Page 54 of The Broken Elf King
TEN
When I came to, I blinked rapidly, trying to get a sense of where I was. The last thing I remembered was saving the king’s life on the beach.
My fingers brushed the surface beneath me. We were no longer on the sand.
I looked up, my hazy vision clearing as I was able to finally take in my surroundings properly. I was lying in a bed; the window was open and there were birds chirping outside. The walls were plastered in a beautiful floral wall parchment and the hardwood floors were a rich brown. It was a lovely room, but not one I was familiar with.
“You’re awake!” A healer I recognized from the infirmary rushed forward.
Magda.
She was Raife’s most trusted healer, wearing her white healing smock. She placed two fingers to my pulse. “Strong heartbeat.” Then she held a healing wand over me and scanned it up and down my body. “Wonderful readings. How are you feeling?” She looked down at me with a smile, her gaze running quickly over my hair, which I guessed was whiter than before.
I nodded. “Fine. Is Naia okay? The king?”
Her face faltered a bit but she recovered with a smile. “Everyone from the beach attack is alive and well, and the assassins were caught and put to justice.”
Her gaze flicked again to my hair and I ran my fingers over it. “Can I see a mirror please?” I sat up and she ran to the chest of drawers, returning a second later with a handheld mirror.
I pulled it up to my face and gasped. Myentirehair was white. All but one brown streak in front.
Magda reached out and grasped my arm. “What you did for the king… we’re all really grateful.”
I stared at her hand on mine and then frowned. “Where is my marriage ring?” I noticed immediately that the swirly yellow gold was missing. I peered over at the dresser but there was nothing on top but a hairbrush.
She shifted uncomfortably.
“Magda, where is my ring?” I didn’t mean to sound forceful, but my tone came out icy.
She exhaled, her shoulders falling as she looked away from me and a few inches to my right as if she couldn’t meet my gaze. “The king is going to tell everyone you died saving him. I have been given the pleasure of being your personal healer and housemaid—”
“What the Hades did you just say!?” I dropped the mirror on the bed and threw the covers off my legs. “Died? Where is Raife?”
My hands shook as I glanced down at my body to see that I was in a thin dressing gown. I couldn’t exactly storm out of the palace in this, but at this point I didn’t care.
“My lady, I have been tasked with informing you—”
“You will address me asqueen. Now WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?” I roared, tears streaming down my cheeks as my scream gave way to a sob. Why was she calling melady? Did he break up with me? I saved the bastard’s life and he dumped me, told people I was dead? I’d kill him. Oh Hades, I’d kill the bastard myself for this.
Magda looked alarmed, holding her hands out in an effort to calm me. “He’s back at the palace. You’re safe here. I’ve taken a Vow of No Harm on you. This is the only way to keep you safe my la—my queen.”
Shock ripped through my system. He wasbackat thepalace? “Where am I?”
She shifted nervously. “In a lovely safe cottage, all provided for by the ki—”
I stormed forward, grasping Magda by the shoulders. “Cut the crap right now and tell me what’s going on.”
She swallowed hard. “The king said he could no longer be married to the most hunted woman in Archmere, that it wouldn’t be safe for you. The entire realm is talking about you, wondering if you can bring back their dead family members. They are bringing several-day-old bodies to the castle, asking for you to breathe them back to life.”
I deflated then; the fight completely left me.
He was right. Raife had said that if people found out about my gift, they would hunt me down.
“Where am I?” My voice was smaller this time, weak.
Magda softened. “Somewhere at the edge of the Briar Ridge Woods. The king has forgiven your debt and you will remain here forever in every comfort possible. Food is delivered weekly, the house and land are paid off—”
“Forever?” I snapped out of my melancholy and brushed past her to exit the room. I came out into a hallway and went right, which opened up into a living room with soft white and cream furniture. The wall of windows revealed I was nestled in a dense forest. Walking over to the front door, I threw it wide open and stepped outside. My bare feet touched upon damp moss and I did a full spin.
