Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ W e should be in Tursk by midday,” Rydon called out, glancing over his shoulder at them. Sonah didn’t bother acknowledging as she sat slumped in her saddle.

“Once we get there, we can rest for a few hours and set off after dinner. We should start traveling at night from now on,” he continued.

“Have you travelled throughout the continent?” Terena asked as Nyx walked slowly behind Rydon’s mount.

He glanced at her over his shoulder and shrugged. “Aye. Been all over. I’m a mercenary.”

She nodded, thinking. “Have you ever seen a building like…. a temple or a large monastery atop a mountain?”

Rydon looked back at her again, this time holding her gaze. “I’ve seen many temples across the continent. And aye, many have been atop mountains. The priests and priestesses feel closest to the gods on those mountains.”

Terena pursed her lips. “This one would be unique. The mountain isn’t,” she shrugged, “but the temple wouldn’t be accessible.”

He arched an eyebrow. “So, how did they build a temple up there?”

She looked away in frustration. “Never mind. ”

They continued on in silence, the sounds of the forest filling the space around them as they travelled.

After a while, Rydon slowed his horse until he was beside Terena. “Unless you mean the sanctuary at Messene?”

Terena turned to look at him. “What?”

“What you asked earlier, about a temple on a mountain?”

She frowned at him.

“There’s a temple atop a mountain in Messene. The priestesses there call it a sanctuary. Only way to get up there is to be invited.”

Terena slowed Nyx to a halt, staring at Rydon. Ahead of them, Sonah turned and called back as Gabriol slowed his horse as well.

“What’s going on?” Gabriol called out.

Terena held up a hand but did not take her eyes off Rydon as she asked, “You’ve seen this place? The sanctuary?”

“Aye. In Messene.”

“Messene,” Terena said, dropping her eyes to her pommel in thought.

“South of here, though,” Rydon added.

Gabriol walked his horse to them and paused, his gaze swiveling from Rydon to Terena. “Why’ve we stopped?”

Rydon didn’t respond, instead leaning over his saddle as he frowned over at Terena. “We don’t have time?—”

“We have to go,” Terena said, finally looking up at him. Rydon pulled back at the look on her face and shook his head.

“We don’t have time, Terena,” he bit out.

“Gabriol,” Terena said, ignoring Rydon. “I need you to go to Orry and Croak in Villadelle. Please. Tell them where we’re going and meet us there if Orry can travel.”

“That is south, Terena,” Rydon said again, flashing Gabriol a dark look. “We are going north. We grab Orry and Croak on the way and we cross at?—”

“We have to go to Messene,” Terena said, her voice brooking no argument. “I can’t tell you why, not yet. But I need you to trust me. I have to go to that sanctuary.”

“Did you forget the part where I said you have to be invited? ”

She knew he was irritated, but she didn’t care. He could be as irritated or angry as he wanted, but she had to find the woman from her vision. She’d had another one the night before, and the woman’s voice filling her head all night made her sleep restless.

If she went north before finding the woman—who might be in Messene in that sanctuary she also saw in her vision—she might not get another chance to do so. At least not for a long time.

And, somehow, Terena knew what she might find at the sanctuary would bring her closer to finding her parents.

At the very least, why she—and Sonah—had the powers of gods.

Nightmares from the last night she had seen Lerek besieged Terena when she tried to sleep. She couldn’t get the image of his lifeless eyes staring at her while she cried over his chest, out of her head. And then the confrontation with Isher. The way her mind had shut down and her body had taken over on instinct.

The rage that had filled her.

The helplessness.

Soft hands rested on her shoulders, a whisper in her ear. Terena moved, quick as lightning, lashing out her hand to grasp the slim wrist above her shoulder.

When Sonah cried out, Terena’s eyes snapped open, and she huffed out a breath. She dropped the girl’s wrist and scrambled to sit up, ducking her head and quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Terena said in a low voice.

“I heard you crying,” Sonah said after a few seconds. She was sitting on the ground next to Terena, her knees pulled up to her chest. “I just wanted to… I thought you might?—”

“I’m fine,” Terena mumbled, pulling her cloak tight around her body.

“You’re not fine,” Sonah said with more firmness than Terena had heard thus far from the girl. She looked up at her.

“You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks, not to mention you must be….” Sonah shook her head. “You lost someone, Terena. Someone you loved. I loved him, too. Not like you, of course,” she scoffed, wiping at her nose and Terena realized the girl was crying too. “Lerek treated me like a person, not his Royal Taster. I mean, I know he probably did that for Isher. But even Isher could be a wretch to me sometimes.” She sniffed. “Lerek was… he was special. And you loved him. Of course, you’re feeling like this. I can’t imagine…”

Terena said nothing. For a long time, both women were silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sonah shifted and brought her hand out to touch Terena’s knee. “If you need to talk, I am here. I know we don’t know each other well, but you saved me, Terena. You and Croak and the others. You didn’t have to. And I know it was a great risk and I know I’m slowing you all down and I am pretty useless with weapons and I’m miserable with a horse. But I am a good listener. And it breaks my heart to see you going through this alone.” She shifted closer and Terena let her. Sonah pushed back a lock of blonde hair falling out of her braid, then laid her hand on Terena’s and squeezed. “You’re not alone. I’m here with you and I’m your friend.”

Terena’s eyes welled up, and she reached out and squeezed Sonah’s hand, tugging her close so the girl fell forward into Terena’s arms. The hug was awkward, but Sonah didn’t protest as Terena wrapped her arms around the girl’s slight frame, squeezed once, and let her go. Sonah sat back, crossing her legs as she watched Terena with a soft smile.

“Thank you, Sonah,” she said and wiped away a few tears. “And aye, you are useless with weapons and a horse. But we’ve time to rectify both while we’re waiting out the emperor and his thugs before we can travel north again. So tomorrow, we’ll start your training, yes?”

Sonah pulled a face. “I was being nice. You don’t have to be so cruel.”

Terena laughed, and for a second she marveled at how genuine it was, how glad she was of Sonah’s company. “You’ve been an idle lady for too long. Time to toughen you up. ”

Sonah grumbled as she stood and walked back to her own pallet. Terena bedded down once more, smiling as she heard Sonah’s grumbling continue until she had fallen back asleep.