Chapter 6 Odessa #2
By the time the clean shirt was on, she was a sobbing mess, her whole body shaking and limp as the fight drained from her body. “I want Papa and Luella. I wanna go home.”
“I know you do.” I hauled her into my arms, rocking her in my lap. “I know.”
She crumpled, burying her head in my shoulder.
As long as I lived, I’d never forget the sound of her heartbreak. It went so deep, it etched itself on my bones.
The burn in my throat, the sting in my nose, was unbearable. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.
Not yet. I’d have my chance to break down, but not yet. Not in front of Evie.
Beyond the bedroom, the door opened and closed, Sally likely leaving to give us some privacy. The sweet smell of baking bread infused the house. A horse whinnied outside. And Evie cried and cried until finally, she slumped in my arms, hiccupping as I dried the last of her tears.
When I helped her stand, she took a long look at the discarded shirt on the floor. For a moment, I expected her to try to put that shirt on again.
I wouldn’t have the strength to rip it off her a second time.
But she left it on the floor, her shoulders drooping, and shuffled to where Faze was licking his paws. She hefted him into her arms and carried him to the cot, curling up on the pillow with her back facing me.
I didn’t blame her for being mad. I’d be angry with me, too.
Snatching the filthy shirt from the floor, I left her alone and returned to the main room, where Sally’s loaf of bread was cooling on the table.
The house was stifling, the air thick with grief and guilt. Gods, I needed air. I marched outside, jogging up the steps and into the field of grass. My body felt too hot, my heart beating too fast, my chest too tight.
What did I do? How did I ease her pain?
If only Ransom were here. She needed him.
I needed him.
The cool Turan air filled my lungs but did nothing to chase away the fire in my throat. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and the sting in my nose was twice as sharp as that from Voster magic.
Don’t cry, Odessa. Not yet.
“I lost my parents when I was a child.” Sally came to stand beside me, her gaze fixed on the snowcapped mountains in the distance. “It will take time, but eventually, she’ll find her way through the sorrow.”
“She needs her mother.” My voice wobbled. “I’m a poor replacement.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Sally took the shirt from my hands, holding it up to the morning sunlight. “You know, we might be able to salvage this. Damon gets horrible stains when he’s working with cattle. I’ve got a soak that works wonders on dirt stains.”
“It’s not dirt. It’s her father’s blood from the night he died.”
Sally didn’t so much as blink. “Well, let’s see what I can do.”
If she managed to get those stains out, if she could save Evie’s shirt so my little star had a piece of home, I’d be eternally grateful. “She has a stuffed rabbit. Its name is Merry. Would you mind trying to clean it, too?”
With a nod, she left me in the field and returned to the house.
No sooner had her footsteps faded than a tingle crawled up my neck and the hairs on my forearms stood on end.
I groaned, knowing what I’d find when I turned. One night without Voster magic wasn’t enough of a break. I scratched at my forearms, rubbing at the crawling sensation. On a sigh, I turned my back to the breathtaking view and found Brother Dime walking my way.
His hands were clasped in front of him, his burgundy robes swishing in the grass and over his bare feet.
He came to a stop a few paces away, bowing at the waist. “You will stay today to rest. Then you will continue on. Brother Skore will accompany you and keep you safe. I will be leaving now. The High Priest is expecting me, and I’ve delayed long enough. ”
“You’re leaving?” I resisted the urge to clap.
With Brother Dime gone, maybe we could slip away from Skore. Escaping one priest had to be easier than two. And now that I had a better idea of where we were, Evie and I could make our way to Perris and hire a ship to take us to Quentis.
“Do not test Brother Skore’s patience. Stay with him,” he warned, like he could read my thoughts.
I nodded. “Of course.” Not.
He studied me long enough that I started to squirm, but then he bowed again to leave.
“Wait.” I held up a hand, but it was shaking so badly I dropped it to my side. “You said Ransom was loyal to the High Priest and made it seem like a fault. But you’re going to meet him?”
“We all have our role to play.”
Shades, these vague answers were about to make me rage. “What role are you playing? Be specific. Is Ransom in danger?”
“This is not the time for questions.”
“Then when? You’re leaving. This is my last chance. What do you want from me? Why couldn’t we sail to Quentis?”
He turned and started walking away.
“Why did the High Priest ask about my mother? Why can I feel your magic?” I called both to his back, knowing he’d ignore them.
He did.
“I need to learn the old language.”
That seemed to get his attention. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder, holding my gaze for three pounding heartbeats. “Brother Skore will teach you.”
“How? Can he even talk?” Or was he going to teach me a nearly dead language by blowing wind gusts in my face?
“He speaks when necessary.”
That didn’t make me feel better. “He’s terrifying.”
“Yes.” Brother Dime smiled. Well, the Voster equivalent to a smile. He looked marginally less creepy and frightening. “We will meet again, child.”
“Can’t wait,” I deadpanned as he walked to the barn, where Damon emerged, leading his horse.
I tilted my face to the blue sky, watching a puff of white clouds limned by yellow sunlight float by as the sound of a horse galloping away filled my ears. As it faded to nothing, I closed my eyes and traced the scar on my palm.
I miss you, Ransom.
Another shiver ran down my spine, like I was being watched. I turned to find Brother Skore behind me.
With a gasp, I took one step, then another, putting some distance between us. He’d snuck up on me without a sound. Not a hint of his robes brushing the grass or his feet on the dirt. Could he levitate like the High Priest?
The sleeves of his robes were so long they covered his fingertips, the hems fluttering in the slight breeze. He didn’t blink as he stared down at me. He didn’t so much as move.
“Um, Brother Dime said you’d be taking us to Quentis.”
Skore said nothing.
“And he said you could teach me the old language.”
Still no reply.
Well, if he could speak, I guess this wasn’t one of those necessary moments.
But creepy. Definitely creepy.
“I, um…” I backed away another step, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. “I’d better go check on Evie.”
It took until I was in the house, sitting beside Evie at the table as she inhaled a piece of bread, to realize that the reason Brother Skore had snuck up on me was because I hadn’t felt his magic.
Not a tingle. Not a prickle. Nothing.
If he was weaker than other Voster, maybe there was a chance we could actually escape. We’d ride from the Axmar Mountains to the coast. If we could get to Perris, then I could find a ship to sail the Krisenth. And maybe, just maybe, find my husband.
Ransom had promised to find me, here or in the shades.
Well, not if I found him first.