“I wasn’t part of it, thank the Darkness.”

Deje sighed. “I’m glad. That one’s demon-born for sure.”

“If he isn’t, he should be.”

“You know the Sadist?” Deje asked, her eyes sharp.

“We’re acquainted,” Surreal said reluctantly.

Deje hesitated. “Is he as good as they say?”

Surreal shuddered. “Don’t ask.”

Deje looked startled but quickly regained her professional manner. “No matter. None of my business anyway.” Coming around the desk, she put an arm around Surreal’s shoulders and led her down the hall. “A garden room, I think. You can sit out quietly in the evening, eat your meals in your room if you choose. If anyone notices you’re here and makes a request for your company, I’ll tell them it’s your moontime and you need your rest. Most of them wouldn’t know the difference.”

Surreal gave Deje a shaky grin. “Well, it’s the truth.”

Deje shook her head and clucked her tongue in annoyance as she opened the door and led Surreal into the room. “Sometimes you’ve no more sense than a first-year chit, pushing yourself at a time when the Jewels will squeeze you dry if you try to tap into them.” She muttered to herself as she pulled down the bedcovers and plumped the pillows. “Get into a nice comfy nightie—not one of those sleek things—and get into bed. We’ve got a hearty soup tonight. You’ll have that. And I’ve got some new novels in the library, nice fluff reading. I’ll bring a few of them; you can take your pick. And—”

“Deje, you should’ve been someone’s mother,” Surreal laughed.

Deje put her hands on her ample hips and tried to look offended. “A fine thing to say to someone in my business.” She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Into bed and not another word from you. Honey? Honey, what’s wrong?”

Surreal sank onto the bed, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. “I can’t sleep, Deje. I have dreams that I’m supposed to be somewhere, do something. But I don’t know where or what it is.”

Deje sat on the bed and wiped the tears from Surreal’s face. “They’re only dreams, honey. Yes, they are. You’re just worn out.”

“I’m scared, Deje,” Surreal whispered. “There’s something really wrong with him. I can feel it. Once I started running, hoping I was going in the opposite direction, that whole damn continent wasn’t big enough. I need a clean place for a while.” Surreal looked at Deje, her large eyes full of ghosts. “I need time.”

Deje stroked Surreal’s hair. “Sure, honey, sure. You take all the time you need. Nobody’s going to push you in my house. Come on now, get into bed. I’ll bring you something to eat and a little something to help you sleep.” She gave Surreal a quick kiss on the forehead and hurried out of the room.

Surreal put on an old, soft nightgown and climbed into bed. It was good to be back at Deje’s house, good to be back in Chaillot. Now if only the Sadist would stay away, maybe she could get some sleep.