The masked woman perches on the end of the table, her legs crossed, regarding me. I can just imagine a scowl underneath her veil. “Enough!” she suddenly says, slamming her hand down on the table and rattling the bowl and my resolve. “Let’s go.” She hops off the table and heads toward the door. I propel myself from the chair and jog to catch up with her.
In silence, I follow her down the corridors, passing a Royal Brigade soldier every now and then. I glance sidelong at each one, hoping to see a Royal Guard, hoping to catch a glimpse of Father. But the masked woman doesn’t interact with anyone; she keeps her focus forward until she arrives in front of a door where a couple guards stand. They nod to her, and she shovesthe door open, storming in as if she owns the place. A man with wispy dark hair and a soft build jumps hard, his face going white.
He exhales noticeably, blood coloring his peachy face again. On the cot near where he stands is Neris. She’s on her stomach, unmoving, a white sheet covering up to her neck. There isn’t anyone else in the infirmary. Faint disappointment settles over me; Father isn’t here.
The masked woman makes a flourishing gesture in the direction of the bed. “You have ten minutes,” she says, then she steps outside and slams the door behind her.
I force my wobbly legs to move, my chest caving in as I hurry to Neris’s side. “Are you the healer?” I ask the man.
He nods, a shaky smile stretching his lips. “I’m Vaughn.”
“Gwyneth,” I respond before turning back to Neris. “Is she going to be alright?” I step around the bed.
“She has a bit of a recovery ahead of her, but I believe so. Occasionally we have a Mage Healer here. I’ll be sure to have her take a look at Reneris when she shows up.”
My gaze settles on Neris’s face. Her usually tan complexion is drained of color, deep purple bruises and scratches crossing her cheek. Her hair is pulled back away from her face, curls tangled, and blood encrusted. The back of my eyes sting, and I blink away tears, swallowing around my constricting throat. On impulse, I grasp the sheet and begin drawing it away.
Vaughn speaks up urgently. “Wait, you ought to know?—”
My gasp cuts him off as I drop the sheet at Neris’s waist. Thick white bandages intersect across her back, blood seeping through them. Tears pool in my eyes as I sink down to the ground beside Neris, placing my hands on the bed beside her face.
“Neris, I am so sorry,” I whisper. She wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t stepped in to defend me against Gruffud after I saw himwith Arionna. We should’ve run away the dozens of times Neris tried to convince me to.
“I’ve given her valbane,” Vaughn says. “It will allow her to sleep. She isn’t in any pain right now. She just needs time to heal.”
I nod and slowly stand, my joints and muscles creaking like rusty hinges on a door. Blood doesn’t bother me, but seeing the red seep through Neris’s bandages turns my stomach.
“She’ll have fresh bandages momentarily. I’m taking every precaution to prevent festering. Lady Alys has taught me well.” He says it as if I know who Alys is, but he does seem to be capable and comforting.
After some hesitation, I find enough courage to ask, “Have you looked after Sir Eurig Davies of Barr na Cahar? He was a Queen’s Guard.”
Something ghosts over Vaughn’s face. He quickly looks away from me. “Briefly.” He pulls the covers gently back over Neris and smooths out the sides. “He was transferred.”
I frown. “Transferred?” That doesn’t even make sense. “Transferredwhere?”
“Apologies. That is outside of my knowledge.”
My heart sinks and I try to push away my confusion and focus on Neris. Again, I kneel beside her, watching her too-pale face. “You’ll be alright,” I whisper. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time.”
For a while longer, I talk to unconscious Neris about everything and nothing, then the masked woman barges back into the room. “Terraforger!” she calls out. “The sovereign has summoned you.”
Now I wish I hadn’t eaten that porridge, because it’s far too eager to make an appearance again. But I swallow hard and follow the masked woman out of the room, leaving my only friend behind. Dashing my hopes of seeing Father again.
I keep my head held high and follow the masked woman, off to face whatever the sovereign has to say to me.
His Excellency is in his study again, his hands steepled on his desk as his young assistant prattles off various laws from books that seem old enough to fall apart. The sovereign holds his hand up, and the assistant closes the book and bows, leaving the book behind before excusing himself from the room.
With my back stiff and my heart racing, I face the sovereign. He smiles and rises to his feet, though he keeps his large hands pressed against the dark wood surface. “Welcome, Lady Pendry. Thank you for joining me today.”
Not that I had a choice.
“And thank you, Lynx for escorting her.”
The masked woman,Lynxapparently, nods slowly and steps aside, keeping an eye on the sovereign.
“Tomorrow, you are to begin training with the other Zenith members. Your first mission will be to procure a Shadow Wielder.”
Gooseflesh prickles my skin, and I’m certain my face blanches.
