She focused on her breathing, trying to steady it.
“Maybe going to bed on a belly full of grub worms wasn’t such a good idea,” he whispered.
A choke of surprised laughter escaped her.
Then she felt queasy. “You had to mention that,” she murmured. “I’d actually forgotten.”
“Sorry,” he breathed against her ear.
She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She could still hear her heart thudding with terror and guilt.
Gideon said, “Do you want to tell me what you dreamed?”
“No.”
He accepted this, and they lay quietly together. After a while, he lifted his head. Then he whispered, “It’s too dark to see, but I think she’s still asleep.”
Chandra was glad she hadn’t disturbed the girl. Having woken Gideon was embarrassing enough.
He lowered his head again, letting it rest close to hers. “I can’t tell how long we’ve been asleep. The light’s always exactly the same here.”
“The moonlight, you mean.”
“Mmm.”
She tried to get her mind off the shadows of her past. It was better to think about the present-even this present. “Now that we know more about Velrav and this place… I don’t feel we’re any closer to knowing what to do about it. How to get out of here, I mean.” She kept her voice soft, so as not to wake Falia.
“Widespread rebellion would be handy,” Gideon said, “but I doubt it’ll happen.”
“Because it hasn’t happened yet?” she whispered. “In all these years of suffering?”
“And also because this whole plane is steeped in dark magic.”
“Including our hostess?” Chandra guessed.
“That blood ritual? Yes.” Lying entwined with him like this, she could feel him shake his head slightly. “They won’t unite. The different groups here won’t help anyone but themselves. And however tormented the situation may be, it’s got a sort of consistency and balance that they’re used to by now.”
“You’d think the food alone would be cause enough to rebel. Grub soup?”
She felt his soft puff of laughter against her cheek in the dark.
“If they would rebel,” Gideon said after a moment, “then the flow of blood to Velrav and his companions might be reduced. Even cut off.”
“So that’s our plan?” she said doubtfully. “Lead an uprising?”
“No. It would take too long. Years, if it worked at all. Which it probably wouldn’t.” He added, “Besides, it might also take a while for Velrav to feel the effects of going hungry and start weakening. We need a faster plan.”
“Yes. Faster is better.”
“I thought you’d think so.”
“But in our current condition,” she whispered, “how can we attack someone that powerful?”
Gideon sighed and shifted his position a little. “I don’t know.”
Instead of rolling away from him, she shifted her position, too, getting more comfortable in his arms. The feel of his body was comforting. The whisper of his breath along her cheek, his voice soft in her ear… For now, he was a safe place to hide from her nightmares.
“You said blood drinkers are vulnerable to fire,” she whispered. “Maybe we should burn down the castle. The normal way, I mean. With torches and that sort of thing.”
“We’d have to go see the place to get an idea of what it would take to burn it down without magic. But stone walls added to a damp climate…”
The prospect wasn’t promising. Chandra tried to think of another plan. “Jurl captures people and delivers them to Velrav. Actually, he probably captures goblins, too. He’s obviously not sentimental about his own race.”
“You think Jurl may know more about Velrav than we’ve learned so far?” Gideon guessed.
“But whether what he says will make much sense…”
“Well, we can try in the morning.” He paused. “Or, uh, when it’s time to get up, I mean.”
The night was so still and silent, the villagers must all still be sleeping.
His hand brushed her hair as he whispered, “Try to get some more sleep.”
Chandra’s lids felt heavy, but she was afraid to go back to sleep. Afraid of what her dreams might hold. She’d rather stay here, with him. “I’m not sleepy,” she lied.
She was sure he heard the fatigue in her voice, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he stroked her hair in silence for a while.
Finally he said, “I’m wondering…”
“Hmm?” She didn’t move or open her eyes.
“Will you…” He hesitated and again, then said quietly, “What happened to your mother?”
Chandra drew in a sharp breath and went tense all over. She knew he felt it. The stroking hand on her hair became still.
“What?” Her voice was cold.
“You cried out for her. In your dream-your nightmare. It seemed like… What happened to her?”
She sat up, tearing herself out of his embrace. When she felt his hand on her arm, she flung it off.
He sat up, too, but he didn’t try to touch her again. “Chandra…”
She started to speak, then changed her mind. Anything she might say now would reveal too much-even if only how forbidden the subject was.
“I apologize.” His voice was calm. Trying to make her calm. “I shouldn’t have asked.”