Chapter 64

Thea motioned to the sky as she continued to approach. “The weather was nice, and I needed the exercise.” She paused a few feet away. “Where have you been?”

“I’ve been staying here, with Doreius and Erjon,” she replied.

“No, I know that.” Thea reached out and placed a hand gently on Driada’s cheek. “Where have you been? Why did you leave me? Even in your letters I can tell you haven’t been yourself.”

The tenderness in her eyes made her look away. “I didn’t mean to distress you, Thea, but I…felt it was best if I created some distance between us.”

She dropped her hand. “Why?”

Driada sucked in a deep breath. “I thought you might be safer.”

“Safer?” Thea repeated. She laughed. “What do you mean?”

“You could have diedsaving me, Thea,” Driada said, and stabbed the point of her sword into the ground. “Don’t you care about that?”

“But I didn’tdie. I lived, and so did you.”

“How can we know that you will be so fortunate next time?”