"No, it's okay," I assured her. "Tobias wants me to heal. He thinks I should practice on women, children, and others so I'll be able to do more for the Righteous. He married me because I healed him, and he wants to make sure I don't lose my touch now that I am a wife."
"Really?" one of the wives asked.
I nodded. "Like I said, I can handle my husband. But this is what I can do. The way I see it, if we all do something, then we'll all have easier lives, even if we have to hide it from these men."
"All of the men," Felicity warned. Then she looked over at me and touched the side of her neck. "If you're offering, maybe you can look at this for me?"
"Sure."
"There's better light over here," she said, grabbing my wrist to tug me away from the unfinished laundry.
And she didn't stop under one of the lamps. Instead, she kept going, around the racks of cleaning supplies, and all the way to the back of this space to where no one would overhear. I noticed, but now I was the one who was confused.
"Is it more than your neck?" I asked when she finally stopped.
"No," she said, "but the first time we met, you were worried about your marriage. Now you sound pleased with it? You're also pushing, know about a tree on the surface, and so much more. I want to know what's going on."
"I'm done with being pushed around," I told her.
"And?" she asked. "I felt like you'd been waiting for me. Sora said you'd asked after me."
I nodded, giving in easily. "You'd said you were worried about your friend Abi being remarried so soon. I wanted to talk to you about her."
"She'll be wed next week. She's already accepted a proposal," she said. "Callah, it's too late."
"Oh."
But the word was barely out of my mouth before I realized I'd been thinking about the wrong woman. Abihail was a gentle and meek lady. I'd hoped she might be willing to ignore what Sylis was doing, but seeing the way Felicity stared me down? I realized I'd missed the obvious.
So I asked, "Felicity, what would you be willing to do to be safe?"
"Why?"
"Tobias has a friend. He was over recently, and they spoke about him needing..." No. I was lying to her. I couldn't expect her to help if I kept protecting myself - and Tobias. "My husband is my friend, Felicity. A real friend - and not a true husband. We agreed to marry because Ayla got out. Meri got out." I paused to lick my lips. "And now they're free."
"Dead is more likely," she pointed out.
But I shook my head. "I know about the tree because Tobias checked to see if Meri had died there. I know about the women in quarantine because Ayla found out her mother came from up there. She's now living in a town and has met her sister."
"But..." She shook her head, clearly confused. "You can'tknowthat. Hope, sure. But know it?"
"Tobias has spoken with her," I explained. "Well, she and the Wyvern attacked him. She now calls herself the Phoenix, but sherecognized him and gave him a chance to explain. They talked - a few times. Now, he brings my letters to her, and hers to me."
The air rushed from Felicity's lungs and her knees buckled. One arm reached out, steadying her against the wall, but her eyes were much too wide and her mouth hung open.
"But the battle..."
"There is no battle anymore," I assured her. "The world is green and wild. The Devil isn't there, but the women from above are captured by our hunters and brought back to live in quarantine. That's why none of us remember anyone being sent there. Because they aren't from here, Felicity!"
"Why haven't you told everyone this?" she asked.
So I gestured to her neck. "Because that would be nothing compared to the punishment I'd get. Tobias? He'd be shot in the next hunt. Killed. Then I'd get three months and be married to someone whowouldkeep me in line."
"So what do we do instead?" she asked.
This was going to be the hard part, but if she'd agree, I knew she'd help me. She had to!
"Do you know Sylis Underhill?"
