Caged Source

Chapter Four

Rimi

The first thing I took note of when I woke up was the fact I was no longer in my cage. The second was that my skin itched, from the tips of my fingers, up my arms, on my chest, and down my stomach to the tops of my thighs.

The third, was that I wasn't alone.

The exhaustion I had felt only a day after deciding to not charge my mana was gone. I could easily move my body, though it was weak from malnutrition. I did just that, turning to face the fae I could hear sitting in a chair on my right.

"You're finally awake," she greeted me, a soft smile on her face as she turned from the window to face me. One hand was across her lap holding what looked like a large black feather, and the other was propped against her chin.

Her eyes were candy apple green, a odd shine reflecting back at me. There was a twinkle in them, as if the sight of me amused her. "You woke sooner than I thought you would."

I stared at her. If I asked her where I was, would she tell me? She did not seem like Sebza, ready to whip me for asking a question.

Still, I hesitated.

"You are in the Court of Mountains. Duke Tarron has a use for you, and was unhappy with the King of Light's decision to execute you. He is currently off convincing our Queen to not punish him for that choice."

I cringed at the word 'punish', and then paused to process what she was saying. Hadn't Sebza said something during her last visit about the Duke of the Court of Mountains and his prophet?

My eyebrows furrowed. I hadn't realized he was so serious. I was ready to die. I did not need a Duke deciding I was the only one able to help him.

"For now, you can stay here and rest. He should return soon, and then he can explain the events of the day. I have somewhere to be, as I was rudely kidnapped to come assist you. You're welcome, by the way."

She had adopted a snotty tone, her feather finding a place in her lilac bun. I shifted awkwardly. It seemed I had also been kidnapped, and I certainly hadn't kidnapped her, so I am not sure what she wanted from me.

"There is food next to you. For the next week, eat slowly. You will be less hungry than you might expect, and that's okay. Tarron will worry, but don't stuff yourself. You will gain weight in time, but you don't want to shock your system. You might see bloating or swelling, but don't confuse that with consistent weight gain. Tarron will be able to placate the Queen, and then I am sure he and his friends will have plan to save our Court."

With, she gracefully stood up and left out the door at the far end of the bedroom. I stared after her, brain racing with all the information she had just dumped on me. What was I supposed to do now?

As soon as the door closed, shadow magic swirled in the chair the fae had just vacated and a male appeared, sitting with his right ankle propped over his left knee.

The parts of his body not covered by baggy back clothes were cloaked by flickering shadows. Even the bottom half of his face was covered with some sort of loose scarf, and his hair was long enough to hang in his eyes, a stormy gray staring right at me.

He gestured at the food and I startled, before reaching to eat it. I grabbed the bowl of stew, curiously sniffing it. It looked like it had all sorts of vegetables, and deer meat. Hesitantly, I took a bite, groaning in shock at the taste.

"It's good," I whisper, before hurriedly digging in. The advice from the female had already fled my mind, and my hunger had taken over.

Before I could take my third bite, a shadow wrapped around the spoon, halting it halfway between my mouth and the bowl. Curiously, I looked up at the male, who gently shook his head, before allowing his shadow magic to slowly guide the spoon to my mouth.