“It’s true what he said. He missed treating the one on his back—and it got infected, badly. And fast,” Sasha added. “We should use a buddy system if . . . if and when this happens again. Any of us might not see how bad we’re hurt until it festers.”
“Good thinking. We can pick up the boat at nine tomorrow morning. Is everyone in?” Riley got nods or shrugs. “Done,” she declared, and poured herself another drink.
* * *
Sasha opted to make it an early night. Battling gods in the morning, boxing lessons in the afternoon, margaritas in the evening, followed by putting together a reasonable meal for six could wear a person out.
And she didn’t want to think about the idea of strapping on an oxygen tank and jumping off a damn inflatable boat.
She got into bed with her sketch pad, leaving the terrace doors open so she could hear the sea. And unwound her crowded thoughts by drawing the olive grove, then amused herself by adding Riley and herself in boxing shorts and gloves.
She did a study of the blooming prickly pear from memory, and considered the idea of doing a series—small, square canvases—of local flora.
She drifted off, lights on, before she’d finished her study of a mandarin tree.
* * *
In her own room, Riley worked on her laptop. She toggled between research and journal entries. Knowledge was a weapon to her mind, and the more you knew, the better armed.
She had maps tacked to the mirror for easy reference. Some books she’d downloaded to her tablet, but there were many, a great many, not available by that system. So she had a pile of old books nearby, and had already made arrangements to send for others from her library.
The experience in the cave told her they didn’t know nearly enough. Yet.
Like Sasha, she’d left her terrace doors open, and enjoyed the sound of the sea mixed with the quiet snores of Apollo, who sprawled sleeping by her chair.
She had her gun, loaded and unholstered, within easy reach. And she laid her hand on it when a new sound—feet padding quietly on stone—joined the others.
Her hand relaxed again when Sasha stepped up to the open doors.
“Hey. Thought you were conked.”
“Bran’s room is empty.”
“He’s probably still downstairs. I had some work I wanted to . . . ” She trailed off when she got a good look at Sasha’s eyes in the wash of moonlight. “Oh, okay. Dream-walking.” She got to her feet, and Apollo stirred himself with a heroic and noisy yawn.
“Do you need Bran?”
“He should know. You should all know.”
“Absolutely. Let’s go find him.” She walked up to Sasha, laid a hand on Apollo’s head to stop him from rubbing up against her dreaming friend. “We can go down this way.”
“Yes, we’ll go together.” She looked at Riley, then walking with her, up at the sky. “The moon will soon be full.”
“Yeah, it will. Did you dream about the moon?”
“Not yet.”
By its light they went down the terrace steps, and together turned toward the sound of voices.
The three men sat at the long table, each nursing a beer.
No Annika, Riley noted. A men-only deal, which stoked suspicion.
“You boys talking sports and the stock market?”
Doyle gave her a long look out of hooded eyes. “You girls having a slumber party?”
“Maybe we’ll braid Sasha’s hair—when she actually wakes up. Where’s Annika— Okay, here she comes.”
“She’s dream-walking.” Bran pushed away from the table. “Be careful with her.”
“She came to me, when she couldn’t find you. You’re wet,” Riley said to Annika.
“I had a swim. Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong.” Very gently, Bran touched Sasha’s shoulder. “Did you want me?”
“I do. I have. I will. There are secrets here, each holds them. I will keep them, even from myself, until . . . She can’t see them. Though she wonders, and she watches. She watches even now, in the Globe of All.”
“The Globe of All?” Bran repeated, glancing at the cupped hand Sasha held out.
“It is precious to her, but is not hers. What is taken in lies and through bloodshed cannot belong. But it serves her. And we are there.” She cupped one hand above the other. “Caught in the globe for her to see.”
“Then she should see this.” Doyle shot up a middle finger.
“She will come. Your sword is needed. It will take weapons and warriors, but it will take wile and will, faith and fortitude. Unity that only comes through trust and truth. She watches.” She laid a hand on Bran’s heart. “Will you draw the curtain?”
“I can try.”
“There is no try, only do. Sorry,” Sawyer said immediately.
“Yoda’s never wrong.” Riley patted his shoulder. “Where should we look, Sasha?”
“Where no one has. She watches, but it waits. Its fire cold under the blue light, it waits, the first of three in the willing heart. She cannot see, and would drain me to sharpen her sight.”
“She won’t.” Bran clasped her hand in his. “I swear it.”
“She destroys what loves because she does not. And when she comes, death marches with her.”