‘I don’t think it works that way; it’s not on a schedule.’
‘No, it seems tied to your emotions,’ Caz agrees. ‘But either way, you’re safest away from other people. There must be an inn somewhere that has a room for you two.’
A room – and definitely two beds, I think to myself.
Chapter 38
Ruben got us three names of local inns from the stable hand, but the first two were rammed and standing room only, and getting out of them is almost as hard as getting into them.
‘Move out the way!’ A woman holding more tankards than should physically be possible barges through with her elbows out, causing other patrons to shift out of her path, including one who knocks my shoulder. I stumble to the side, only for my hands to grab the nearest solid object. Kyor.
As one palm lands flat against his chest, my other grabs his right arm, just a little way down from his injured shoulder.
‘I’m sorry …’ I stutter, straightening myself as he quickly hides the wince with a grin.
‘For touching me, Thorn? You never have to apologise for that. You should know that by now.’
As our eyes lock, I can’t help but think of the image of him only a few hours ago, weak and in pain. The thought I could have lost him causes a searing through my chest that makes it almost impossible to breathe.
But I’d feel like that if I lost any of the group – any of my friends from Wrohelm.
That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.
‘We should get going,’ I tell him, trying to ignore the breathlessness in my voice. ‘Try the last place Ruben mentioned.’
‘Sure …’ Kyor smirks. ‘You just need to let go of my arm first.’
I hastily release him and twist away, hoping I’m fast enough that he doesn’t see the colour rise in my cheeks.
Out in the open, I make sure I’m walking just far enough away that I don’t accidentally bump into him again, but it’s hard. First, because the streets are so busy, but also because my eyes and body seem to be constantly drawn to him.
We’re still on the route to the third inn when I’m struck by a pressure at the base of my spine, almost identical to how it felt when we were in the forest, riding away from the ring. Instinctively, I look down at my hand, as if I expect the ring to be gone, but it’s still there on my middle finger.
‘Everything all right?’ Kyor asks as I slide to a stop.
‘I think so,’ I say as my gaze skims over him to a dome-shaped roof cresting into the skyline. Immediately, the pressure in my spine subsides, almost as if my acknowledgement of the building was what it was waiting for.
‘I should go to the temple,’ I tell him with a sudden sense of certainty. ‘That’s what we’ve said this trip is for, after all. A pilgrimage for Etta. I should make good on that. Keep up appearances.’Thank her for Kyor’s continued ability to breathe.
Kyor presses his lips together as if he’s going to object, only to dip his chin in acquiescence. ‘Fine, but we can’t be long. If thereareany rooms left, I suspect they’ll go fast.’
I nod in agreement, already weaving through the buildings towards the dome shape that I am certain is a temple.
Sure enough, when I reach the outside, the cleanliness of the building exudes deference to the Gods. Not wanting to waste time, I head inside.
‘Rose,’ Kyor calls after me, but I don’t so much as turn my head to look at him.
‘I’ll just be a minute,’ I tell him. ‘You can wait outside if you want.’
Then, as if I am being pushed on by an invisible hand, I open the heavy wooden doors and step into the temple.
Prayer has been an intermittent activity for me ever since Florian died – or at least, since I believed he had died.
It was hard to pray to the Gods when I knew they had punished my family and me wrongly, even more so because I believed the person who should have been punished for lying was still living in splendour in the palace.
The few prayers that I managed came more out of desperation than a belief that the Gods were actually listening to me. When Dinah would insist we share words to the Goddess together, I would feel a prickle of unease across my skin. But now that I have been gifted by Etta herself, I suspect I should have perhaps been more forthcoming with my libations, more dedicated to my thanks. But there has been little time to think of that with everything going on.
Now, though, as I step into the candlelit temple, aromas of ash and rosemary filling the air, I feel a sense of peace I didn’t expect. A sensation that I am on the right path; something I have doubted for almost every step of this journey. Here, inside these walls, that doubt has all but evaporated.
