Page 35 of The Jester

“You’ll have to remove the bandage by morning,” I tell her. “If it’s seen...”

She nods at me, sighing with relief now the pain is subsiding. “Thank you,” she says. “I promise I’ll hide it.”

Next, the man with the broken wrist. Altogether more difficult to treat without being able to touch it. I instruct the blond fae, who tells me his name is Kayan, to examine it for me and pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to figure out how exactly I’m going to splint this man’s wrist without it being seen.

Deciding there is no way to do this, I gesture to the pants he’s wearing. “You’ll need to tear a strip from your pants and make a sling. I can give you something for the pain, but it should look as though you made the sling yourself.”

Kayan, the blond, looks like he’s about to protest but when I give him a withering stare, he stops.

I wait until Ben has finished with the sling, then pat the iron bars and say, “I must go now, good night and good luck.”

“Sir...” Kayan speaks loudly – too loudly – and prompts a ‘hush’ from Henrik.

I cock an eyebrow at him; no one has ever called me sir before.

“Please, tell us, is there any chance we will escape here?”

Laughing a little, I allow the bells on my wing tips to chime; one thing Eldrion doesn’t know about me is that I’ve perfected the art of keeping them completely still, and silent, when I don’t want to be heard. I am about to tell him there is no chance when something makes me say, “Ordinarily, to others in your position, I’d say no.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “But your Alana is an impressive woman, and Eldrion seems to have taken a liking to her. If anyone is in a position to help you, it’s her.”

“Alana?” Kayan’s eyes brighten, and an unexpected twinge of jealousy tugs my gut. “You’ve seen Alana?”

“I have,” I reply firmly. “Eldrion has given her chambers in the castle.”

“Is she all right?”

From somewhere at the back of the cell, someone sneers, “Don’t waste your energy being concerned for her, Kayan. As usual, she is looking after herself.”

Whoever spoke, I cannot see them. But I am gripped by the overwhelming urge to throw open the cell door, seek them out, and choke an apology from their miserable lips.

“She is concerned for you all, and frightened, but she is safe for now.” I narrow my eyes at Kayan, trying to discern what he and Alana are to one another. It is only when he shifts, trying to lean closer to me, that I notice his wings.

They are surprisingly thin – not unlike mine. Very unlike any other Leafborne I’ve encountered.

“I will tell her you asked after her when I see her next.” I nod at him.

“Bring her to see us.” Kayan looks from me to Briony, who is standing silently beside Henrik. “Please. Bring her here, so we can see she is all right.”

“It seems not all of you care whether she is all right.” My jaw twitches with irritation as the rest of the cell quiets.

“I care.” Kayan pushes back his shoulders, puffing out his chest as much as he can from the confines of his restraints.

I tilt my head to one side and sigh. “I won’t be visiting you again. I wish you luck.” Then I turn to Henrik and say, “Goodnight, friend,” patting him hard on the shoulder.

Glaring at me, he pulls open the dungeon door. On her way out, he grabs Briony by the waist and whispers something into her ear. She gives him a sultry smile, nods, and follows me back up into the courtyard.

I am back in my chamber when it occurs to me that perhaps I should let Alana decide whether she wants to see her people or not.

Who am I to make that decision for her?

Who am I to take yet another choice away from her?

As I drift into a fitful sleep, I vow that next time I see her, I will give her that choice. I will let her take control of what little she can because I understand what it is like to live in Eldrion’s gilded prison.

While she is here, I will do what I can to comfort her.

I will be what she needs when she needs it.

Because, in two hundred and fifty years, no one has ever granted me that grace. And I would risk Eldrion’s wrath to give her what she needs.

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