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I held her harder. “What?”

Nyah fidgeted, and the familiar mannerism seemed wrong in her sister’s body. But it still meant the same thing it always had. It was a tell. She was embarrassed. “She said it had been foretold that I was coming.”

My brow furrowed, and she scoffed, blushing. “I know. It sounds ridiculous.”

That wasn’t what I was thinking. “What else did she say?” I asked softly.

“She said when the world crumbles, the daughter would have to face the three. I’m not sure what that means, and I hope to gods the world doesn’t fall apart, because we’re having enough problems right now.”

I forced a smile for her, but waited, hoping there was more.

She sighed. “She said we have to go to the home of the gods and reunite something called the godstone. I don’t even know what that is. But the place, I’ve heard of. Rune wanted to go there because she hoped the gods could help put me back the way I was. Your mother said we should go to the Synbari Isles.”

I nodded slowly, staring off toward where I’d allowed the release of my own trauma. I’d never heard of a godstone either. My mother wanted us to take the pilgrimage I thought she’d died on. As far as I knew, no one even tried to visit the temple on Synbari anymore. It had become too dangerous to cross the sea with the pirates out of control. Though I doubted Rune would find help there, I would honor my mother’s last request. No matter what. I owed it to her. Besides, despite the pirates… “We need a destination anyway. A place to regroup where Balram can’t get to us as easily, and he has no control over the sea.”

As far as I knew he held no interest in the island or the lands that lay beyond. I’d assumed it had to do with the wild nature of the ocean, but now I wondered if there was more to it.

“It’s settled then,” Nyah said burrowing into me to lay her cheek against my chest. “We should head out before the guards catch up to us.”

Torvo’s steps were stealthy, but my elven hearing picked them up.

“We need rest.” I hid the way my legs wanted to give out even at this very moment, but the truth was undeniable. I’d been weakened by my treatment the past month. And though I was half mountain elf and would heal quickly, I still needed sleep and some time to recover.

“Okay. I’ll keep watch,” she said, not letting me go.

“No, I will,” Torvo said from behind her. When I saw the way his fists clenched, muscles bunched tight along his biceps, I stiffened, subtly adjusting my position so I could spring if need be. His eyes fixed on the point of contact where Nyah nestled against me.

She jerked away, clearing her throat. “I don’t mind, really.”

If Torvo was angered by the proximity I shared with Rune’s body, I couldn’t blame him. The whole situation was confusing as hell. But rather than lash out, he simply relaxed and said, “You two both need it more than I. Go lay on the blankets I set out under the tent. The fire will warm you, and I’ll unpack some supplies I had ready.”

One curt nod let him know I appreciated the gesture, and I led Nyah to the blanket. We sat down together at the entrance of the tent, her head against my chest, palm splayed over the top of my heart like she couldn’t stop touching me for fear I’d disappear. Ironic, considering she’s the one who had literally vanished on me.

True to his word, Torvo had brought changes of clothing for all of us. Leathers and a dagger for Nyah.

“Humph. A sword would have been better,” she muttered.

Lips drawn up in a smirk, he laid out piles of dried fruit, nuts, and cheeses. Though I still wasn’t keen to trust him or accept his help fully, I couldn’t hold back from digging in. He handed me a filled skein of water when I finally paused to look up.

“I have more, but I didn’t want to put out too much or risk making you sick from eating too quickly,” he explained while I guzzled every last drop.

He was right, my stomach churned uncomfortably as I handed back the empty container. When he went to take it, I held on, forcing his attention.

“Nyah is all I want,” I said, meeting his eyes.

One side of his mouth tilted upward in a mirthless smirk. “I understand the need to be together, but do not forget that Rune has been used by enough people. So long as you respect her boundaries, we are fine, brother. I trust Nyah, ergo I trust you, too.” He yanked the skein from my hand, then frowned down at me where I sat. “But if a line is crossed, I will protect her sovereignty.”

“I have no intention of crossing any lines,” I ground out between clenched teeth. He wasn’t out of line. I had to remember that. But that didn’t mean this wasn’t difficult.

Too tired to think any further, I laid back on the blankets, then turned to face Nyah. At least I’d finally eaten real food and water that wasn’t tainted with dirt and who knew what else. My eyelids grew heavy as I blinked, trying to keep my gaze on her face, lest I lose her again. But sleep won in the end, as it always would, and I fell into the first stretch of peaceful slumber since she’d been torn from me. No dreams plagued me. Reality was nightmare enough.

We made good progress through the forest, sticking to the ground under the assumption they’d expect us to fly. Nyah did not complain, though I wondered how well-suited Rune’s body was for trekking across the terrain. I supposed my own frailties inadvertently helped slow us down enough for her to keep up. She’d managed to disentangle herself from the crown at least and had used the dagger to turn the dress into a bright red cloak that covered her head and body.

Torvo’s steed had flown off when the path had become too tight and treacherous for her to fit through on foot.

We’d be heading back through Tromodia if we wanted to acquire passage to Synbari. When I finally spotted one of the falcons the kingdoms used as messengers, I forced the others to take a well-earned rest and used some of the bread Torvo had brought along as a lure to bring her down from the branch I couldn’t reach. By the time we were done, I’d sent word to my sister, Sharlyne. I hadn’t told her about our mother. I hadn’t had the heart to do it through messenger falcon, and even the thought of having to tell her eventually filled me with grief. Instead, I’d asked her to subtly gather whoever we could trust to help on our quest.

Though, without Galan to count on, our party would be pathetically weak.