Velaska proved to be more willing to be distracted by him for some time away from the pursuit of Gabrielle than he would have imagined in his wildest dreams—or darkest nightmares. She was persistent, inventive, and skilled—and she enjoyed her work, all admirable qualities for many other endeavors. And she could talk. The ringing in his ears from the explosions—and the screams her treatment ripped from him—sometimes made it hard for him to hear what she said, but it didn't seem to matter. When what she was saying was a detailed preview of what she intended to do to him next, he rather preferred it that way.
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"You, you are going to keep suffering." He heard her whisper through a pain-filled haze, right by his ear, which meant…
He struggled fruitlessly to move away from her, even though she was doing nothing then but gloating, tried to push her away, and as he did so he snatched one of the small bags she wore around her waist. He felt triumph in his thief's heart. He did not let it show on his face.
"I have a queen to depose, but when I'm done I'll return here."
She wasn't going to kill him outright. He was of mixed feelings about that, just then—a relief from the burning in his chest and the sensation in his legs that made him want to scream would be nice, but then he would be passing out shortly anyway. He thought: she's dallied here for half the day, that should help. He hoped fervently he'd bought enough time to make Gabrielle's chances of survival stronger.
He felt a sharp kick in his ribs—which was a gentle nudge compared to earlier —to get his attention. The mad goddess was looking down at him, a calculating expression on her face, as though she'd just figured out something. He froze, hoping she hadn't noticed some of her ambrosia was now gone.
Turns out, that wasn't it. "You got in my way to delay me from finding Gabrielle." Velaska mused aloud, and smiled. "I just want you to know, it doesn't matter. I will find her, no matter how long it takes, and have my revenge. And I will make her suffer, just as I have you. I will come back and tell you exactly what I do to her, every cry of agony. That's a promise."
He glared up at her. He knew his fear and disgust showed on his face—he didn't have the strength to hide it.
It was only after Velaska had gone, and just before he lost awareness, that he wondered what would happen to him if Velaska did not return to finish him off.
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Ephiny surveyed grimly the blasted temple and the dead guards.
"We'll come back, to restore what we can, once we know all our people are safe," she said to the small group of Amazons who remained with her.
As the rest prepared to travel back, Solari spoke to Ephiny. "What about the thief?"
"I've been thinking of that." Ephiny sighed. All she wanted now was to return to their tribe and see her son, who had blessedly been safe with the Centaurs when the Amazon village had been attacked. "We should find out what became of him. You, take them back—I'll take Haemerasia and we'll look."