I woke and felt pressure against my back. Had Ellie rolled against me during the night? We hadn't cuddled recently, but this was so strange that I wouldn't blame her if she'd slid against me. I didn't remember any other storms, and I lay there for quite a while before I finally dozed off.

The predawn light dimly showed Lord Boian lying ahead of me, but Oana and her family were missing. Gone early...to avoid being with us any longer than they had to? Afraid we'd ask something of them in return since Lord Sleeping has said they were ours to command? It seemed like we could kill them at our pleasure.

I slipped out of my sleeping quilt to take a quick pee and looked back. Ellie was still against the wall. It was that white flour sack against me--the one with the tanned arms and legs and the short-cropped head of dark hair.

I quietly groaned as she stirred and sat up. Her eyes grew wide when she saw me looking at her. What the hell was going on? Where were her parents? I put a finger on her lips and waved her to follow me. Peeing could wait a few minutes.