16
Daylight was still a young visitor to the city when Xander and I walked down the stairs. Well, I stumbled a little, and my eyes were heavy with sleep. I rubbed them and glared up at Xander.
"Do we really need to be up at the butt crack of dawn?" I growled at him.
He chuckled. "Your sayings are becoming more amusing by the day, but we are awake at this hour because the winds are at their lowest during the night and early morning. Setting off early will ensure our safety."
Darda met us at the bottom of the stairs and smiled at me. "I hope you slept well."
"Too well. . ." I mumbled as we followed Xander down the hall.
We reached the open doorway that led into the dining room and paused. The fruit bowls had been replenished and fresh plates of ham, eggs, and bacon sat beside the
