I was holding out hope for a boat or bridge or something, but the minute I reached the riverbank, my heart sank.
There was nothing. It wasn't just this that left me upset; it was the width of the river. I didn't know enough about where I was to identify which river it was, but it was huge. Slow moving and far too wide to swim. Already, I was mentally going through the dangers of attempting to cross it. Potential undercurrents, fatigue, becoming tangled on the loose debris floating in it. For all I knew, there were piranhas or alligators or other animals that might smell my bloody arms and attack me.
I sighed deeply, and tears stung my eyes. I had a couple of choices. One was to turn back and try to reason with a madman. Another was to throw myself into the river and hope I didn't die. Maybe it would take me downstream … I looked in both directions. There was nothing out here. Smoke rose to the sky from the direction of the burning city, and I saw no villages or anywhere I could hide downstream.
It'd be suicidal. Yet I was doomed to die anyway if I stayed.
Thus far, I'd been lucky enough to survive my adventures. I could pray that my luck held and simply … go for it.
Heart hammering, I slid my slippers off and stripped down to a single layer of the silk gowns. The tiara I kind of liked and thought maybe I could sell if I had to, so I left it pinned in place.
"What do you do, goddess?" Batu's voice made me jump.
"Don't scare me like that!" I snapped automatically, my whole system jolted. He was the last person I wanted to see at the moment. "If you're here to take me back so your uncle can bleed me to death, I won't go!" I started into the river, pausing when the chilly water reached my calves.
I really didn't want to do this. My instincts were screaming at me.
"My uncle is wrong."
I hesitated to go further, eyes on a dead animal or something floating down the river.
"You seek to take your life?" he asked almost curiously.
Twisting to look at him, I was surprised to discover he wasn't wielding his sword and ready to drag me back. He was seated on the bank, elbows draped over his knees, dark gaze on me. He seemed curious rather than concerned despite claiming to be my guardian.
I did not get this guy.
"What do you care?"
He tossed me something.
I caught it. It was a small, sheathed knife.