Creusus's Arc

Chapter 40 of 43

They made a small camp above the shore. Kallista slept curled against Creusus's pack. Deborah slept in the crook of Malachai's arm. Two moons crossed the sky at different speeds. Creusus watched them and did not sleep. He waited until Malachai's eyes opened on their own. Then he moved to sit across from him in the grass. "Thane," Creusus said. "The mage who came out of the spire with me. I carried him. I thought I carried him. When I opened my hands on the shore it was her." Malachai looked at Kallista's back. He said nothing. "I don't know," Malachai said. "You were in there longer than any of us. You know how it worked. "look for him," Malachai said. "It is a big world. Bigger than the one we left. Maybe he walked out somewhere with those children and does not know the way back to us. Maybe he did not walk out at all. I cannot tell you which." "That is not an answer." "It is the answer I have." Creusus set his hands flat on his knees. He kept his face still. Malachai watched him try and did not comment. "He is somewhere," Creusus said at last. It came out flatter than he meant. "Then he is somewhere," Malachai said. "With children, if you are right about him. In a place that suits a man like that. Creusus looked out at the two moons. In the morning he would walk inland. He pulled his pack closer to Kallista and sat the rest of the night with his cold hands open in his lap,