The High Druid's Blade (The Defenders of Shannara, #1)(66)

She rose, went to the cupboard, and brought out a different mix, then set about reheating the kettle. “I’m sorry I waited until this happened to come see you,” he said. “I shouldn’t have stayed away.”

She grinned, her cheeks dimpling. “No, you shouldn’t have. But that’s all right. I’ve been waiting for you. I thought you were just still trying to grow up and hadn’t quite gotten there yet.”

“Still haven’t gotten there,” he said with a shrug. “But I couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“That’s all right. You’re welcome here.” She paused, her smile fading a bit. “I thought you stayed away from me for other reasons.”

He shrugged. “I’ve heard some rumors.”

“Some of those rumors might be true.”

“I didn’t pay attention.” He had, of course. But he would never admit it because he didn’t want what he heard to be true. Not of Leofur. “Anyway,” he added, “it doesn’t matter. I’ve done plenty of things that aren’t so good, too.”

She stared at him a moment, a vaguely amused expression on her face, and then she nodded. “What do you want me to do for this girl? Hide her? This is Arcannen we’re talking about. I’m in as much trouble as you. I’m looking at real danger here.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have come.”

“I’m not saying that. I’m saying you have to decide what you want from me so I can tell you if I am prepared to offer it. I need to know what’s at risk if I agree to help you further. Do you want her kept here? Or do you want me to see about helping you get her out of the city? He’s going to be searching for her when he finds her gone, isn’t he?”

Grehling nodded. “He and Mischa might already be searching.”

“Do they know about your connection with her?”

“I don’t know. Mischa saw me leaving with her, but we’ve never met face-to-face, so she might not know who I am.”

“But you can’t take chances.”

He shook his head. “I thought I might try to get Chrysallin to the airfield and into my flit and fly her back to Leah. But the walk to the airfield is too long; she’s too weak to make it.”

“And too much under the influence of the magic, whatever it’s doing.” Leofur poured tea into cups for both of them. “Anyway, even if you somehow manage it, by the time you get there Arcannen or his men will already be watching. You know his reputation as well as I do.”

Something in the way she said it stopped him. “You don’t have anything to do with him, do you?”

She cocked her head, the vaguely amused expression returning. “No, I don’t have anything to do with him.”

“I didn’t think so.” But now he wished he hadn’t asked. “What do you think I should do?”

“You shouldn’t go back to the airfield or your house. You shouldn’t go anywhere near either one.” She thought about it a moment. “I could slip you out of the city in a wagon or cart, even though it might take a day or two to arrange things. But you might have to do it anyway, just because it would be the safest choice.”

He shook his head. “No. We’re miles from another city of any size. Or an airfield where I could find a ship. Anyway, I don’t have any money.”

She laughed. “You are sad, aren’t you? A rescuer with no means to effect a rescue.” She reached out and took his hands in hers. “I’m glad you came to me, Grehling. It’s good to see you again. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” he admitted. “It’s never been the same without you. Father remarried, and she’s nice enough, but we’re not close. I work at the airfield, but I’m pretty much on my own most of the time. I miss talking to you. Father tries, but …”

“Your father was never much of a talker,” she said. “But he was kind to me.”

She looked like she might say something more, but then she stood up abruptly and looked out the window into the darkening twilight. Nightfall was settling in, the shadows enveloping the surrounding buildings, the light gone out of the sky.

“Let’s think about this,” she said. “Why don’t we sleep on it? Night’s almost here, and you must be very tired after what you’ve been through. Your friend’s already asleep. Why don’t you join her? You can have a place beside her on the floor. I have some blankets and a sleeping pad you can use.”

Though anxious to be off, to be moving away from the danger, Grehling saw the wisdom in her advice and gave a nod. He would be able to think more clearly and act more quickly after he slept. He watched her as she walked over to a closet, brought out the promised pad and blankets, and laid them out neatly on the floor next to the couch where Chrysallin was sleeping.

“We’ll talk about this in the morning,” she said. She came over, took his hands once more, pulled him to his feet, and kissed him on the forehead. “There, just like when you were a little boy.”

She smiled and turned him toward the sleeping pad. “Lie down, now. Go to sleep.”

He did as he was told, slipping off his boots and shirt and crawling beneath the blanket as she extinguished the lights. He lay there in the dark, listening to her move away—down the hall and into her bedroom. He listened to her movements afterward, picturing her.