He gave her a warm smile. “I will never tire of your human sayings.”
She squeezed his hand.
“How far are we from our destination?” Ava asked Jareth,currently in the middle of a hushed conversation with Gisela. “I’m ready to get the hell out of this desert.”
Jareth retrieved the map from his pocket and unfolded it. He ran his finger along the paper, deep in thought. “Well…I…A couple more days?”
“Let me look.” Gisela snatched the map from him. “You don’t seem to know how to read a map, prince.”
“And you do?”
She raised a brow, glaring at him. “Seeing as I’m the captain of a ship? Yes. Of course I can read a map.”
“Then, enlighten us,” he sneered.
Ignoring his tone, she studied the parchment. “We’re closer than it looks,” she explained. “Barring any other obstacles, it seems to be about another half day’s journey from our current location.”
“Good,” Ava breathed.
A soldier handed Ava a strip of dried meat and a piece of bread. She thanked him and took a bite.
“We should not leave tomorrow,” Imsel interjected, watching Gisela closely from their spot against the wall, something they did often. “The four of you must rest. We all need to be at our strongest.”
“Ava and I are fine,” Raine said, sitting up as a soldier handed over dinner for him and Maeryn. He gently touched her face and her eyes fluttered open. “You should eat something,” he whispered softly.
Ava’s heart swelled at Raine’s actions. The way he adored her, how he always watched and refused to leave her side. Even if she didn’t know what they were to each other, he didn’t care. Raine was good down to his core, and deserved every ounce of happiness and love in the world.
“But our two generals need rest,” Imsel insisted.
Ava ripped off a piece of bread, popping it in her mouth andswallowing before she responded. “They do. We stay here until they’re strong enough to leave.”
“How long will that take?” Jareth complained.
Ava took a sip of water. “I don’t know. When I used too much magic, I slept for a week.”
“But that was your great tribulation,” said Raine. “It shouldn’t take as long for Cas.”
Ava rose, retrieving her bedroll. “We rest in this cave. Sleep in shifts because we need to keep watch at all times. As soon as Cas and Maeryn are ready, we get to that damned cave, get what we need, and get out of this horrific place.”
Three days.
Casimir slept for three days before they were able to leave. Ava had been relieved when he finally stirred, and she forced him to eat as much as he could handle before he had to wave her away.
They were now trudging through the open desert, free from the confines of the canyon, but at the mercy of the unrelenting sun blazing down upon them. Scarves covered their faces yet again, and the party was mostly silent, ready to be done.
“How are you feeling?” Ava asked Casimir, walking next to her.
“That’s the third time you’ve asked today.”
“Well, it won’t be the last.”
He chuckled quietly under his scarf. “And I’ll say the same thing I said the last time; I’m a little tired but I’m fine. How is your shoulder?”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s healed.”
“Good.”
“Is Casimir lying?”Ava asked Luna. “Ask Aro.”
