Gideon’s mind went to the darkest places—he’d been there himself. He knew those places intimately. The idea of Rune at someone’s mercy made his body harden with rage.
I killed him,she’d said.I took your advice and didn’t hesitate.
But it was no consolation, because Rune was still carrying it with her. He saw it in her eyes whenever he looked at her: anguish and pain and barely controlled fury. She looked like she might break apart at any moment from the effort of holding it all in.
They were in unfamiliar territory, and Gideon had no map to navigate the rocky terrain.
Antonio reached over, touching him lightly on the wrist. Gideon looked up to find Bart gone, taking the list of names with him.
“Where did he go?”
“To bed. I’m heading there in a moment, but I wanted to ask if everything is all right?”
Gideon glanced down, staring at a wet stain on the table from the bottom of Bart’s whiskey glass. “I was too harsh with her tonight.”
Antonio withdrew his hand, waiting for the rest.
“I think someone broke her.”
“Ah,” said Antonio, leaning back and folding his hands on the table. “Anything else?”
Gideon glanced up. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to put her back together.”
“You can’t put her back together. Only she can do that.”
It wasn’t at all what Gideon wanted to hear. He frowned at Antonio’s shadowed face. “And if I lose her in the meantime?”
Antonio’s eyes softened. “Love is patient, Gideon.”
He clenched his fists. “So I should stand back and do nothing?”
Taking the bottle of whiskey, Antonio uncorked it and poured some into the empty glass in front of him. “Not nothing.” Taking a sip, he said: “You could start by being less afraid.”
It was what Gideon had accused Rune of: being afraid.
“You could trytrustinstead. Trusting not only her, but yourself.”
Gideon stared at the former acolyte. “This conversation isn’t making me feel better.”
Antonio laughed. “Perhaps a sleeping draught, then? We have the ingredients in the kitchen. I can make one for you. It will help ease the pain, at least for tonight.”
He meant the pain of Gideon’s wounds, but he could easily have meant the ache of Gideon’s heart.
“I find a good night’s sleep makes me clear-sighted in the morning.”
Gideon sighed and pushed out his chair. His tired body groaned in protest as he forced himself to his feet. “Fine. I’ll take your sleeping potion.”
If he was going to pit himself against two armies—Cressida’sandthe Good Commander’s—he would need all the clear-sightedness he could get.
THE NEXT MORNING, GIDEONwoke to warm sunlight on his face and the smell of Rune on the pillows. He opened his eyes, reaching for her.
But the bed was empty.
Andcold.
He glanced at the armchair pulled up to the bedside, but it, too, was vacant.
It was just a dream.
