“Almost dawn. Pandim went to bed an hour ago.”
He reached out and brushed some loose strands of hair
from my cheek. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. It was just a strange dream and I can’t
seem to recall it,” I said, looking out the window as the
first faint shots of pink streaked through the sky. “Viken,
there is something I haven’t yet told you about my run-in
with Damascus.”
“What’s that?”
“Lazarius was there.”
Viken became very still at the mention of Lazarius’
name. He was the one person who knew my story - my
whole story – and he was aware of what it meant for me to
have run into him so unexpectedly.
Slowly he asked, “Do you mean to tell me that
Lazarius has finally come out of hiding?”
I could only nod my head. My mind was still
ashamed at my defeat while facing him.
“Did he give you any indication as to why? Did
you find out anything?”
“No. I didn’t.” I hung my head, allowing my long
black hair to shield my face. “All I know is that he’s back,
that Damascus is working for him in some way, and, there
is someone else involved; somebody pulling Lazarius’
strings.”
I could feel Viken’s anger being to spike upward,
but he took a deep breath, calming himself; he did not
wish me to become more upset.
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