Yet somehow, it worked. The Atasi had access to underground freshwater ponds, with their dwellings stationed near openings out to the mountains above, where they could ascend to hunt or harvest food and lumber. There were a few women who housed Lucie, as was only appropriate, while Geo expended many an hour deep in discussion with his friends. Rumors were circulating that the King of Llewes was currently lodging at Wintersea, a golden opportunity for taking him out in the process of rescuing Dmitri. Only, there were Wintersea’s guards to contend with, as well as the moat. When not strategizing with his knights, there was only one companion Geo sought. He’d not realized how accustomed he’d become to Lucie’s presence until he found himself apart from her. Something about her stuck to him, whether it was her reassuring brown eyes, or the way she spoke her mind when words failed him. In spite of himself, he found he was becoming less able to imagine life without her.
