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He glanced at me, as if he were questioning the truth of this statement already.
“Can we take her back to Orin’s Gate?” I asked immediately, knowing what he must be thinking. “Surely, we can’t bring her with us to Meridium. If it’s as dangerous as you say...”
His jaw clenched. “We can’t go back. And I won’t leave her here. She’ll have to come along.”
Lancelet threw up her hands. “That seems like a very bad idea.” Her face brightened. “Perhaps we’ll pass another gate...” Then it fell. “Though I suppose without Merlin, we wouldn’t know how to access it.”
Draven shook his head. “No, we wouldn’t. And even if we did, it would be no use. The arches here have been destroyed.”
“Really? By who?” I asked.
“It’s true,” Vesper spoke from beside me. “They were torn down. Perhaps the fae destroyed them when they were leaving this place. The only ones Laverna and I saw were in ruins.” He shifted on his feet, his eyes fixed on the little girl. “I don’t like this. How could she have survived this long? You don’t think there... might be something wrong?”
I wrinkled my brow. “Something wrong? What do you mean?”
Draven ignored him and leaning forward, gently picked up the little girl, cradling her to his chest. The child looked even smaller against his large body. She made no protest or any sound at all, simply let herself go limp as Draven carried her over to his mount.
Vesper raised his voice a little. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the child. “What if there’s something wrong with her? What if disease caused this? A plague of some kind?”
Draven paused. “A disease wouldn’t leave bodies in this condition. Nothing I know of would but fenrirs.”
“No, that’s true,” Vesper muttered. He scuffed a foot in the sand. “Still, it seems reckless.”
“Reckless?” Draven snapped. “Reckless to save a child from certain death? What would you rather we do with her?”
Vesper shrugged uncomfortably. “Leave her here with enough food and water to last until we get back. That’s what I’d do, if it was up to me.”
I stared at him. “But Vesper, you have a sister.”
“I do. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want anyone bringing her near a place like Meridium. The girl has survived this long. She’ll be safer here.”
“We can’t leave her here,” Lancelet said indignantly. “What if the fenrirs come back?”
“Well, how did she survive them the first time?” Vesper said, his tone stubborn. “She probably crawled under a wagon and they left her alone.”
Draven was looking at Vesper with an exasperated expression. “It’s a ridiculous idea and I’m not even going to argue with you about it. We’re not leaving this little girl alone here for another moment. She’s coming with us.” He narrowed his eyes. “Unless this really means a lot to you and you want to make something more of it.”
I knew what that meant. “No, he doesn’t,” I said hastily. I put my hand on Vesper’s arm. “Vesper, surely you see she has to come with us. Yes, it’s risky, but it’s better than the alternative. If this was your sister, she wouldn’t want to be left alone.” I lowered my voice. “Think of what that little girl must have gone through. What she’s already seen. Her parents are probably...” I gestured to the bodies lying in the sand around us.
Vesper nodded slowly. “I suppose.” He met my eyes and tried to smile. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”
“She can ride with me, if you like,” Lancelet offered. “You’re heavier than I am–” She indicated Draven. “It’ll be an extra burden for your mount. Put her with me. Then Morgan can take a turn.”
“Yes, that sounds good,” I agreed.
Draven carried the child over and once Lancelet was up, gently lifted her up.
Odelna made not a word of protest or assent. She simply looked at us from blank tired eyes.
“Do you want some water, sweetheart?” Lancelet asked, opening her flask and offering it to the child.
The girl made no movement to take it, but when Lancelet tipped it towards her mouth, the child parted her lips, allowing a trickle of liquid to fall in.
“Odelna is in good health considering how long she may have been sitting out here,” Lancelet noted quietly. “It is strange. But perhaps she was taking better care of herself before but then as the days passed, she fell into hopelessness, thinking no one was ever going to come along.” She shot a warning glance at Vesper. “I am by no means saying we should leave her behind here.”
“Anyone would be hopeless, seeing what she’s seen,” was all Vesper said. “Well, she’s safe now. I hope.” He swung his leg over his horse.
We rode on.
