The priestess seemed unphased by this news. “I assumed as much,” was her only remark before she took another sip of tea.
“I will help you if I can, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Why?” Brexl asked with a perplexed look on his face. “Why would you help us?”
“Because you’ve done nothing wrong.” Her face held a severe expression, as if she were waiting for him to challenge her on this topic.
“What do you mean, we haven’t done anything wrong?” Brexl’s face held an equally severe expression laced with pain.
“Are you not among those who believe we caused the stiffness?” Drovo asked.
“No. The idea that you caused that horrible disease was foolishness from the start. The goddess does not curse people.”
“No? Why didn’t you save us then? Why didn’t you stop the Savrix from exiling us?” Drovo continued his questioning with a hardened expression of his own.
“You think it was a choice between being exiled or not? They wanted blood. It was exile or death.”
Drovo looked like he’d taken a punch to the gut as he digested her words.
She continued in a softer tone. “We had just lost half our dekes. The people wanted someone to blame and you can’t hold an invisible disease accountable. They wanted blood and Dameron was ready to give it to them. I had to use all my authority to convince everyone death was not the answer. I am sure to this day there are many who are disappointed that death did not take you before you found your home in the mountain.”
“The Savrix isn’t going to let us go this time.”Brexl stated his assumption as if it were a fact.
Kahina sighed heavily, looking very tired. “No, I don’t think he will.” She pinched the bridge of her nose as she slumped in her chair and thought for a moment.
She let her hand drop to the table and eyed us with an assessing look. “If you can figure out a way to get out of the valley, I will create a cover story for you.”
“Why can’t we leave right now?” I asked, looking out the window at the night sky.
Kahina shook her head. “There will be hunters lurking in the shadows around my cabin. Dameron will undoubtedly be expecting you to try to flee in the night.”
She sighed again and continued, “You must escape soon, but it can’t be tonight. It’s too risky.”
“It’s getting late,” Holey interrupted. “We should get some rest. Maybe a better idea will come to us in the morning.”
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.” Kahina got up from the table and made her way to her room.
“Follow me, I’ll show you where you will be sleeping,” Holey said as she rose from the table and the rest of us followed suit.
She opened the first door on the right and motioned for Taylor and Brexl to step inside. Once they were settled, she led us to the next bedroom.
She opened the door to a cozy room with a pallet bed and a small fireplace. “I know it’s not very big, but I hope it will do.”
“It’s perfect.” I said with a smile. “I’d take thesmallest room on Valo Prime over being separated again.”
I squeezed Drovo’s hand and his cheeks turned a dark blue.
“Thank you, Holey,” Drovo took me into his arms and the acolyte left us alone and closed the door behind her.
Chapter 22
Drovo
As soon as I heard the door click shut, I leaned in to meet Kayla’s soft lips with mine. I’d longed to kiss her from the moment I saw her, and I wouldn’t miss this opportunity to do so. She melted in my arms and kissed me back with as much fervor as I kissed her.
I took a step back, hoping to pull her closer to the bed, but instead I tripped over a blanket and fell backward, taking Kayla with me. We both fell with a grunt.
“Are you alright?” I asked as I checked her over.
