Jo

Kerus watched Iphest and Thea glide across the lake. The pair were headed in a different direction than Kerus and Iphest had come in from. The boat sat low in the water and Kerus was sure that if not for the alligators supporting it, it would have sunk. Thea had taken several trunks filled with clothing, jewelry, and books. Two strongboxes also sat in the boat, filled with what she described as her supplies. Kerus had glimpsed a variety of things going in, including vials of oily-looking liquids, clear bags filled with an assortment of dried leaves and flowers, and curiously, several hand-sewn dolls. She smiled wickedly when she caught him looking at them and told him he should be glad she hadn't made one in his likeness. Iphest rolled his eyes as he gathered her collection of crystals and dumped them in the box as well.

Kerus had remarked on the weight and she waved a hand negligently and told him not to worry. Then she set fire to the house, turned away without a second look, and settled on top of one of the trunks, her feet swinging side-to-side. Iphest sat opposite, waving at Kerus as they moved away. Kerus continued watching until he saw the heavy moss part and the branches swing back, revealing another small stream meandering away into the darkness. When the brush fell, hiding them from view, he turned and watched as the house burned to the ground, his thoughts swirling.

Thea had kept her word. She had labored over Jo through the night and into the next afternoon. Kerus wasn't sure what she had done since she shooed him away, claiming he was too close to Jo for her treatment to be completely effective. Kerus suspected the real reason was she didn't want him anywhere near her and left reluctantly. But he pestered Iphest constantly for updates, pacing the front room and porch in a never-ending loop. When Thea finally emerged, her eyes had deep shadows under them and her headscarf was gone. Her hair frizzed in a huge halo and deep lines etched her face.

"It is done," she had said wearily. "I've done what I can but the rest is up to her."

"She will live?"

"She may. The next day will be difficult and even if she survives, she may still succumb at a later date. Hard times are ahead, Kerus. I hope you're ready."

"I'll do whatever I need to. She's too important to give up on."

"That may be. But I cannot tell you whether she will be perfect again. Nor can I tell you how long her recovery will take."

"I thank you, Thea. I can never repay you for this."

"Yes, you can. You have cost me everything, Kerus. I am now without a home. I know not what the world outside the swamp looks like but from what Iphest has told me in the past, it no longer resembles what I remember. I will probably not be welcome anywhere civilized and unless things change, I cannot return to where we are from.

"I am also a marked woman. Ditae will stop at nothing to find any of us, as you well know. Her rage, I'm sure, will know no bounds and she will not only try to kill us, but she will do everything she can to hurt us before then."

"Together, we have a chance of defeating her," Kerus said quietly.

"Maybe yes, maybe no. But I was honest when I said our kind's politics no longer interest me. I do not wish to be drawn into a war between you and Ditae. Or between Ditae and anyone else for that matter."

Kerus started to speak and she held up a hand, stopping him.

"I am tired, Kerus. And depleted. I need to rest but even a good night's sleep won't replace what I've used. It will take time for me to recover as well. We will remain through tomorrow evening, but then, we will leave."

"Will it be safe for Joan to travel so soon after?"

"Probably not, but there is no choice. Ditae knows where I am. She put me here, remember? Once she discovers she's been deceived, she will come as fast as she can. We may have more than a day but I prefer not to take a chance."