“He can’t justrefuseto speak. Make him.”
“It’s impossible! We’ve tried.”
“Well try harder.”
The hushed argument pulled me from my dark and fuzzy dreams. I remained still, my eyes closed, mentally begging the folk tokeep talking. I needed to hear more.
“He’s remarkably stubborn.”
“I know, but—” He broke off. I recognized the voice as Mayor Tommins. He sounded tired.
“What do you want us to do, torture him?” Linc.
My muscles tensed involuntarily. I sucked in a quiet breath. Luckily, the distracted folk didn’t notice.
“No, of course you can’t torture him, but maybe if we make him a little more uncomfortable?”
“He’s in a dungeon. How much more uncomfortable can we make him?”
“What if we light thefireplace and?—”
“He just wants to talk to her.”
“She’s not well!”
“She doesn’t have to do manual labor. Just talk. We need answers.”
Velline’s voice chimed into the argument. “She’s my patient. I refuse to push her. She needs to rest.”
“Let her sleep for a bit longer, and then?—”
I sat myself upright, unable to resist any longer. My head only swam a little. “You’re talking about me like I’m not right here,” I said. My voice was stiff and groggy, but nowhere near as hoarse as it had been before my slumber.
How much time had passed? I had no idea. But I was famished, and my throat was bone dry.
I grabbed the full glass of water from a nearby table and chugged it down. It tasted crisp and cool, with a hint of something herbal, and maybe something magical, too. It must have had some sort of healing potion mixed in.
Velline fluttered anxiously to my side. “Slow!” she exclaimed. “You’ll make yourself sick.”
I batted her hand away when she tried to take the glass from me. I needed to quench the thirst. My stomach roiled, but luckily, the water stayed down.
I took a few deep breaths to steady myself and then I pushed the sheet aside and rose to my feet.
Startled, I realized I wasn’t in my running outfit. I was wearing a loose nightgown that reached my knees.
I took the sheet from the cot and wrapped it around my shoulders like a cloak.
Velline hovered, looking nervous. “You should sit, it’s been?—”
“It sounds like someone needs me,” I interrupted.
“Ginger, it’s good to see you up and moving!” Tommins said, his voice sounding sincere. I tossed him a tentative smile.
“At least eat something, Ginny,” Velline insisted. She shoved a hunk of bread into my palm.
I relented. “I eat, you guys talk.” I sat on the corner of the cot and tore into the bread. It settled into my stomach like a brick, but I persisted, determined to finish the whole thing while the conversation continued around me. I needed to regain my strength somehow.
“It’s a complicated situation,” Tommins started.
