Page 82 of A Court Bright and Broken

“To my rooms,” I whispered back. “You’ll be safe there. You can rest till morning when I’ll be able to secure transportation home for you.”

She nodded and stayed quiet until we reached my quarters. I slid the bolt into place, securing us inside.

“You can speak normally now,” I told her. “These walls and doors are thick.”

“I know,” she said and then corrected herself. “I mean, I can see that.”

I carried her to one of the settees positioned in front of the fireplace and set her down. Then I crouched in front of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Looking at your ankle.”

Now that I saw it in full light, I could tell the sprain was severe.

“You must be in terrible pain. I will ring for a healer.”

I stood and headed for the row of pull cords that hung along one wall ready to signal the servants and, very rarely, the healer when I needed one, but I stopped midway.

This wasn’t some random Elven woman I had in my suite. Raewyn was human, and as I’d warned the jailer, a secret.

My father didn’t know about the marketplace beating. I’d lied and told him my extensive injuries had come from being crushed under a falling tree. He had no idea I’d almost died at the hands of mere humans—and been saved from that fate by a human woman.

A peasant girl. He’d like that even less.

And I was supposed to be wife-shopping, not fraternizing with human women. It would be better for both of us if heneverfound out Raewyn was here.

She must have read the dismay in my expression as I turned back to her.

“It’s not so bad,” she said. “I’m sure tomorrow it will feel much better.”

“Do you have an Earthwife in your village?” I asked, thinking she’d be able to seek healing once she returned home.

“Usually,” she said. “But not right now. She’s away.”

There was pain visible on her face. I had to do something.

“I know,” I said in a brighter tone. “I have some saol water in the other room. Wait right there.”

She actually smiled at that. “Not going anywhere.”

I chuckled. “Right. Okay, be right back.”

Returning with a carafe of the special Elven water, I poured a glass of it and offered it to Raewyn.

“Thank you.” She took a sip then shook her head rapidly. “It’s sweet. This isn’t that Nymphian water, is it?”

“You know about that?”

“I read a lot,” she explained.

“No, it’s not,” I assured her. “This is saol water—it’s Elven made, a staple of our diet. There’s a more refined version that’s nearly as intoxicating as the water from the Nymph pools in the Allantian Isles, but it’s only used in certain ceremonies. This version is mild. It will help the pain a bit though and start the healing process.”

She hesitated to drink again until I said, “Trust me. It’s safe,” and took a big swallow myself to demonstrate.

When I handed the glass back to her, Raewyn drank thirstily until it was empty.

I sat on the couch opposite her, marveling at the wonder I felt over seeing her again, even under these less than ideal circumstances.

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