Page 62 of A World Enough

“No, no, please stop. It hurts, please.”

Brogan turned around and padded to Camber’s bedroom. She was thrashing about as though trying to push someone away from her. Without hesitation Brogan ran into the bedroom and over to Camber’s bed. She didn’t want to appear creepy. What she really wanted to do was jump onto the bed and snuggle, and make Camber feel safe.

Instead, she licked Camber’s hand, then placed her paw and snout on her arm. She hoped that would help her calm down. Within a few minutes Camber’s limbs stopped jerking around and came to a stop.

Brogan could hear her heart slowing and her breaths calm. She felt angry that the loneliness of this existence was Camber’s to bear alone, when she didn’t ask for it. It was too much for one young person to have.

Now that Camber had calmed, all Brogan wanted to do was guard her. She lay at the side of the bed where Camber slept. Her big wolf body stretched the length of the bed, and no one would get past her.

Ninti was in her palatial bedroom on Abnobia, packing. She was stressed and waiting from communication from Kartog.

“Take these three trunks and come back for the rest,” Ninti said to her servants. Normally Kartog would organize this with the palace servants and keep her life running smoothly.

She didn’t know what she’d be without Kartog. A cruel Abnobian, although Kartog often said not, that Ninti had this goodness in her, and that once she shook off her cultural norms, she would always be good.

Ninti said it was Kartog’s love that saved her. Right now, she would give anything to be with her. There was a beep from her computer. “Kartog.”

The palace servants came back at that moment. “Leave. I’ll call you back shortly.”

Once they left, Ninti swiped her hand over the programmable matter surface. They used a highly encrypted signal to ensure privacy.

Kartog’s image appeared in the room. She walked up to Kartog and stroked where her cheek would be, but her fingers went right through her. “Kartog, I miss you greatly.”

Kartog smiled. “I miss you greatly, my Goddess, but we will be together once more soon.”

“Are they there?”

“Yes. Ziggy confirms it. They aren’t on the bunker floor but in the penthouse. Ziggy has security all around them. I will see them tonight. Ziggy has asked them to dine with her. Then she expects them to leave tomorrow.”

“They might need to. Cardo and some Drazani guards are heading your way,” Ninti said.

“I will keep my eye on them. I expect the rebellion will be around somewhere too.”

Ninti crossed her arms. “Davor is determined to have Camber.”

“The wolf that was travelling with the Map Keeper appears very protective of her, Ziggy says.”

“I’m happy she had people all around her.”

Kartog took a step forwards and looked around at the disarray in her room. “Are you travelling?”

“Davor has ordered me to accompany him to Danus. Vorka and her monks were not giving up any information as to where to find the Map Keeper, and he wants to put pressure on them.”

“You’re stressed, my Goddess,” Kartog said.

“You know what Davor’s methods can be. Vorka is…How can I watch if Vorka or her monks are hurt?”

“You know how important you are, how important Vorka says you are. Be in that moment the Abnobian god your people think you are.”

“I wish you were here. As you can see, the staff have everything everywhere, without your guidance,” Ninti said.

Kartog smiled. “I can see that. I’ll be home soon enough, my love. I better go, but remember to be strong, and keep in your heart what Vorka would want of you.”

“I love you, Kartog.”

“I love you, my Goddess.”

Kartog disappeared and Ninti’s heart hurt. She hated being apart from her. Thank goodness it didn’t happen too often.