Page 92 of The Savage Vow
“You look tired,” Orlena murmured. “Did you even sleep?”
“No.” Nargol leaned into her touch.
“You told me to rest,” Orlena said. “You should have listened to your own advice.”
“This is not the time for me to sleep,” Nargol replied. “There will be plenty of time for me to rest once we are back in Udenia.”
The certainty in her voice was unshaken. Orlena wanted to borrow it. She wanted to have the confidence that Nargol had. But doubt coiled tightly in her stomach.
There were so many of them. She had seen the guards. Heard the movement from above. Grat had supporters, and apparently, the warriors who used to serve Cardu now served him.
Nargol was strong, but she was not an army.
Orlena’s fingers traced the edge of Nargol’s jaw gently. She took in the sharp point of Nargol’s tusks, the smoothness of her skin that was marred by bruising and dirt.
“I want to believe that someday I will get to see Udenia,” she said softly.
“You will,” Nargol said.
“But—”
“You will,” Nargol repeated. Her voice ended on a growl.
Orlena blinked, unable to respond. She glanced down at the base of Nargol’s neck. She swallowed hard. There was something she needed to say. Something that had been clawing at her chest since the night before. They may not see tomorrow. She drew in a deep breath.
“No matter what happens?—”
“You will run.” Nargol interjected.
Orlena was stunned. She blinked a few times, unable to believe what she’d just heard.
“What?” she gasped.
Nargol’s expression hardened. Orlena’s hand fell away from her face.
“I will create a distraction. When I do, you will run.”
“No.” Orlena shook her head fiercely.
“Yes.”
“No,” she repeated. This time her voice came out stronger. “I am not leaving you.”
“You must.”
“I will not leave you.” Was the woman daft? Had she taken a few too many hits to the head? There was no way she would leave Nargol behind.
“Orlena.” Her voice grew sharp and was probably meant to make warriors obey her, but Orlena was no warrior.
“You think I could live knowing I ran while you stayed?” she demanded. Tears flooded her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to allow them to fall at this moment. “You think I would survive that?”
“I need you to survive,” Nargol bit out through clenched teeth.
“I need you.”
Silence stretched between them as they stared at each other. The air seemed to thicken.
“You will go far,” Nargol continued. She lowered her voice. “You will see Aghon. You will travel all over Lunaterra. You will build a life beyond this.”
