She paused before going to Raewyn’s room. “Have you spoken with her?”
“A bit. Her fiery spirit is still intact at least. She hates me.”
“You should tell her,” Elanor said. “She should know you hardly left her bedside for the past three months. And it did not escape my attention that you had a jar full of?—”
“No,” I interrupted. “She should definitelynotknow, and you will not tell her, nor will anyone else in this house. Is that clear?”
The healer looked disappointed. “Perfectly, My Prince. We know better than to break our vows of secrecy. What do you intend to do with her then?”
“I’m not sure. My plan didn’t extend beyond getting her out of there. The only thing I’m certain of is that I’m not letting my stupid brother get his hands on her again.”
The wrinkle between Elanor’s eyebrows deepened. “You can’t hide her away forever, you know.”
“It won’t have to be forever,” I said. “Only until Stellon chooses a bride—and is good and bonded to her.”
Chapter 3
It’s Not Like That With Us
Raewyn
Several days passed, and Pharis did not return to my room.
The older woman—a healer based on her interactions with me—visited regularly and administered treatments that felt strange but diminished my pain and the marks on my body bit by bit.
I still couldn’t walk, but the young maid helped me traverse short distances, from the bed to the bathing room and back and occasionally over to the window where I was able to sit in the window seat and look outside at the lawn and gardens.
It was my only entertainment other than the revolving selection of books that appeared during the night while I was asleep.
Conversation was not an option as neither of the women spoke to me or answered any of my questions. Either the owner of this castle employed only the most introverted of servants or Pharis had forbidden them to communicate with me.
My bet was on the latter.
Their goodwill was apparent though in their expressions and kind actions. I particularly liked the younger Elven woman.
Today, she hummed as she moved about the room, changing my bedsheets as I sat in the windowseat, reading and enjoying the light breeze coming through the open windows.
“Beautiful Autumn day,” I said to her, and she nodded and smiled.
“I’d love to go outside and see the ocean. I’m assuming it’s visible from the other side of the castle?” I asked.
“Oh yes, it’s beautiful,” she said and then sucked in a breath and held her fingertips to her lips.
“It’s all right to talk to me, you know,” I said. “I won’t tell him.”
The girl shook her head rapidly. “I shouldn’t. He’ll be angry.”
And then she said, “Oh no, I did it again.”
“It’s fine,” I assured her. “As I said, I won’t tell him. It’s nice to hear another voice. I’m starting to feel like I’ll go mad if all I have for company is the character voices in my head from these books. Thank you for providing them, by the way.”
“Oh I’m not the one who brings them,” the girl said then added quickly, “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
The stricken look on her face made me want to hug her.
“We can go back to silence if you wish. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. I know what a brute Pharis is,” I said.
After a few more minutes of working in silence, she darted a glance over at me. “He’s not really. A brute, I mean. He’s so much kinder than the lord I served before.”
