Once I’m presentable, albeit covered in bandages, I’m given new clothes and that blasted red sash. I struggle for almost an hour before I’m able to tie it on. The Avin messenger sash, the red cloth indicated an owned Avin. Not having it on had felt like a weight had been taken off—however it also meant I was free game to be shot out of the sky.

Nikolie gives me a razor and a bucket of soapy water and I clean myself up. At this point, I’m moved to a different room. I stay silent, taking my direction from Nikolie who anxiously moves me quickly. The room has the bare necessities and no windows, but it’s not a cell. I spend the next two days being treated by Nikolie, eating, and sleeping.

I couldn’t see the sun to be certain, but I suspect from the dark hall that it is unusually early when I have a visitor. I’m lounging on the bed when my door opens without warning. A beautiful Soli woman flanked by a guard and a female servant fills the doorway. The woman eyes me and reaches to take the lamp from the servant. “I want a word with you in private.”

The guard shifts uncomfortably. “I shouldn’t leave you alone with him, my lady.”

The woman turns and pulls his sword out from his sheath. “He’s wounded and I’ll keep my distance. Besides he should know that should he harm me, it would not be a swift death.”

I don’t move, just keep my eyes on the noble. She’s too young to be Adon’s mother. Sister, or maybe wife? She certainly would be a suitable hostage for an escape, but she’s right, I’m not sure I could pull that off in my state.

With a look from the noblewoman, the guard shuts the door. She eyes me.

“Stay where you are and answer my questions.” She takes a few steps closer. “I am Lady Emryis and I want to know why my brother bought you.”

Sister then.

“I imagine it’s because he wanted an Avin,” I say dryly.

“Don’t be smart,” she snaps. “Adonis is not the type. He detests slavery. At first, I figured he just planned on helping you heal and then setting you free, but there’s something else going on. He’s acting strangely and I want to know why.”

She’s worried about her brother and doesn’t know who to take her frustrations out on. I choose my words carefully, “I have only spoken to Lord Killex once and it wasn’t for very long.”

“What did you speak about?”

“To be blunt, he convinced me not to run myself on his sword. I was in the mood to die and he talked me out of it.”

Most people, especially nobles, don’t like to think about death so I figured this would scare her off but no such luck.

“How?” she asked, eyes narrowing.

Adonis said to trust no one and clearly hadn’t filled his sister in. So, I think of a convincing lie. “Like you said, he doesn’t like slavery. He promised me he’d free me or at least treat me well. I conceded.”

“You’re lying.” Lady Emryis raises the sword. She doesn’t hold it as confidently as her brother, but she’s clearly trained with one before. I shut up and watch her. She takes another step closer. “I know my brother better than anyone else and I know when he’s lying to me. He’s acted off since bringing you here and you will tell me why.”

Either Adonis hasn’t been hatching this plan as long as he said or he’s slipping up right at the end. I could rat him out, but that would do me no good whatsoever. I try again.

“I don’t know why he’s lying to you but you’re correct that I am.” I sit up slowly, letting my wings unfurl. I’m well aware of how large I am and I try to use it a bit. “I don’t trust you or Lord Killex. I think his promises are empty and only agreed to give myself a better chance of escaping. If you think that’s a problem, you best kill me now.”

She holds the sword more firmly. “Maybe I should. You don’t deserve Adonis’ kindness. I don’t know why he decided to take you in or why he’s taking you with him tomorrow, but if you hurt him, I will stop at nothing to see you hunted down.”

That’s nothing new to me. I just nod. This really is between her and Adon, my job is just to not say anything. Emryis puts the sword down with a huff, giving me a last frustrated look before throwing open the door and storming out, her attendant fretting at her side before the door closes once again.

I stand up and limp around the room. I feel a bit sorry for Emryis, she obviously cares for Adonis and he didn’t mention her at all. Does that mean he was lying about everything and he has no intention of leaving the lap of luxury? Obviously, he wasn’t lying about not wanting to kill me and it’s reassuring to hear he detests slavery. Still there are many Soli who don’t own slaves and think it’s wrong. That doesn’t stop their country from continuing to abuse my people.

I drink some of the tea Nikolie left for me and go back to sleep, my body has a lot of healing to do and demands I rest so it can do it.

Nikolie wakes me up.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, checking over my bandages.

“Tired,” I answer honestly.

“Good. Sleep is good. There’s no sign of infection, as long as you keep resting and don’t use your leg, hand, or wing, I think you’ll make a full recovery.”

“That doesn’t leave me with a lot I can use.”

He ignores me and hands me a wooden cane. “Here, although don’t grip it with your right hand. Now hold still, I’m going to wrap your wing more, I don’t like how much you’re moving it.”

I suffer in silence as he maneuvers the tender wing and bandages it against my side. It’s awkward, but I can still lay on my stomach. I test the cane. Since I can only use my left hand and it’s my right leg that’s injured. I have to sort of hop about.

“Sit down, I want to explain these to you.” Nikolie puts a large basket next to me as I sit on the bed. “Alright, you should use this on your hand and leg every night. Here are extra bandages in case your wing becomes loose, but I don’t want it free until at least three months and absolutely no strain until at least four. And—”

“Wait. Are you not coming?” I ask.

“Of course not. I’m the Killex family doctor. Now, pay attention.”

I try to remember everything he said and feel a bit strange. I’d assumed Nikolie was a lesser craftsman who happened to know healing. No wonder Emryis was suspicious! That reminds me…

“I met Lady Emryis this morning,” I whisper and Nikolie pauses for a moment before putting the supplies back in the basket.

“It went well I hope?” he says nonchalantly. The door is open.

I shrug. “I think so.”

Nikolie closes the basket and whispers, “Don’t say anything to Adonis about it unless he asks”

He steps back. “Alright. That’s that. Do try not to break anything else.”

There’s noise in the hall and the guard, who’d been watching me fascinated, snaps to attention. Adonis appears followed by attendants and glances over me quickly. “Can he walk?”

“He can hop—slowly,” Nikolie says dryly and I resist the urge to scowl. This is the first time I’ve seen Adonis since our conversation and I’m curious how he’ll behave.

Adonis meets my eyes briefly and then nods. “Taff was it?”

He doesn’t wait for an answer, pointing to the gaping guard. “You, help him to the carriage.”

The guard steps inside but hesitates. “Er, your carriage sir?”

“Well he’s not exactly going to fly alongside me, so, yes, my carriage. There’s plenty of room for us both and if I get sick of the company, I prefer riding anyway.”

With that, Adonis gives the guard a wink and continues down the hall. As the guard gets closer and realizes how large I am, he hesitates. The poor man is probably only five and a half feet tall.

“I just need a shoulder,” I mutter and I lean my right forearm on his shoulder and let him walk me down the hall.

I’m so focused on the painful journey through the massive mansion that it’s not until I’m panting in the carriage that I notice the procession.

Two lines of servants are standing to the side watching the carriage which is flanked by three horsemen on either side. From a balcony, an older man in finery stares down. Probably the true Lord Killex. Emryis is at the side of the main doors and as Adonis emerges smiling, she pulls him into a hug. They exchange words and then he gives his father a wave before approaching the carriage.

Awkwardly, I scootch back. It’s cramped and my knees are near my chest and I have to bend my neck. Adonis gets in and sticks his head out.

“Let’s go! We’re wasting daylight!” He gives a friendly laugh and spends the next few minutes continuing to wave before finally sliding back into his seat.

“Give me a minute,” he mutters and rests his face in his hands, taking a deep breath. Then he rubs his eyes and turns to me. “Sorry about the tight quarters. We’ve got a long road ahead so hang in there. How are you by the way?”

I eye him suspiciously. Did this man really intend to leave everything he knows behind? “Alright, all things considered. How far are we traveling?”

“If we push through the night, which is the plan, we should get there by tomorrow morning. I have a change of horses already prepared along the route.”

“Mmm.” I try to make myself comfortable for the long ride.

Adonis shifts. “Here put your legs across diagonally.”

I consider and then go ahead. It does help, although I wince as I move my right leg. Adonis nods at it. “Branch right? Did you crash from the sky?”

“Obviously,” I mutter but Adonis doesn’t take the hint.

“How long were you on the run?”

“Four and a half months.”

“And you avoided being seen that long?” Adonis whistles. “You must know how to survive in the wild.”

“I figured it out.”

“Where’d you escape from?”

I narrow my eyes and Adonis holds up his hands. “Alright, sorry bad question. You were probably a messenger though, right?”

Nod.

“Were you always a messenger?”

“Pretty much. I’m going to sleep.” I turn away, for once glad of my exhausted body so I don’t have ot listen to him prattle on anymore.

“Oh, of course, you’re probably still exhausted.”

I don’t respond and close my eyes, listening to the rattling of the wheels over stone and the jittery bounce of Adonis’s tapping boots.