Chiyoko tilts her head back into my range of vision. I startle but she doesn’t react. “Is that why you were in the brig?”
I frown at her, having lost track of our conversation. Kilkenny crosses behind her, heading toward Alys to help with the bedding.
“Don’t they normally send Undesirables to the Wastelands?” Chiyoko asks me.
Kilkenny’s head snaps to her, and he shouts something—her name, I believe.
She regards him briefly before turning back to me, ensuring that I can read her lips. “Relax, Tiernan, I’m just stating it astheysee it.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to use the term.”
I stare at his hands and then at Chiyoko as she rolls her eyes so hard that I half expect them to pop out of her head.
Kilkenny huffs out a breath and stalks away, trading places with Alys.
“Sorry to eavesdrop,” Alys signs. She lowers herself into the armchair perpendicular to the one I’m in and angles herself to me so I can see her hands without effort. “I know we’re short on time, but I can try to lessen your headache and dizziness for longer than the tincture can. If you’d like that, of course.”
Chiyoko gives me a pointed look that clearly says,that sounds amazing,but for some reason, my gut twists. The younger woman smiles and walks off, giving us privacy.
I turn to Alys again and lift my hands, hesitating. “You… can do that?”
“With an ailment like yours, it isn’t as simple as healing a headache that doesn’t have a long-term cause. I’m so sorry you’ve endured this for a decade now.” There’s compassion on her face. “It would take many long sessions over a few days to pause your symptoms for a while. But one session will at least give you a day of no headaches or dizziness. I’m not sure about your balance, but with less dizziness…”
It’s probably nonsensical to say no to a quick session, but it feels wrong to say yes. Taig has had so many challenges, yet there’s no magicalpausefor his struggles. Tears sting my eyes.
Alys tilts her head, a gentle smile on her full lips. “You don’t have to say yes,” she motions. “But think about it. No pressure.”
I force a smile onto my face. “Thank you, Alys.”
CHAPTER 45
Durvla
By daylight,the whole household gathers in the small kitchen. I sit with my hands enveloping a mug of hot tea, Kilkenny across the table from me, and Alys and Haruka on either side. Chiyoko leans back against the counter, her hands busy with a small metal figurine and a paintbrush. Osheen stands a short distance from her, his focus drifting to the work in her hands every now and then.
It’s bizarre being among so many with varying degrees of sign knowledge, but heartwarming as well. Haruka and Chiyoko are fairly decent, though they don’t sign consistently. Kilkenny has become increasingly fluent and makes an effort to always sign for my understanding. Alys has mentioned having plenty of practice with patients in the safety of their homes. And there’s Osheen who knows nearly as much as I do.
Haruka waves her hand to get my attention, and I draw my focus to her. “So, what exactly brings you all here?” she asks, signing as she glances around the table. “Or rather, how did the three of you end up in the brig?”
“Garrick was apprehended from her home on suspicion of theft,” Kilkenny answers. “She’d made a dress?—”
He stops speaking abruptly and his attention shifts to Chiyoko. “Could you let her speak for herself?” Chiyoko asks irritably.
I’m mildly tickled. “No, it’s fine,” I tell her, but Kilkenny remains speechless. “Well, alright… It was Quarterly Raid night, and the Forayers found a dress I’d been working on.” A dress I’ll never see again. Sadness tugs at me, but I push it away. “They assumed it was stolen, but somehow Princess Carys got her hands on it and recruited me from the brig to be her dressmaker. I made her Feast dress.”
Chiyoko’s jaw drops. “You made herFeast dress?”
I smile and nod.
“You, a Grounder, made a dress for one of the most important events ofMainland. And the princess’s dress, nonetheless! Bloody impressive!”
My smile widens, a tiny bud of pride loosening the tightness in my chest. “Thank you.”
She nods and turns her attention back to her work, dipping the small paintbrush into a little container on the counter and making precise strokes on her metal statuette.
“Alright, so what about Osheen?” asks Haruka.
We bring her up to speed on the events that led up to both our arrests, including Alys’s—for which she was given no reason other than treason, no elaboration. Haruka turns to me, curious. “So Tiernan tells me you’re a Dreamwalker.”
