doesn't it?"
She turned him in her arms and found his lips with hers. Her breath filled his mouth, tepid and seething, like tendrils of oil that slid down his throat and choked him. She smiled as she released him.
"Soon, you will seek me out." She touched the scar on his arm. "We are bound until I decide otherwise."
***
"Are you still with us?"
Bolin jerked his head up and looked across the table. Garek surveyed him, brow raised, and the corners of his mouth pulled down in an expression similar to the one Nialyne wore beside him. They'd gathered in Bolin's study shortly after breakfast, giving Garek a chance to give his men a day's worth of orders to keep them occupied. Ciara, thankfully, had gone straight to the healer's hut.
"I asked if you've decided on a route yet?" Garek said.
Bolin cradled his arm, absently massaging it through his shirt sleeve, and glanced back down at the map spread out before them. Although sleep had eventually come, it hadn't been even close to restful. "There's no good choice. The shortest routes put us too close to Donovan, or would be too difficult to venture with a cart."
"Or a Galysian elder?" Nialyne asked.
"Hence the reason for a cart," Bolin said. "But there's no chance I'm going to convince you to remain here, is there?"
She smiled. "No."
"And you're certain Donovan will be a problem?" Garek asked.
"He wants Ciara."
"The girl?"
"Aye."
"And why is that again?"
"Because," Bolin said, "she has incredible power."
Garek held up a hand. "Enough said. Spooky stuff. You know I don't care for it. Sets my flesh to crawling just thinking about it. We'll keep it simple. He wants her; we can't let him have her." He chewed at his mustache. "So, what about east, catch the Southrun past Broadhead? Fairly easy country for travel, even if we opt to keep off the road."
Road or not, Donovan and his new pet would find them. The only question s were when and how.
"Or," Garek drawled the word out. "We sit back on our heels, and send word to the Emperor that his demand reeks worse than the cesspit on a hot summer day, and we'd sooner run naked through Guldarech during festival than make the trip."
Bolin stared at the map though he could have redrawn it blindfolded. Garek had no idea how sorely tempting it was to do just that. Damn the unholies, if the Imperial Mages were so curious about Ciara, they should make the trip to Galys Auld instead. Donovan couldn't touch her within the borders of the Greensward. At least, not yet. But how long before he tried? How long before his patience ran out, with his prize so close? And the idea of turning the Greensward into a battle ground made Bolin's stomach roil.
Perhaps within the walls of Nisair they could hold onto the illusion of safety.
"Bolin?" Garek waved a hand to catch his attention. "Are we boring you?"
He shook his head, ignoring Nialyne's penetrating stare, and dropped his hand to the map, tapping the area around the Southrun. "East. But we'll avoid the road as much as possible. Can you be ready by tomorrow?"
Garek shrugged. "See no reason why not. So long as Dafyd can remain here?"
Nialyne nodded. "Absolutely. I dare anyone to attempt to pry him from Konly's care."
"What of a cart and supplies?" Garek asked.
"I have a cart waiting , and have already begun collecting what we need for the journey."
"And we'll take only what we need," Bolin said. "We have to travel light. I'll ask you again, Alyne--"
"The answer is the same, Bolin. You won't dissuade me."
He shook his head but knew better than to continue the argument.
"Is that bothering you?"
Bolin followed Nialyne's gaze, and realized he'd been rubbing the spot of the witch's wound again. "No." He rolled the map to give his hands something else to do. "Garek can help draw up a list of supplies. Keep an accounting to present to the Emperor. We'll travel within the Greensward as long as possible before veering north."
"Which will be how long?" Garek asked.
"Two days. We'll
She turned him in her arms and found his lips with hers. Her breath filled his mouth, tepid and seething, like tendrils of oil that slid down his throat and choked him. She smiled as she released him.
"Soon, you will seek me out." She touched the scar on his arm. "We are bound until I decide otherwise."
***
"Are you still with us?"
Bolin jerked his head up and looked across the table. Garek surveyed him, brow raised, and the corners of his mouth pulled down in an expression similar to the one Nialyne wore beside him. They'd gathered in Bolin's study shortly after breakfast, giving Garek a chance to give his men a day's worth of orders to keep them occupied. Ciara, thankfully, had gone straight to the healer's hut.
"I asked if you've decided on a route yet?" Garek said.
Bolin cradled his arm, absently massaging it through his shirt sleeve, and glanced back down at the map spread out before them. Although sleep had eventually come, it hadn't been even close to restful. "There's no good choice. The shortest routes put us too close to Donovan, or would be too difficult to venture with a cart."
"Or a Galysian elder?" Nialyne asked.
"Hence the reason for a cart," Bolin said. "But there's no chance I'm going to convince you to remain here, is there?"
She smiled. "No."
"And you're certain Donovan will be a problem?" Garek asked.
"He wants Ciara."
"The girl?"
"Aye."
"And why is that again?"
"Because," Bolin said, "she has incredible power."
Garek held up a hand. "Enough said. Spooky stuff. You know I don't care for it. Sets my flesh to crawling just thinking about it. We'll keep it simple. He wants her; we can't let him have her." He chewed at his mustache. "So, what about east, catch the Southrun past Broadhead? Fairly easy country for travel, even if we opt to keep off the road."
Road or not, Donovan and his new pet would find them. The only question s were when and how.
"Or," Garek drawled the word out. "We sit back on our heels, and send word to the Emperor that his demand reeks worse than the cesspit on a hot summer day, and we'd sooner run naked through Guldarech during festival than make the trip."
Bolin stared at the map though he could have redrawn it blindfolded. Garek had no idea how sorely tempting it was to do just that. Damn the unholies, if the Imperial Mages were so curious about Ciara, they should make the trip to Galys Auld instead. Donovan couldn't touch her within the borders of the Greensward. At least, not yet. But how long before he tried? How long before his patience ran out, with his prize so close? And the idea of turning the Greensward into a battle ground made Bolin's stomach roil.
Perhaps within the walls of Nisair they could hold onto the illusion of safety.
"Bolin?" Garek waved a hand to catch his attention. "Are we boring you?"
He shook his head, ignoring Nialyne's penetrating stare, and dropped his hand to the map, tapping the area around the Southrun. "East. But we'll avoid the road as much as possible. Can you be ready by tomorrow?"
Garek shrugged. "See no reason why not. So long as Dafyd can remain here?"
Nialyne nodded. "Absolutely. I dare anyone to attempt to pry him from Konly's care."
"What of a cart and supplies?" Garek asked.
"I have a cart waiting , and have already begun collecting what we need for the journey."
"And we'll take only what we need," Bolin said. "We have to travel light. I'll ask you again, Alyne--"
"The answer is the same, Bolin. You won't dissuade me."
He shook his head but knew better than to continue the argument.
"Is that bothering you?"
Bolin followed Nialyne's gaze, and realized he'd been rubbing the spot of the witch's wound again. "No." He rolled the map to give his hands something else to do. "Garek can help draw up a list of supplies. Keep an accounting to present to the Emperor. We'll travel within the Greensward as long as possible before veering north."
"Which will be how long?" Garek asked.
"Two days. We'll
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