Regret

Chapter 9 - The Crumbling Chalet

Chapter Nine

THE CRUMBLING CHALET

She breathed in deeply, misty cool air which smelled of trees and water. Valye opened her eyes.

A small & simple room. Thatched branches for a roof. Haphazard mossy rocks made a partial wall, parts of which had fallen away. Dirt floor. A doorway on either side of her room, and hole for a window across from her. She was laying in a cot, spartan like she was used to, yet it had given her the most precious rest she'd ever known.

She let her breath out, measured & careful. Her side still hurt, even like that.

Footsteps.

Her arm tensed. Wait, it's over. I'm safe. I don't know where I am. My memory's foggy but Moiraine, she took me somewhere. That's probably her.

Fresh shame crept up her neck, flushing her cheeks. She'd pushed her, laid hands on the princess. Dornishauer may have seen it. She closed her eyes. Facing her after last night would be difficult.

That wasn't me. I wasn't myself.

She wasn't so sure she believed that, but now wasn't time for those thoughts.

"You're awake," Halnir said.

"I thought you dead," she said. She didn't open her eyes. His voice was knowledge enough. So he did lie. I should've trusted my senses. Why didn't I? It had been a horrid night though, and his claims felt plausible. She left it at that.

"Yeah. The princess told me. She came to my house, dressed like a peasant. I didn't recognize her at first but her voice gave her clean away."

She nodded.

"Valye I have some question," he started, his voice trailing off.

She wanted to protest, but knew he wouldn't ask for no reason. Her time in the cellar was gruesome, but it was over now. She'd learned much from so little, and their adversaries – whoever they were – had gained nothing.

"Ask, and I'll answer if I can," she said, finally opening her eyes again. "But first, please bring me water. I'm parched."

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Halnir told her she'd slept all through the day & night. A whole day, gone.

Valye shared with him what she remembered, from when she left his house, to the barracks and Kiva's quarters, then down to her trials in the cellar. All of what her captor had said, lies or not, and every detail – except that she saw Senha. That, she felt, he didn't need to know.

Some of her memories were fragments, blurred or lost. She didn't feel they'd return.

"How's my head?" she asked, moving her fingers through it.

"Not bad, considering. He didn't land any solid hits. Your ribcage looked something nasty, it needs binding."

"I kept moving my head. It probably saved my life."

"Probably did."

"Still, I was out an awfully long time-"

"Val, you were just exhausted," he interrupted, leaning against the wall. He folded his arms, looking out the window. She could hear birds chirping, and faint running water somewhere past them. "You didn't tell me all what Barrentz put you through or, I'd have insisted you rest at my house. I'm surprised you didn't pass out sooner."