He chuckled. “An empty threat. Besides, we’re safe right now.”
And I’d learned over the past year that there was no guarantee we’d have a later. I released his hand and turned to face him.
“But what about the prophetess?” he asked.
“She changed her mind.”
* * *
With hiding in the daylight and traveling at night, it took us four more days to loop wide around Zabin. According to Kerrick, Odd and the others had headed south toward the infirmary. I’d worried Cellina’s troops would find the new location, but the enemy patrols didn’t swoop that low. So far.
“What about Ryne?” I asked Kerrick during a rest stop.
“I’m not sure where he is. He might be hunkered down in the mines.”
“Might be?” That didn’t sound encouraging.
“Ryne’s too smart to get caught. He’ll figure out what’s going on and meet us at the infirmary.”
“Why the infirmary?”
“Because it’s safe for now. And he knows that’s where you’ll go.”
True. I was anxious to get back to attend to any injuries that might have occurred during the skirmishes. Also, Estrid concerned me. She hardly ate and kept quiet most of the time. Similar to Eva, but while being subdued seemed more Eva’s natural personality, it wasn’t Estrid’s. Perhaps she just needed time to adjust to the new reality.
After two more days of travel, we arrived at the infirmary. One of Lieutenant Macon’s men must have signaled our approach because Odd stormed from the entrance before we reached it. Glad he survived, my good mood faded when he headed straight for me.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.
“Hi, Odd, nice to see you, too,” I said.
“Cut the crap. You didn’t follow any of the contingency plans, you endangered your friends, you—”
Kerrick materialized from the forest, or at least that was what it looked like, and stood next to me. He wore his flat, unreadable expression. But Odd didn’t back down. He eyed Kerrick with open hostility. Two inches taller than Kerrick, Odd possessed the lean, hard muscles of a longtime soldier. So did Kerrick, but he had been exhausting himself every night keeping us safe.
Odd returned his attention to me. “I see you found him.”
“And the High Priestess,” I said.
He gazed past my shoulder and gasped. “Thank the creator!” He hustled to her and escorted her into the infirmary, all the while fawning over her.
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, he’d been recruited into her army and had fought for her as she conquered Casis and Pomyt Realms. Odd’s reaction to her arrival was an example of why Ryne needed her help.
Flea swept his bangs to the side. “Humph. The creator had nothing to do with her rescue.”
“Yeah, he should have cried, thank the Flea!” Quain said.
“Ooh, I like. We should use it all the time,” Loren added.
They tried out variations of it as they headed inside with Flea trotting behind them.
“Guess I’ll stay here until I receive new orders,” Eva said, following the monkeys.
I turned to Kerrick. “I—”
“Go check on your patients. I’m going to find a soft spot and sleep for a week.”
“I don’t think the monkeys or Flea will let you. They’ve been good about not pestering us for answers, but I’m sure once they’ve eaten and are rested, they’ll be bugging you.”
“That’s fine. By then, I’ll be lonely.” He smiled.
“I wouldn’t be so certain of that.” I leered.
“Does my prophetess have good news?”
“I’ll have to consult my crystal ball.”
“Then make haste, my love. I await your prophecy.” He grabbed my hand and kissed the back.
Despite the warm tingle that shot up my arm, I said, “I’m not falling for your princely moves.”
“Darn. That move should have melted you with desire and caused you to give in to my princely charms.” Humor sparked in his eyes.
“Then that settles it.”
“Settles what?”
“I’m not a princess.”
“Thank the Flea!”
I yanked my hand from his. “Don’t start. Now go get some sleep.” I shooed him before I entered the cave. Just past the threshold, I paused and glanced back.
He remained standing in the same spot, watching me. I might not be a princess, but he understood what I needed.
Inside the cave, Odd had found Estrid a comfortable chair and a change of clothes. Instead of the yellow POW jumpsuit, she wore a red skirt and white tunic. Impressed by his fast acquisitions in a place where we all wore fatigues, I watched the ruckus around the High Priestess. Color had returned to Estrid’s cheeks, she spoke with animation and she’d attracted a number of soldiers. She was back in her element. A good sign.
An idea occurred to me. Would Estrid be willing to release Melina from the monastery if I asked her? We did save Estrid’s life and I also saved her granddaughter’s life. It would be an easy way to keep my promise to Mom. It couldn’t hurt to ask. But not now. I’d wait until later. Avoiding the crowd around the fire, I headed for my patients. Christina sat next to a man, talking to him, but she shot to her feet as soon as she noticed me.
“I’m so glad you escaped,” we said at almost the same time and then laughed.