I balk at her. "But, you could learn from my mistakes. Don't leave at night, and..." I trail off. The reality of her words is heavy. "We were going to go to the elves, not the giants."
She tilts her head to the side and huffs an ironic laugh as if I am the one acting foolish, not she. "I don't even know how to get to them. You wanted to escape the giants, and we have. Count your blessings."
I purse my lips, ignoring her ugly words and glancing around my room. It is more beautiful than any other sight in the cave, and I have been entranced by many. She follows my gaze to the bath. “Let me help you bathe, friend.”
The nightmare is still fresh in my mind. I see women holding me down while I scrubbed. “No. I can clean myself.”
“All right.“ She starts fidgeting. “I am glad that you are here too. I know you still want to run, but you offered to stay. That’s important to these people.”
A memory from the fight with the giants comes back. My eyes widen. I tried to offer my life for Mikal’s, but the king turned me down. At least, that’s what I think happened—now my memory is fuzzy.
Arlet told me that they said we could leave, but she's also made it crystal clear that she doesn’t want to come. That's fine. I can walk out the front door without my friend to save my brother.
Forcing a smile on my face, I look back up at Arlet and come out of my corner. When I'm sitting on the edge of the bed, I take her hand. "I am happy you are feeling better."
The worried look melts off her face, and she squeezes my hand with hers. "Thank you. The last two days... I've never felt better. Estela, they ask nothing of me. No whipping, no pain, just... contentment. Not everyone is as welcoming to the humans, but those that do more than make up for it."
I nod, noting I should be alert when I leave. It's like I can see the putrid nature of these beings peeking up at us through cracks in the attractive facade. It hurts to lose my friend to them.
"I'm feeling weak again," I say gently. It's not true, but it's clear she's too encased in these people with their pretty rooms and clothing. The pain of her letting Mikal go is still fresh. “Could I eat alone?"
Understanding clouds her expression, and I almost feel guilty.
Almost.
Then she leaves me alone, promising to return in a few hours and take me to some light source she says works to keep our daily light intake up. I will be gone before then. They have still left me in this place, with clothes lining the drawers and valuables stacked on the shelves. I could barter for Mikal's freedom. Looking back at the meat on my dresser, my stomach growls with revenge. I am hunger personified.
I quickly grab the tray of food and sit cross-legged on the bed. I close my eyes when I lift the meat to my mouth and bite down gingerly. Arlet was right; no slave I’d ever known would have enough meat on their bones to supply this kind of food.
Juices drip down my chin while I finish the meat. It’s my first full meal in a week, and I might vomit due to the sheer volume of food I've tried to cram into my taut belly.
When I’m more than satiated, my eyes land back on the small spring. The red and blue crystals there twinkle, as if coaxing me to sink into the waters and keep healing. This wouldn’t be a bucket of ice water in the bushes, this would be a quiet reprieve.
I look down at the dirt, smell the distinct odor, touch my grimy hair that is starting to mat, and think. Powerful beings can force those beneath them to do what they want. My filth is a flimsy barrier, and cleanliness brings safety.
But a bath would slow you down. Who would be expecting you to leave right now?The idea comes somewhere in the corners of my mind. I refuse to think it again in case the king is still listening to my thoughts.
Forcing myself to stand, I act on instinct, looking for a basket or bag. After finding a satchel with a long strap decorated in even more gems, I quickly change out of my sheer nightgown and into furs, mindful of the bandages wrapped around my middle. Then, I begin gathering clothes and stuffing them into the small space. When I find herbs they'd been using on my wounds, I snatch those up, too. I also steal the golden cups with red gems dotting the outside.
As I pack, I try to keep my mind blank. It’s more challenging than I thought, so I try to mislead the king’s prying magic with memories. When I get to Zlosa, I would go to the common hall, a place Mikal used to drink with the other slaves in the lumber yard. I remember my times scavenging, needing to be careful to avoid the watchers.
My thoughts are carefully guarded as I open the door and run into the under mountain.
Chapter10
Yellow Sapphire
ESTELA
The air is strangely sweet, though heavy with the smell of burning wood and dust. My heart races as I walk, trying not to draw attention to myself.
My shoes smack against grey stone as I run down the endless stairs, past a garden of mushrooms, and to the bridge. The glowing temple in the middle of the under mountain pulses pleasantly while I cross.
There are voices filtering through the warm air, and I panic. I see a large group laughing in the distance and scan my surroundings for a new path to escape.
Once I see the strange, circular building that marks the cave’s exit, I duck into a tunnel. One I hope will be a shortcut. I round the corner, I'm stopped in my tracks by a new group of Enduares.
Though they are still tall and imposing figures with skin like blue stone, they have shed their armor in favor of elaborate clothing not unlike what Arlet had worn in my room. The crystal in my chest hums as my anxiety mounts, and I can feel its power coursing through my veins as if trying to relax me like a calming drought given to an animal soon slaughtered.