I wondered what it was like to know everyone’s thoughts.I smiled back at her and left her to rest.
CHAPTER 41
It surprised me how late in the day it was – time seemed to move differently in Mae’s dreams.
No-one had noticed my reappearance yet, so I took my time watching the people who had stayed with me when day turned to night.
General Toro and the curator from Murus caught my eye first because they seemed an odd pairing, and I wondered what they had to talk about.Tomas and Braya were preparing a deer to roast on a spit.I felt my stomach rumble at the sight.
Ania’s mischievous laugh rang out, drawing my attention.She and her brother were engaged in a spirited game, throwing pinecones and sticks at Atlas, who was in the midst of building a fire.He skil fully dodged and batted away the flying objects with a playful smile.
Pretending to be annoyed, he rose with a roar and grabbed Ania, who wasn’t as fast as her brother.Atlas tossed her over his shoulder and whacked her playfully on the backside.
Ania’s laughter abruptly ceased, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson.Still chuckling, Atlas gently set her down, oblivious tohow her eyes sparkled and how she struggled to catch her breath, captivated by his mischievous grin.
‘See that, Wolfe?That’s what you get if you behave like a naughty child.’
Wolfe had long disappeared.
‘Child?’Ania’s eyes welled up with tears as she backed away from Atlas.His brows furrowed, perplexed by her sudden shift in demeanor.
Ania shook her head at him before running off to her tent.
Atlas caught my eye.‘What did I do?’He glanced at the opening of Ania’s tent.
‘Leave her, Atlas.’He would only make it worse for her.
Eventually I made my way to the tent I had slept in, hoping to find soap and clean clothes inside.Torgrin was sitting atop a pile of furs, writing in one of his journals.Next to him was a sleeping Wolfe.
He looked up from his writing at my arrival, and I noticed his hair was freshly washed.Inky strands flopped over one eye, reminding me of the boy I had watched playing in the Red River all those years ago.
Things were still uncertain between us, and there wouldn’t be enough time to fix that.That realisation added more weight to the sadness dragging me down.I wouldn’t burden him with everything I had learned today in Mae’s tent.What would be the point?I was leaving with his father for Ephemero s.
I whispered so as not to rouse Wolfe.‘I’m looking for soap and clean clothes?’
Torgrin motioned to a corner of the tent, and relief flooded through me to see my saddle bags there.Nightmare must be with the other horses.I wondered who had thought to find my horse during our escape from Capita.All my belongings, including the sword Iainmade, were propped up in the corner.I grabbed what I needed and headed to the pond to bathe.
Afterwards, I searched for the horses and found Tomas tending to them.I greeted Nightmare and stroked her lovingly.
Tomas snorted.‘That horse of yours is a menace.She even bullies the stallions.’
‘Good girl,’ I cooed to her.
Tomas chuckled before turning back to camp.
‘Wait!’I called.‘Can I walk with you?’
He nodded, and I gave Nightmare one last pat.
‘I want to apologise for what I said to you earlier.’
‘Don’t worry about it.We’ve all been through a lot.’He smiled sadly.‘I’m sorry about Cillian.’
I swallowed, trying to push away the instant rush of grief.I wasn’t ready to talk about Cillian.But I had questions.‘When I was in the dungeon, I found Finn.Dead.’
The image of him hanging in that cell flashed in my mind.I shook my head to clear it so I could continue.‘Why did the dragon fire go off so early, and how was Finn captured?’
‘As promised, he took me to the Order’s secret chambers, where they had mounds of dragon-fire powder.Atlas wanted us to take some if we got the opportunity,’ Tomas explained, keeping pace with me.‘Maybe the curator could have discovered its properties, and we could’ve made it for ourselves.But the Order would rather die than have anyone learn their secrets,’ he said bitterly.‘When they recognised Finn, they drew their weapons.’T omas kicked the ground with the scuffed toe of his boot.‘He got caught drawing them away from me.’
