“Ready?”
He faced me. “You’ve gone soft. Afraid.”
“I have not.” I totally had. Images of me chained to a chair without any control of what those guards did to me haunted my sleep. But there was no way I could keep ignoring what I had to do, even if it terrified me.
His eyes followed a little boy with four arms carrying a pail full of water. “The longer we wait, the more people suffer and the better prepared our foes become. I suggest we leave tonight. Just you and me. No need to put anyone else in danger.”
I glanced up at him, the sun haloing around his head. He was right—the longer I waited the more everyone suffered.
“For so many years I have lived in a wasteland alone,” he continued, eyes still on the children playing. “I shall never know a child’s voice calling me father. The memory of my own has faded. When I close my eyes at night, I no longer can recall the image of him.”
It was so unfair that he was given such a long life with no one to live for. He deserved a happily ever after, but he’d never get one. Maybe he would welcome death. Was that why he was ready now?
As if knowing my question, he said, “When I struggled in the Somnium, I prayed for death, but when faced with the opportunity, I fought for life. My feelings for Deidre are growing each day, and so we must do this now, or I might not have the strength to leave her.”
“I wish you didn’t have to do it.” I wrapped my arms around myself, digging my toes into the wet sand.
He grasped my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You are not to feel sorry for me. Live and love. Enjoy the world for the gifts it presents. Don’t dwell on her evils. The good outweighs the bad, or there wouldn’t be a fight for it.”
Emily coming down the hill caused him to release my shoulders.
“Tonight, then?”
“Tonight,” I said.
He smiled with a nod and headed for the path. His long strides had him passing Emily before she reached the bottom of the hill.
“Hey,” she said, worry on her face.
I crinkled my brows at her. “What is it?”
Her frown deepened. “I’m concerned about Philip. Today, he couldn’t remember how to use a fork.”
“Has this been happening often?”
“Yes,” she said. “He asked me not to tell you. Deidre noticed and sent me here right away. I thought he was just recovering, but it’s not getting better. You know, Pia said he was scryered. Do you think…?” She couldn’t finish what we both feared.
Fighting a scryer could ruin your brain, and I had no doubt Uncle Philip had resisted it during his interrogations in the gallows.
“I’ll check on him,” I said, rinsing the mud off my feet and slipping on the sandals I’d bought in the village.
Emily kept in step with me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“It’s about Arik.”
I glanced sideways at her. “What about him?”
She hesitated before spilling it. “I’m in love with him. Is that wrong? I know it was because of me that you two broke up.”
“We both know there were other forces at play there.” I stopped to look pointedly at her. “All we have in this world that is worth anything is love. I don’t know why you feel the need to tell me, other than you’re worried I still have feelings for him and that you’ll get in the way of us getting back together.”
She bit her bottom lip. Her dark hair had grown past her shoulders. Her widow’s peak lowered with the frown lines in her forehead. Her once pale skin was now tanned from the sun.
“That’s it exactly,” she said.
I continued up the hill with her by my side. “You don’t need to worry about me. Arik and I are damaged beyond repair.”
Emily struggled to get a good footing until finally catching up with me. “I just want you to know I’m really sorry for what happened.”
“I see you are.” I smiled at her, hoping to ease her concern. “You know what they say—actions speak louder than words, and you’ve more than made up for it. Saved my ass a few times. I think that gets you a Get out of Jail Free card.”
“Thank you,” she said, keeping pace with me. “Oh, I almost forgot. Pia was searching for you earlier. She’s returned from Santara. Said the Talpar tunnel will work. Her rebels are ready when needed.”
“Thanks.” I had mixed feelings about Pia. I liked her during our time hiding in Branford together. But she had killed Toad and some high wizards. Her and her sister’s actions had caused the council to fall under the control of high wizards greedy for power and loyal to Conemar. But I’d been to Santara, seen the destruction and suffering. How could I blame her?
When we walked into Uncle Philip’s tent, he was staring at the framed mirror propped up against a washbasin on a dresser in the corner.
“How are you doing?” I asked, going over to him.
He looked at me through the mirror. “Someone replaced my face.”
My heart thudded to my feet. “Why do you say that?”
“I can’t remember this one. It’s older.” He turned his head from side to side. “Do you have any more of that candy?”
I gave Emily a questioning look.
“I can get you some more,” she said.
“That would be quite agreeable.” His eyes returned to the mirror. “Now rather than later if at all possible.”
With a heavy heart, I slowly backed away, trying desperately not to cry. “I’ll be back soon, Uncle Philip.”
He rubbed his chin, ignoring my statement.
I pushed the flap aside and exited the tent, panic rising in my chest and causing me to gulp for air. I covered my face with my hands. Tears slipped from my eyes and ran between my fingers. Emily hugged me.
“It just keeps getting worse.” I sniffed. “Will they take everyone away from me?”
She rubbed circles on my back. “No. He’s still here, just different. We’ll work with him. You’ll see. We can help him remember.”
It was sweet how she comforted me, but she hadn’t read all the stories I had. Resisting a scryer damaged the brain. But she was also right. With therapy, we could get as much back as we could. There were curers skilled in that type of recovery. He’d never be the same, but he was alive. And I was determined to make the life he had left full of love and happiness. He deserved that.
“What’s going on here?” Arik asked, approaching.
Emily released me. “Nothing. Just having one of those days.”
“I see,” he said. “Gia, can I have a word with you?”
Disappointment crossed Emily’s face.
“Sure,” I said.
Emily forced a smile. “I’ll catch you later.”
As she walked off, Arik called out to her, “Dinner later?”
At my angle, I could see her face brighten. “Sounds good,” she said and turned the corner of the tent.
“What did you want?” I asked.