but Raewyn and the girls ate heartily.
