Corus, Tortall
Late fall, 458 H.E.
Neal looked around, making sure no one on the street was paying any attention to him, then took the steps up to the sick house doors two at a time. "Neal," he froze, stopped mere steps from the door. He debated pretending he hadn't heard her and continuing inside, but that would be petty. He turned around. Ahrei was standing across the street, and he could see she'd been hidden in the shadows before. The wind of early winter whipped her gray skirts around her legs and her hair across her face. She met his eyes, and, with just a stern look, she beckoned him back down the steps and across the street. Her expression softened as he approached.
"What are you doing?" Ahrei asked. Her question was not accusatory, but Neal felt himself become immediately defensive.
"Were you following me?" He demanded, his tone coming out even harsher than he had intended. Ahrei stepped back like he had slapped her, but her resolve didn't falter.
"Yes," she said, "because we're worried about you. I'm worried about you."
"Did Dom send you to follow me?"
Ahrei dropped her gaze. "I don't want you to get hurt." She whispered then her voice strengthened. "Corus is a horrible city to be a healer in, Neal. Don't you see that?"
"You're still here." Neal said. He felt like a brute for being mean to her, but he was as desperate to get his point across as she was.
"Father loves Corus." Ahrei answered. "It's where he started. But even he doesn't take healing as seriously as you do. He won't needlessly risk his life for it. The Gennature guard is accusing healers who don't treat Gennature of treason and pulling them out of their beds at night. Angry Tortallans are attacking sick houses that do treat Gennature and beating healers to death in alleyways. You can't win."
"I can't just—"
Ahrei reached out and took his hands, drawing him closer to her. "Things will calm down—go back to normal. I'm asking you not to heal today."
"But it's our fault. You and me and your father and Dom. It's because of us that the Gennature are doing this. They don't know it was us, but they know someone in the city healed Roald."
"What if what Gary says is true? If you're the healer in the prophecy, isn't that more important? This stuff in Corus will happen with or without you. Corus has been destroying itself regularly since the Conquering. You owe the city nothing, but you do owe Tortall more than dying in some dark corner of the city."
"Roald left, Ahrei. He ran out on the prophecy. And there is no prophecy without a king."
"I don't believe it's over just like that. And I don't care either way. If all that stuff isn't enough for you to leave here with me." She dropped her head and let her hair fall between them so he couldn't see her face. "Think about your father and Dom. They need you."
"Dom doesn't need me." She gave a soft, sad laugh.
"He does. He doesn't like you to know it, but he needs you. And…and maybe I need you."
Neal felt like a fool. She'd come after him desperate and pleading, and he had pushed away—assumed Dom had sent her to bring him back. And it wasn't just now, but for weeks, that he'd been treating her badly.
"Do you mean that?" Neal asked. Ahrei was silent. Neal touched his fingers to her chin and tilted her face up to his. There were tears on her cheeks. "I'm sorry."
Ahrei smiled. "Of course I meant it."
"Where are we going?" Neal asked without moving his fingers from her chin or his hand from hers.
She tuned her head, pressing her cheek against his palm. He could feel her tears. Then she took a deep breath and pulled away a little. "There's a picnic lunch ready at the inn. We can get out of the city for a little bit at least. You'll come with me?"
"Wherever you ask." She looked doubtful. "I promise." Ahrei nodded and Neal let her lead him away.