. . . A spark of my friend shone there.
My eyes burned, and I welcomed the feeling, because it made me feel real.
“Alright,” Reyla said softly. “I can do that.” Pivoting, she strode toward the bathing area.
31
TEMPEST
Iwanted to run after Reyla, but Brenna clung to my hand as if she couldn’t walk by herself over to the quaint chair where she liked to sit in the sunshine while we prepared her bath. I helped her settle and gently laid a light blanket across her lap, something else she adored. I offered her a book, a drink of water. A song, though I was fresh out of ditties. I even suggested I dance for her, which brought on a scowl.
“Make my bed with fresh sheets,” she snapped, though not unkindly. Brenna was fluffy, a true princess who was raised to believe things should be handed to her before she asked. But she wasn’t mean. She was completely unaware of how the rest of the world lived. “Stop puttering around.”
If I didn’t putter, she’d complain that I wasn’t paying enough attention to her.
“Very well,” I said.
Reyla returned from the bathing area, floating into the room with her blank gaze pointed at the far wall. Without being asked, she helped me strip the bed and make it with fresh sheets, but that wasn’t new. Despite lacking her usual self, she’d been able to initiate simple tasks from the start. She’d just done it without speaking or interacting.
Delaine arrived as we were tucking in the fresh blankets. She stood at the foot of the bed like a supervisor, watching as we gathered the soiled linens from the floor to place them in the basket for the sprites to take to the laundry.
When Reyla rounded the bed, Delaine stuck her foot out, tripping my friend. Reyla, predictably, fell forward, smacking onto her knees. The laundry she was carrying tumbled from her arms, fluttering onto the floor in front of her.
Drask flapped his wings, smacking the back of my head, and cawed. I wanted to let him loose on Delaine, but then Brenna would send him away and forbid him from returning.
Brenna sighed. “There she goes again. Reyla’s so clumsy. I asked Ivenrail about her, but he doesn’t know her history. Neither does Zayde, though he claimed her. He said she worked at a fortress, but he doesn’t know much more than that. He’s quite concerned about her. Protective, which I like.”
Fuming, I helped Reyla back to her feet. I gathered the laundry and stuffed it into the basket. Whatever I’d found in my friend’s earlier response appeared gone now. She stared forward blankly, her arms limp at her sides.
“I think you’re right, my queen,” Delaine said snidely. “Reyla’s useless. We should tell the king you need a different lady-in-waiting. He can put this one from the castle. Toss her over thecliff.”
“What?” I growled.
Drask flapped his wings again, as agitated as me.
Delaine chuckled. “I was only teasing. I’m sure that never happens to anyone.”
“Come now, Delaine. That would be much too harsh,” Brenna said. “While Reyla is a challenge to work with at times, I don’t mind a quiet lady-in-waiting.” She slanted a long look at Delaine, her expression suggesting beware, before looking back at Reyla with a hint of sympathy I found reassuring. “I’ll see what Ivenrail suggests. Perhaps there’s a village in need of a laundress or someone who needs a cook, assuming we think Reyla won’t burn herself or something like that.”
“I worry she’d be taken advantage of if we sent her away.” I was already worried about that.Can we reinforce Reyla’s ward or add another protective barrier around her?I barked at Vexxion.I don’t think it’s working like it should. Delaine’s doing mean things to her, and if she keeps it up, I’m going to stab her.
I’ll add another spell.
Delaine’s purposefully trying to hurt Reyla.It was all I could do not to snarl.
Delaine watched me too intently. She couldn’t be listening in, could she?No one can hear our conversation, can they?
Who’s with you?
Brenna, Reyla, and Delaine.
Don’t speak further,he snapped.
Fuck.
I tightened my guards, but I worried it was too late.
Despite Vexxion’s reassurance, I stayed close to Reyla, but Delaine didn’t try anything else.
