Chapter 517
"As I thought." Thesaya’s lips curled up slightly as she met Ian’s gaze for a moment. "I had a feeling you’d say that if I brought it up, Ian. You were planning to go see Kitty anyway, weren’t you?"
"Yes. To check on her and to talk to her." Ian nodded readily.
Pushing herself up, Thesaya murmured, "That’s why I didn’t want to talk about it today. You seemed to have gone through a lot, Ian, so I wanted to let you rest for a few days."
A faint, bitter smile touched Ian’s lips as he picked up the bottle. "So much for bathing as soon as I entered the Empire."
"Your face was clean, of course, Ian. As always. But bathing doesn’t make all those scratches on your armor disappear, does it?"
"Your power of observation has improved a lot while I was gone," said Ian, his smile widening as he poured the wine.
Thesaya shrugged. "How could I not notice? Diana even had a hole in her armor. You both looked like you’d just come back from some kind of hell."
Well, I was the one who made that hole.
He placed the wine bottle on the table and picked up his goblet. "So, how long does it take to get to Maro Tel from here?"
"Even with a slight detour, you should be able to reach the border in about a week."
"Not bad. If I hurry, I can be back within a fortnight."
Lucia's group would take at least a week to return. Even if something delayed them for a few days, it wouldn't be surprising. He could afford to wait and rest in the meantime.