The door to the hut opened and Colin's massive frame momentarily blocked the light. "Colin!"
"Shhhh," he hushed her as the door closed behind him and no sooner than they were left in the darkness than Colin closed Sanria in a massive hug. "They've kidnapped me, they took me and have been drugging me."
"You didn't leave on your own accord?" Sanria asked, careful not to wake Orn or speak too loudly.
"Of course not. Why would I?"
"The note..."
"What note? I didn't write a note." Colin shook his head. "We have to leave here. If I have to take them all out to clear the way I will."
"No, there must be another way."
There was another way. Colin would go back to Arlenia. Convince her of his love, and return by night to collect Sanria and Orn. Sanria would then cast another moonwell and they'd escape back to their home. It was a perfect plan - Sanria just didn't count on the convincing being what it was - as loud as it was... Colin being with Arlenia, right beside her. Sanria felt a sickness in her stomach, a knotting, and knowing she had time, she let tears flow from her eyes.
From the time of the final peal of pleasure until Colin arrived in the hut, Sanria doubted Colin's story. How could he truly want to leave and be able to do that? She felt like a pregnant cow - one of many - one in a herd. She kept her thoughts shoved deep down as Colin returned.
They left without arousing any sort of suspicion. Orn's limbs swung limp in his father's arms, the child in a deep sleep. Sanria cast the moonwell and watched Colin step through before following. That night, with Orn back in his own bed, Sanria listened to Colin telling her everything that had happened. His kidnapping, his drugging, his three-week absence. She thought of the days she had spent with the note in her hand - feeling lost and alone - night spent dreaming of another man while Colin spent those same night in another woman's bed. She felt sick.
Though Colin had explained, cajoled, and helped her to understand why he did what he did - deep in Sanria's mind, a damage had been done. The love she felt before Colin left had been tried, it had been isolated, and most recently, it had been insulted. She wouldn't let him know it. She'd try not to let him see it. But Sanria loved with conditions. Sanria waited for the next shoe to fall.
