Page 32 of Ruling the Green

“That I can do.” Then, speaking to Serin herself, “I don’t like anyone getting close to me, either.”

“We are also in charge of personally fetching her water and food,” Vishen explained. “While we are unsure of who is trying to silence her, we don’t want to take any chances with tainted food.”

Nira nodded. “And do we fetch our own food as well?”

Vishen had spoken endlessly to me about the meager rations of the military. And, I imagined, those only got smaller and more sporadic as my father started to cut funding from the military to grease the palms of important Unseelie families. He talked about foraging for his own food when three days passed without a meal from the court. Of chewing on tree bark to ease the gnawing of his stomach.

“You are free to have whatever food you want,” I told her. “We don’t ration here. But you might also want to be careful. Once people know you are Serin’s guard, they might be willing to poison you to get to her again.”

“I can take care of myself,” Nira said. “And her.”

She looked long and hard at Serin, and something seemed to pass between the two women that Vishen and I couldn’t interpret.

“My schedule today is clear,” I told her when the silence grew awkward. “So Vishen can show you your quarters, give you a tour, and give you instructions before you start your guard duties tomorrow. I have several meetings to endure.”

“We should probably mention as well about the redcaps,” Vishen said.

“Those bastards,” Nira grumbled.

“They follow Jet around. They might also bother you with Serin. We don’t know yet.”

“The king’s spies, I assume,” Nira said. “Do we have to be nice to them?”

“Jet enjoys launching them off of cliffs on occasion,” Vishen said, smirking. “We can’t engage with them all the time, but if they are being especially pushy and someone gets a rock thrown at them…”

Nira smirked. “Understood. Well, it looks like we need to fetch more water,” she said as Vishen filled Serin’s glass again.

I had a feeling she wasn’t anxious to get water, but to get the task over so she could tour her own room.

As I sat with a still-silent Serin, handing her cup after cup of water, all I could seem to think of was getting her speaking so we could get her well again.

Which was why Nira was a step in the right direction. Her surly demeanor would keep everyone away from Serin.

Then I could finally get some answers.

CHAPTER NINE

Serin

The helping effects of the water seemed to be lessening over time. It seemed no matter how much I drank before unconsciousness blessedly claimed me the night before, nothing was easing the body aches.

I didn’t know if maybe the water wasn’t as fresh, or maybe it was pulled from a stream further away from my lake, or what, but I woke up alone in bed in absolute agony.

I couldn’t muster the strength to even pull the heavy blankets off my freezing body for several long moments. When I sat off the bed and set my feet on the ground to stand, I collapsed down onto my knees. The pain shot up my legs and into my hips, making my breath catch as I fell forward onto all fours.

I couldn’t do it. Not for a single moment more. I needed a sip of my water. At this rate, I was going to be driven mad from the pain before I even got a chance to use the water for an escape. It wasn’t going to work. I needed some relief.

I managed to crawl to the water closet door before even that seemed to sap what was left of my energy, making me drop onto my stomach and try to claw my way into the water closet.

“Serin?” a woman called, but it sounded like it was coming from far away. “I’m coming in,” she said, and I was vaguely aware of a breeze washing over me, making a choked whimper crawl its way up my throat. “What the hell are you doing?” she asked, stepping over me to get into the water closet first.

All I could manage was another pathetic cry as I lifted my arm as high as I could to point toward the cabinet.

“Is there something in there you need?” Nira asked, her golden eyes wide.

Did I manage a nod?

I think I did.