Flora nodded, smiling softly. The building felt more imposing now that she was inside. Her head already spun a bit, and they hadn’t even been walking for more than a few minutes. It didn’t help that her exhaustion was now manifesting as a physical weight.
“When Lucas and his counsel meet, it’s down this hallway,” Annabeth continued, seemingly unbothered by Flora’s silence. “Idaenae think ye’ll have reason to go down this way, but it’s good to ken if ye ever need anyone urgently.”
This time, Flora hummed, smiling at the small victory of producing a sound. Her sense of direction was thrown when Annabeth pointed in another direction, saying, “There’s a library in that wing of the castle. And upstairs is where Lucas’s office is. Ye daenae have to go downstairs to get to it. I’ll point out which turn ye take when we get to the first floor.”
Flora tried her best to commit the words to memory, though it was a struggle. Part of her didn’t think she’d be given that opportunity to properly learn the layout. Because she’d been completely unable to find her voice, she hadn’t yet asked how long she’d be staying. For all she knew, she would be sent away tomorrow.
“Ye have nae idea how glad I am to have ye here,” Annabeth said as they rounded a corner, leading them to an artfully decorated corridor. “I daenae ken what ye went through before Lucas found ye, but I ken what it’s like to be missin’ someone, to have them taken from ye. It must be so much worse to be the one taken.”
Flora’s eyes went wide. She attempted to speak again, hoping that the absence of men would urge her throat to work. It seemed, though, that her ability to form words had vanished. She tried not to dwell on it, telling herself that she was simply tired and that her voice would come back after she rested.
But I daenae think that’s true. This feels significantly wrong.
Since she couldn’t say anything, Flora nodded and hummed, though she would have preferred to question the statement and connect. It was the best she could do, and she wanted badly to make a friend. When Annabeth glanced her way, Flora tilted her head slightly, doing her best to communicate with the means she had.
“Me daughter, Elizabeth, was taken by a rival clan,” Annabeth continued with a sympathetic smile, sensing the question that Flora had been unable to ask. “I’d hate to think of what may have happened to her if Lucas hadnae left to find her when he did. Ever since then, he’s been quite keen on protectin’ women and children from crimes like that. He left the castle as soon as he got information about what was happenin’ to ye.”
Instead of trying to say anything, Flora made a sound of acknowledgement. Hearing that Lucas was dedicated to keeping others safe helped her nerves a bit. It was still difficult to believe that she’d been rescued, and she couldn’t be sure that she wouldn’t be asked to give something in return for the service. She’d never just been given something without any expectations.
“I’m sure ye’ll meet Elizabeth soon,” Annabeth continued, waving at a maid as they passed. “She’s a wee thing—just had her seventh birthday. She’s still quite outgoin’, even after everythin’ that happened. Though it did take her a bit to get her spirit back after she was returned to us, so ye daenae need to worry about gettin’ back to yerself immediately. We’re quite patient.”
Elizabeth sounds like a darlin’ thing. Hopefully me voice will be back when I finally meet her.
Flora and Annabeth walked in silence for a few more minutes. It was comfortable and almost friendly, though Flora found herself wishing that she could express her gratitude to the other woman. The normalcy of the moment felt like a breath of fresh air.
Eventually, they came to a stop in front of a door that was left slightly ajar. Annabeth pushed it open, then stepped out of the way to let Flora step forward. She gave Flora an encouraging nod, a polite smile on her lips.
When Flora stepped inside, her breath caught in her throat. Not only was there a bed that was adorned with a thick comforter and comfortable-looking pillows, but there was a vanity and a fireplace. It was so much nicer than she could have imagined and much better than anything she’d ever had before. She felt as if she’d done nothing to deserve something like this.
“Is it to yer likin’?” Annabeth asked, stepping inside behind her. There was an edge of worry to her tone, as if this wonderful room could be inadequate in any way. “I can have the staff bring ye anythin’ ye may need. I ken there isnae much here. Perhaps ye’d like another chair or a desk. I daenae ken what ye like to do in yer spare time.”
Again, Flora tried to speak. She needed Annabeth to know that this was the nicest room she’d ever stayed in. Her mouth opened, her lips moved around the words she wanted to say, but nothing came out. She tried one more time, her face heating up at the concern that flashed across Annabeth’s face. It made the idea of trying again even more daunting, so instead, shegave another nod. The gesture felt horribly insufficient for the gratitude she felt, but it was the best she could do at the moment.
Annabeth smoothed her expression into something kind and maternal. There wasn’t a hint of judgment, which almost made the frustration and embarrassment Flora felt worse. This was Annabeth’s first impression on this Flora, and she was coming off as someone so broken she couldn’t speak.
But I am. I daenae think I’d be able to speak even if I were here alone. I may nae be able to speak ever again.
“Well, I think ye need yer rest,” Annabeth declared, walking across the room to pull the curtains closed. “I’ll fetch the healer for ye and stop by the kitchen to make sure they’re makin’ ye a plate.” She stepped back over the stone floor, stopping in front of Flora, kindness rolling off of her in waves. “And in the mornin’, I’ll come and get ye for a meal in the great hall. If ye need anythin’, me room is right next door, and Lucas’ quarters are right across the hall. All ye have to do is knock.”
After Flora nodded again, Annabeth took her leave, closing the door as quietly as possible behind her as she left. As her footsteps receded down the corridor, Flora walked over to the vanity. She looked at herself in the mirror, flinching at how she wore her stress on her features. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her cheeks were sunken in. It suddenly made sense to her why everyone had been so insistent that she be seen by a healer.
She pushed that aside and focused on her more pressing concern. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Then, once more, she tried to speak, and once more, she was unable.
Making a frustrated noise, she walked over to the mattress, settling herself on the edge. It seemed that the ordeal had made her mute, which made her more nervous about staying in this castle. As it was, she didn’t have a way to communicate her needs or voice discomfort.
Perhaps I was better off with those monsters. At least then I could express meself.
Before she could let that thought get any further, there was another knock at her door. She jumped at the sound and then scrambled to her feet. When she opened it, a woman much older than herself was standing there with a bag in her hand.
“I’m the healer,” she said simply, waiting to be invited inside. “Matthew told me that ye needed some attention.”
“The healer is on her way to Flora,” Matthew said when he returned. “Is there anythin’ else that needs taken care of at the moment?”
“Nay,” Lucas replied, gesturing for his brother to turn around and return to the castle. “I’ll have to write up a report, and ournext actions will be determined when I get word from the other lairds. For now, we make Flora comfortable.”
He itched to do more for her. The chambers he’d assigned her were quite bare, but it would overwhelm her if he had more furniture moved into them. The only thing he could do was wait and let her rest.
Matthew fell into step beside Lucas on their way back inside. With a curious sound, he asked, “Is that Annabeth?”
