Balthier gave me a steady, knowing look.
"What?" I snapped, boyish and blushing.
Balthier laughed. "You're a fugitive now. Stay low for a while."
I scrubbed my cheeks with the heel of my hand. "What about--"
Balthier leered. "The Captain?"
"No! No, no. The...the stone. What about the stone."
Balthier shrugged, turning away, Fran at his side. "Do as you want. That stone's ill-favored."
They walked away, disappearing into the churning waves of people as if they were walking into the sea.
Despite being surrounded by people, I'd never felt so alone.
"Penelo, I'll go find Penelo..." Even though I said her name, and I kept saying her name, the only face I saw was his.
"Go away," I hissed, darting between people as I headed towards Migelo's place. "Can't you leave me alone?"
He was, though-- he was nowhere near me, yet he plagued my mind. I told myself that it was because of Reks, that I couldn't stop thinking about him because of Reks, even though I knew, deep down, that maybe he didn't-- maybe he wasn't--
But that was deep down, and far away, and I needed to find Penelo.