Page 80 of A Court Bright and Broken

“Fine. Fine. You’re absolved of responsibility.” I was growing impatient with his simpering and even more eager to get to her cell.

How many were in this place anyway? Were there that many people in our lands who’d run afoul of the law?

“Why was she brought here?” I asked the man. “On what charge?”

It better not have been simply because she was human. I wasn’t a human lover in general, but the woman had literally saved my life.

“I’m not sure, Your Highness. The guards who brought her in didn’t say. I don’t decide who comes in here, you know. I just keep them in place—and take care of them.”

He’d added that last part in an expectant tone, apparently reading my concern for the human woman and hoping to curry favor. I had to shut down that line of thought, for both our sakes.

“I don’t care about their treatment,” I muttered. “I only want to question her.”

Finally we reached the last cell. Raewyn must have heard us approaching because she stood waiting at the bars.

“You came,” she cried when she saw my face.

It is her.

My heart leapt at the sight of her familiar face, but I kept my tone even and my expression sober. If the jailer’s silence couldn’t be bought, I wanted to give him as little to report as possible.

“It is you,” I said blandly, but I couldn’t help asking, “Are you all right?”

Clearly she wasn’t. This place was horrid. And her cheeks were streaked with tears. The sight wrenched my heart.

“I’m fine, just eager to get out of here,” she said.

She sounded weary—and relieved.

“Oh I’ll take you out of here—to an interrogation room,” I said harshly, performing for the jailer. “If I’m not pleased with your answers, you’ll find yourself right back in here—permanently. That’sifI let you live.”

All the color drained from Raewyn’s face. Poor girl. She had no idea what was going on. The last time we’d seen each other, I’d acted like a friend.

Now I was behaving like a stranger, and a hostile one at that.

I ordered the jailer to release her from her cell. Then I gave him a bag of coins equal to his yearly pay.

“Tell no one of this. If the secretstaysa secret, there’ll be more. If it gets out… I’ll know who’s responsible.”

Yes, Your Highness. I’ll tell no one, Your Highness, he said, speaking to me mind-to-mind so I’d be assured of his honesty.

He unlocked the door, but Raewyn didn’t walk out.

“Have you changed your mind about staying in these lovely accommodations?” I asked in a sarcastic voice.

I couldn’t blame her for hesitating. If I were in her place, I wouldn’t want to go with me either.

“No. I’m ready to go,” she said. “But my ankle is injured. I can’t walk very well. I’m afraid I’ll… need some help.”

That’s when I noticed what she was wearing. It appeared to be an undergarment, unless that was what a human woman would wear to a ball? But I didn’t think so.

It was plain and white and revealed far too much of her body.

Whirling to face the jailer again, I gave him a hard glare. “What happened to her? Why is she hurt? Why is she half-dressed?”

He held his palms up on either side of his head. “I didn’t touch her, I promise. She arrived here in that condition.”

“Is this true?” I asked Raewyn.

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