“If you have a special place for him in your heart, then you may still see him.”

“I don’t want to leave Porin.”

Rozea straightened and crossed her arms. “I’ll give you a few days to think about it. I have to warn you, Jade. The comfort and safety you have here must be earned. I expect you to come with me, favorite or not.” She inclined her head at the door. “Go.”

Emerahl bowed her head and walked out of the room. The knot in her stomach had grown into a hard lump of anxiety. She looked around at all the whores talking excitedly and sighed. I thought I’d found a place to lie low and hide. Instead I’m to become the city’s favorite mistress. So much for the anonymity of prostitution! She considered the options she had. She could leave the brothel now and remain in Porin, alone, unprotected, with limited money in a city half-empty. If Rozea pays me. Emerahl chewed her lip. Or I could leave the city with Rozea and the girls.

Rozea would probably follow behind the army, after the supply carts. The priests would travel at the front of the column, leading the army. Their attention would be elsewhere. But the priest searching for her might guess she’d take the opportunity to leave. He might stay behind to watch for her. This is so frustrating. I don’t even know if the priest is still watching the gates. She did not like taking even tiny risks. One small mistake could mean her death. She had lived a long time, and the longer she had lived, the more fond of living she had become.

Either that, or I’ve just become a bigger coward.

Then I must get over it. Sometimes risks have to be taken, or one ends up trapped and miserable. So which risk is worse?

Leaving the city with the whores might be a smaller risk than leaving by herself. If she was one girl among many the priests might not look closely. Then again, she might stand out as the only one whose mind was unreadable.

Unless, of course, they think there’s a good reason for my lack of thoughts. A good reason, like being dead…or unconscious.

She felt a shiver of cold run over her skin. Playing dead was not something she wanted to do again if she could avoid it. Reaching an unconscious state, however…There were many ways to do it, and not all of them were unpleasant.

“What’s wrong, Jade?”

Emerahl turned to find Brand approaching. “Rozea ordered me to go.”

Brand snorted. “So much for giving us a choice. Are you going to visit your family before you go?”

“No, are you?”

The girl shrugged. “Probably. I don’t like them much, but I may as well take the chance to leave the brothel for a day.”