“You are much more cooperative when you are awake,” she noted, a hint of amusement in her tone. “You must be hungry. Would you like to eat?”
My breath hitched and I licked my lips when my mouth immediately began to water. “Yes, please.”
Something changed in her eyes. Pity? I didn’t care. When it came to food, I could handle pity. I watched as she turned to the entrance, poked her head out, and murmured something in Dakkari to someone on the other side.
When she returned, I asked, “Where are my clothes?”
“Gone,” she said before retrieving a bundle from her case. “TheVorakkarhad these made for you. They should fit.”
She held up a pair of fur-lined pants, the darkened hide expertly tanned and sewn. Then she placed a pair of fur boots on the ground next to me, durable, with thick soles. Next, she showed me with evident excitement an impractical tunic of shimmering silk—which I couldn’t help but notice was grey, like the demon’s eyes—and a much more practical black sweater made of what looked likekinnufur.
My eyes lingered on thekinnufur and I remembered why the Dakkari had come to my village in the first place.
I shook my head. “I needmyclothes. There are some things of mine in a pocket and I need them back.”
“What are they?” she asked, lowering the sweater.
“Feathers,” I said.
Her brow furrowed, her lips turning down. “Feathers? Why do you need those?”
“I just...” I huffed out a breath. I realized right then that I had nothing. Not that I had much before, but I at least had my clothes, my bow and arrow, and Blue’s feathers. Now, I had none of those things. “They are important to me.”
Her lips pressed together when she saw my expression. She looked a little uncomfortable as she said, “I am sorry. Your clothes were burned. They…they smelled quite terrible.”
I nodded because I didn’t know what else to do. It was done. The feathers were gone.
“Alright,” I whispered. I knew I should feel embarrassed about the state of my clothes. That was what a normal person would’ve felt. But I just felt sad that I’d lost the last things I’d ever had.
My eyes must’ve gone a little watery because the Dakkari female blurred.
“I am sorry,” she repeated. “I did not know.”
I nodded again.
“Come,” she said, shifting a little. “Let me help you wash your hair while we wait for your food. Then you can get dressed in your new clothes. They are nice, are they not?”
“Yes, they are,” I agreed, wanting to assure her since she’d seemed excited to show them to me. I felt her hand on my arm as she helped me stand on wobbly legs.
She helped me over to the bathing tub and though the water was a little cold, I climbed into it gladly, keeping forward like she told me so I didn’t get my back wet.
When I bent forward, she helped me wash my hair, lathering it with a soap that made the water white and bubbly. She had to wash it twice, as dirty as it was, and then I scrubbed at my skin with the leftover soap until I grew tired from the exertion.
Even still, when I rose from the bath and dried off, I felt lighter and better than I did before. I didn’t remember the last time I’d bathed in an actual tub. I usually just tried to rinse my body by the stream in the Dark Forest. No one ever went there.
“I will bandage your back and then you can dress,” she told me, having me sit on the bed. It felt strange to be naked with someone, but she didn’t seem bothered by it, so I told myself that I shouldn’t be either. “Unless you wish to sleep again, after you eat,” she added hesitantly, peering at me.
“No, I want to get dressed and get some fresh air,” I said.
“I will have to ask theVorakkar,” she said quietly.
Her words reminded me of an exchange I’d had with him, one that was just returning to my memory.
He’d told me,“You will not leave,kalles. Not until I say you can.”
Was I to be a prisoner there? Was that my purpose?
My lungs squeezed just thinking about it but I remained silent, pretending I did not hear her words as she wrapped my back with a length of cloth, winding it around my front, binding my breasts before securing it.
