He peered down into the darkness. "Where's Daigo?"
"Resting."
"Is his infection worse?" He sounded alarmed.
"No, but the doctor advised him to rest, and he's sleeping so soundly he never noticed me leaving."
"You should have him with you at all times, Keeper."
"In the imperial court?"
"Particularly in the imperial court."
She peered at him. The flickering lantern light cast shadows on his face, but she still noticed a faint sheen of perspiration and a tightness to his features. Gavril was usually so good at hiding his emotions that she sometimes wondered if he even had any. But now the worry and fear was so thick she could almost smell them.
"I need to leave," he said, before she could speak. "That's why I called you in here. I'll be gone before the emperor returns."
"What?"
"I've realized my testimony may actually do more harm than good. I shouldn't be here."
"So you're abandoning us?"
She'd only meant to get a reaction from him, to break him out of this odd mood and back into the Gavril she knew. But he stiffened before saying, "You'll be fine. Just keep Daigo with you."
"You're running away, then?"
If he did not react to an accusation that he was failing his duty, surely an insult to his honor would work. But once again, there was only that brief flicker of tension, quickly dowsed.
"I am retreating. Yes."
"What's wrong, Kitsune?"
"I am uncomfortable here, and you do not require my services any longer--"
She looked up into his face. "What is wrong, Gavril?"
Sweat trickled down his face. She swore she could feel his heart pounding.
"Come with me," he said quickly, closing the gap between them. "We'll go away from this. Bring Ashyn."
"What?"
"War is coming, Moria. You know it is. Whatever that letter demands, the emperor will not bow to threats. War will come, and we're caught in the middle of it when we don't need to be. We'll give the missive to Tyrus. He'll take it to his father. I trust him to do that. We can leave."
She stared at him. "What have you eaten?"
She reached up and touched his forehead. He jumped back, but not before she felt his skin, burning hot. "You're fevered. Someone has poisoned you." She gripped his arm. "We must get you to the doctor--"
"I'm not poisoned."
"Then you're possessed, like Wenda. The Gavril I know would never abandon his duty. Would never run from a threat. You are a warrior, Kitsune, and to even suggest fleeing ahead of a possible war . . ." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"You don't under--" He stopped and he looked at her. Then he swallowed and took a slow step back, his hand going to his forehead. "Yes, I am fevered. I have not eaten or drunk anything but . . ." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. You are right, of course. I'm unwell, perhaps from the strain of the journey."
"And per
haps from not eating or drinking."