“And how would that look?” I ask.
“If you had not answered properly, you would’ve fallen asleep, and we would have delivered you back to your rooms. You would have to attempt the oath another day. But you passed, and now the oath is around you.”
They let the plants decide,I discern.But isn’t that similar to an Unesse belief?
I dare not mention it. Interesting, how every fae and faerie born in Amyria must be delivered by House of Healing—for a price—and yet only a few are deemed worthy of salvation.
“How does the oath work?”
“You physically may speak of what you see here—but we will learn of it and put you on trial.”
What an odd system of enforcement, one that starts on the back end. We head down another corridor lined with doors, until Eli stops before one.
“Here we are.” He knocks, and after a moment the door swings open.
Deep olive-green walls embrace me in a moody, intimate bedroom with exposed beams, brass sconces, and a red brick fireplace opposite a full bed. Propped up against cream pillows is my friend, gazing out the one arched window to a private garden.
“Lila,” I breathe, stepping forward.
Those rich brown eyes remain on the garden beyond, her shoulders caved inward. Eli perches on the end of the bed, and the gesture feels so familiar, I bite down on my cheek to keep from hissing.
“Lila, if you’ve changed your mind about Avery visiting, that’s okay,” he says.
I bristle. She doesn’t react.
My hand slips into my pocket, touching the parchment I brought. I move forward. Lila doesn’t seem to notice, attention trained on a pair of bluebirds twittering around a birdbath in the center of the courtyard. After learning that the plants listen, I am hesitant. But anything that may bring my friend some relief is worth it.
“Would you like to sit out in the garden?” I ask.
Eli stiffens but says nothing. Finally, Lila turns her head. Her face appears gaunt, skin dull. Yet she gives a small smile, and it is the most soothing sight.
“I think I would like that,” she says.
The Healing fae directs us to a stone bench in the sun. After some fussing, some questions—Do you need water? More pain relief?—he finally departs.
Lila sits beside me in a cotton gown and a sweater, her left arm tucked into a pocket. We watch the chirping birds splash as they clean their feathers.
“I want to be angry with you,” Lila finally says. “But it doesn’t feel natural.”
“It would be understandable if you were.”
“I heard you almost bled to death.”
I swallow. “I heard your heart gave out.”
“Well, we’re a morbid pair, aren’t we?” The corner of her mouth upticks.
“We like to do everything together, it seems.”
Lila gasps a laugh this time.
“And how are you doing now, or is that a foolish thing to ask?” I venture.
“Eli is nice.” She has dropped his title, like I have with Kassandra. She takes a breath. “But there are some things he cannot understand.”
“Like what?”
“The king has released me from his service.”
