From A Kingdom's Shadow

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The last of her bags loaded onto the cart, and a crate of blood meal courtesy of a nameless friend of Barri's, Apondra quietly turned to her emptied room, realizing just how much of her life was spent sheltered here. Just how many memories she had forged in this quaint shop, Barri teaching her about the lands, how to hunt with weapons, teaching her how to tend wounds, caring for the chickens, the garden... such invaluable time. But now it was time to take a leap of faith and dive into the unknown. Whether she would plummet under the expectations held for her, or rise and soar above it all, only the Father and Mother knew.

"Are you ready? The carriage is waiting," Dreco's voice came from behind her, but for once she did not startle, leaning against the door frame casually. Colin had come by for the past two days since she accepted the offer, along with the prince who Barri could not help but sneer at, to tend her wounds and change the dressings. Dreco had only returned once the evening of the attack, to stitch the wounds that needed it. Elwe had joined him and they spent those few minutes, maybe it was an hour? Talking about not only how each other's wounds were healing, but what to expect when they reached Etecia, a two day ride from Dryn.

Apondra turned away from her room, "I am,"

Dreco led the way out to the main room of the shop, where the carriage was waiting outside. The carriage was of deep brown wood carved with intricate patterns, with two strong horses manned by a pair of coachmen.

One of the coachmen dismounted and held the carriage door open for herself and Dreco, where Elwe and Colin waited inside.

Apondra could feel Barri's presence by the door, the weight of his step creaking the boards, and she turned and embraced him, "Do not get into any trouble Barri,"

Barri smirked, "Barri should say same to you," they shared a laugh, "Barri will be okay. Pearl will keep plenty company,"

Apondra smiled, "So that is why you did it," he was going to be relocating to Siren's Lake.

His smile grew, "Barri needed to know you were ready," he hugged her again, not a farewell, but a wish of good fortune, "Barri will visit,"

"So will I," Apondra promised, turning her head to hear Dreco calling for them to get moving. She sent one last glance at her home, watching Barri start to walk after the carriage, waving to her until they rounded a corner and he disappeared from view.

Apondra tried to be casual and lean back in the cushioned wooden seat, but after the dizzying speed of events, and Barri's help stitching the remainder of her wounds and checking that her wings were intact, her wings were badly bruised and would need to be stretched daily to keep from stiffening from the injuries. Having the wrap on was uncomfortable enough without subjecting herself to acting casually while she rode with Elwe and his guards.

Dreco was seated across from her, side by side with the prince whose body, muscles and all, appeared almost dwarfed in comparison, and held his hand in front of him.

Apondra obediently gave him her wrist and gasped as he prodded at the stitching of one of her deeper wounds that was healed partially. She pulled back instinctively but was stopped by Dreco's firm grasp.

His brows dropped and he glanced at her for a moment, squeezing her arm to regain control .

She hissed through her teeth in protest to the pressure that sent pain shooting through her arm, and leaned closer to him.

The rocking and jerking of the cart on the uneven road did not seem to affect Dreco's focus as he resumed poking and prodding the reddened skin, "I want you to tell me what is wrong with these wounds,"

Apondra looked at her arm, surprised that her wrist had not suffered for movement from how deep the blade had gotten. The skin was red, and noticeably swollen, but that could just be from the trauma of it all. It was not until she felt the heat as she touched it that she realized with a frown, "It is infected,"