He tipped his head. “You’re taking this awfully well.”
“I’m…not. It hasn’t set in yet. Give me a few days; I’m sure I’ll break down in hysterics.” I pulled the sheet close and looked at him. “Also helping is that we’re not in the damn stronghold anymore, and I assume I can actually walk around without running into one of his pet torture projects?”
Nodding, he answered with a smile. “Of course.”
“Good, go. I have to pee.”
* * *
More than anything else, I wanted to go back to the temple.
I wanted to go home.
At the very same time, I was terrified. For three thousand years, the vampires were an unknown. Then, for the two weeks after the Spine fell, we thought them our enemy.
The truth was somewhere in between, and I had to make sure that the druids knew that.
More important, it was vital they knew that Savion was completely mad.
I wanted the twins to hold me. Then make love to me. Then hold me again.
I wanted…
No. I needed Dorian to throw me on all fours again and take me from behind.
I wanted my druid life back.
There was little chance of that anymore.
“We have to get you out of here,” Odom explained at the strategy meeting two nights later. “Holding you here just makes the rebels a target, and Savion has already killed one of our allies.”
“Billan,” I said.
“The most recent only,” said one of the rebel leaders. Somehow, I thought his name was Valius. “Don’t heap this on the Breaker’s shoulders. She’s just his latest victim.”
“Be that as it may,” Odom continued, “we need to get her away.”
“What are the options?” I asked, leaning forward.
Valius leaned forward. “The last of the ideas is the Southern Gate. It’s a smooth sail around now that the Spine is gone, but it’s also a full four days ride from here. Maybe more, and the trains aren’t an option.
“Another idea is you can go back over the scar. But the whole thing is lit up with patrols on this side now. It would be a challenge.
“The last is to sail around the Northern Tail. It’s the safest and the closest. We could get you back to West S’Kir in just a few days. We have allies in Winter Keep that will get you on a boat to… well, our maps call it Cold Bay Port.”
“North Landing,” I corrected. “What’s wrong with that route?”
Odom looked at Aiko and Valius and sighed. “There are only small boats with sails. No one we can afford to send with you in Winter Keep knows how to sail anymore. We don’t have time to get someone up from the south.”
Valius unrolled a map and picked up a pointer. “So, we think we’re going to have to go over the Scar—”
I held up a hand. “I sail.”
Every head in the room turned to me, most agape at my pronouncement.
“You… sail?” Valius was openly shocked.
“I sailed with my parents for nearly forty years. I started learning when I was seven. I still have a boat.”
