Page 83 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
He shrugged. “Slightly better than starving to death.”
“Of course it is,” Corvo deadpanned. “Start walking that way,” he flicked his tail in the direction Damon had motioned to earlier. “Follow the blue flowers. I’ll be back in a few?—”
“Wait! Are Vareck and Sadie okay?”
“Alive,” Corvo said, then paused. “Sand-scorched. Possibly concussed. Emotionally dysregulated. But yes, fine.”
I swallowed and nodded. “And they know we’re okay?”
“Not yet,” he said. “But I was just about to deliver the good news when I heard you two and thought, what’s a little detour?”
Damon took a backpack and set it down near Corvo. “They’ll need rations. And water.”
Corvo wiggled his whiskers and shook his head. “Keep it. It means I get to check on you less. I’ll bring them their own. Saves me all this back-and-forth nonsense.”
I slung my bag over my shoulder. “Can you deliver a message to Vareck for me?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Corvo,” I all but whined, and he winced. “Just tell him that I’m sorry about before. That I ...” What was I going to say? That I’m sure now? That I don’t have doubts? That while I was still scared, Evorsus was messing with me, and my emotions were amplified and I didn’t feel like myself? There were so many things that needed to be said. “Just tell him I’m sorry. Please.”
Corvo groaned again. “Fine, no idea what you’re sorry about. Guilt is a useless emotion if you ask me, but what do I know? Oh right. Everything.”
“Thank you, oh reluctant hero of mine.” I kissed his furry face. “I’ll give you all the pets when we get home.”
“You better,” he replied. “And don’t forget the halibut. And salmon. By the time this is over, there will be a long list.”
“Make sure they’re safe,” I said, and my voice wavered, giving away the worry I was trying to conceal.
“I’m many things, Meera, but I’m not a liar. Most of the time. They’re fine. You, however, need to start moving.” He paused. “Try not to get yourself eaten or anything before I get back.”
He shimmered out of existence with a soft crack of air displacement.
Damon looked at me. “You ready?”
Not even close. But I nodded anyway.
“Let’s go,” he said, slipping the other backpack on.
We turned toward the unknown, the air heavy with humidity and silence, and started walking north—toward the convergence, and hopefully, toward the others.
Toward home.
I tried to stop it, but my emotions caught up with me. A single tear slid down my cheek, and somehow, it didn’t escape Damon.
“Hey,” he said gently, rubbing my shoulder. “They’re okay. Corvo wouldn’t lie about it.”
“I know,” I whispered, sniffling once and trying to pull it together. “I just wish I hadn’t said the things I did.”
“That wasn’t you, Meera. That wasn’t Vareck either. Evorsus wanted you to be split apart.”
I huffed. “Yeah, well, it got what it wanted.”
“Just don’t leave my side. I fear it wants you alone entirely.”
“Hey.” I stopped walking, and he did too, waiting for me to speak. “I didn’t thank you for what you did back there.”
He raised a brow. “For what?”
