The crowds roar downstairs, and Galinor pulls me into the room, locking the door behind us.
“Do you think the barman keeps extra keys?” he asks.
My brow furrows. “I’m sure he does. He may need to enter a room at some point.”
Galinor cocks his head to the side.
“Oh.” I look at the floor. “You think he’d give out that key?”
“I think it would depend on how much someone was willing to pay.”
I shiver and let the subject drop, accepting this is the only safe way to spend the night.
Self-conscious, I go to the bed and pull back the covers to inspect them. As far as I can tell, the furs on top seem somewhat clean…but the blankets underneath are not. I cringe and lay the furs back down.
“That bad?” Galinor asks.
I nod, feeling a little sick.
“It’s only one night,” he reminds me. He stretches out on the rug in front of the door and clasps his hands behind his head.
I debate finding a spot on the floor for myself, but I’m not sure it’s cleaner than the bed. Finally, I wrap myself in my cloak and lay fully dressed on top of the furs. I’m exhausted from the night before, and I find sleep easier than I expect.
I wake up,mid-scream. My heart races. I sit up and try to catch my breath.
The weight of Galinor’s body shifts the bed as he sits next to me. “Anwen.”
It’s cold in the room now, and I shiver. “I’m fine.” I hold my hand over my heart and wait for it to slow its frantic pace.
“Nightmare?”
I nod and take a deep breath. It’s the same as usual, and I always awake with a sense of urgency. “I feel as if we’re running out of time.”
Galinor shifts and sits with his back against the headboard. He holds out his arm, inviting me to sit with him. I scoot back so I’m next to him, and he wraps his arm around me.
He lays his head back against the wall. “We’ll save him.”
I yawn, still exhausted despite my desire to stayawake. Every time I close my eyes, I see the monster again.
He nudges my shoulder. “Tell me about how you came to have Danver.”
He’s trying to get my mind off the dream, and I am happy to oblige. Long before I finish my story, my eyes get heavy. I set my head on Galinor’s shoulder and finally fall asleep.
The nightmares don’t return.
Chapter 22
The wind is bitter high in the Errintonian mountains. I can’t imagine what it will be like come winter. Thankfully, we won’t be here then.
I secure my cloak and attempt to tuck the hood more tightly around my head. Though cold, the weather would be bearable if it weren’t for the sporadic gusts of wind that send snow flying into my face.
Penrith rides in the lead. I’m behind him, and Galinor follows. I’ve kept up fine, but I am growing weary. The sun has almost set, and I wonder if Penrith plans to travel through the night. I will surely freeze if he does.
Pika and Danver are somewhere behind us. When we left Gelminshard this morning, I watched for them, hoping they would follow at a distance. Pika has yet to show herself, but I do steal a peek of her occasionally.
I’ve seen no sign of life since we’ve neared tree line. The birds have already flown south, and the weasels and small rodents are in their cozy holes.
What are the iktar feeding on?
