It also occurred to me that once he'd got his message off safely, he'd be clear to come back and have a try at me himself.
I took Crezia by the hand and led her back upstairs. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she was a little vacant with shock. She sat on the end of my bed as 1 got dressed.
'If I could just go, Crezia, 1 would,' I said softly, finding a fresh shirt. 'If it was just a matter of walking away and removing all my crap from your life, that's what I'd do. But that's not what's going to happen. Mercenaries will be heading this way. They will be arriving soon, probably before dawn. They will question and kill anyone they find. You won't be able to tell them you don't know where I've gone. They will… well, they're Ves-sorine janissaries and they're being paid well. I can't leave you here.'
'I don't want to go. This is my home, Gregor. My damn home, and look what you've done.'
'I'm sorry.'
'Look what you've damn well done to my life!'
'I'm sorry. I'll make amends.'
She got up, the anger coming back and eclipsing her sorrow. 'How? How the hell can you make up for this? How the hell can you make up for all the pain you've ever caused me?'
'I have no idea. But I will. And you have to stay alive so I can. I've got the ruination of your nice comfortable existence on my conscience, Crezia. I will not add your death to that.'
'Fine words. I'm not coming. I'm going back to bed.'
I grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. I had to find a different tack. As a medic, she was almost professionally selfless. Appealing to her sense of self preservation was futile.
'I need you to come. That's the truth of it. I've got to take Medea with me. I can't leave her here, and I don't think she's in a position to travel.'
'Of course she isn't!'
'So she'll die?'
'If you move her now? In her state?'
'Better she travelled with a doctor then, don't you think?'
She shook off my hand. 'I will not allow you to jeopardise the health of my patient, Eisenhorn/ she warned.
Then consider the prognosis, doctor. If she stays here, she'll be dead by morning. They will kill her when they find her. If she comes with me without you, she'll likely die too. I think what's really in question here is your medicae oath to preserve life.'
I hated being so manipulative… well, with her anyway. She regarded me with venom, knowing that I'd cornered her.
'You bastard. You clever, clever bastard. I don't know why I ever loved you.'
'I don't know why either. But I know why I loved you. You always cared. You always did the right thing.'