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“But how will Max find us if we are hidden?”

“He will find us.”

I stalked over to our pile of packs. It was really dark, and I desperately wanted a flashlight. I felt around one of our packs trying to figure out how to get in the top, a drawstring was tightly tied. I was beginning to feel frantic. “How do you know?”

“Because Max always finds me, and if he canna figure it out he will go tae our meetin’ spot and I will find him.”

My brow drew down. “That sounds suspiciously like it would take many days.”

He smacked his lips. “Ye hae tae be prepared for it.”

I did not like the idea of waiting for days at all.

Torin had gotten really quiet as if he had fallen asleep.

“What about going to the kitchens? Or walking around? I could go to the stables and see to Cathbarr, or…”

He said, quietly, “Ye ought… nae… the brothers winna want ye about. Ye must keep tae our room…. Keep the fire up.”

I huffed and finally got the mouth of the pack open and pawed through it. I couldn’t tell what anything was, so I pulled out a handful of items and peered at it in the darkness. A pen, a pencil, a couple of hairbands, a comb, a book of matches.

“I don’t know if you know me that well, Torin, I am not big on just sitting and doing nothing at all…?”

But he was already fast asleep.

6

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - A VERY LONG NIGHT

It was frightening how quickly the dark room went from a friendly place that two people shared to being solitary and scary.

I continued going through the bags in the dark until I found one that could have been the first aid kit. I felt along the edge and found the Velcro fasteners — yes, this was it! Inside were packages with pills and rolls of bandages. I carried a plastic box to the hearth to try to read the label, but it was no use. I couldn’t make anything out. The flickering candle by the bed was no help, it felt like my eyes were broken.

I huffed, I needed sleep probably, maybe if I rested my eyes they would see better. If rest didn’t work, at least morning would come.

I put everything back in the bags and all of it back on the pile, making sure a leather pack was covering the first aid kit in case the monks arrived before we got up.

They seemed like the kinds of guys who would start their day at dawn.

Torin was fast asleep on the middle of the bed. I sat on the edge and took his hand. It was heavy and warm. I turned it over and ran my thumb across the calluses, then the softer skin of his wrist and checked his pulse, quietly — it was there, steady. I pressed my lips to that spot, near the quiet thrum, and stayed like that, eyes closed, my lips pressed, until our breathing matched. Please stay. Don’t go.

I stayed like that until I grew drowsy, but not wanting to let go of his hand, I curled up beside him on the outside edge of the bed, barely balanced, very uncomfortable.

Just then Dude nudged the door open with his nose and sauntered in looking pleased with himself. He leapt up onto my hip, walking across me, and draping himself over Torin’s legs.

I whispered, “Did you find the kitchens, Dude? I need you to carry a backpack so you can score some treats for all of us.” I added, “Ugh, I’m hungry again already, if you show me where the kitchens are I will give you a treat.”

He ignored me, probably because he knew I didn’t have anything to share. He made himself comfortable and settled down to sleep. Great. He was no help.

“Maybe when we wake up you can show me where it is, I think it’s going to be a long night.”

And then I did fall asleep, still clutching Torin’s hand.

Later, I woke with a start, almost falling off the bed, swinging my arm over and clamping onto Torin’s front.

He moaned.