ndria

ight of dawn filteri

om was clean, the furniture set right.

ead resting on her arms. Her face was tear-staine

o do with my healing wounds. I reached out and gent

en she saw I was awake, her

nk the Goddess

her hand. "I'm alright, Jade. W

ought in the Royal Physician himself. He shouted at Lady Eleanor and confined both her and Miss Christal to

, invite questions from the Crown, and weaken his standing among the other noble houses. The Royal Physician's presence meant the affair could no longer be buried quietly. He was not d

My father had gotten me the best doctor, but he ha

ve hardened

be. In the back, there is a false bottom. Bring me the wooden

sed but obeyed w

nd a leather-bound journal filled with her elegant script. In my past life, I had ignored these things. I h

eight of a crown I thought I was helping to build. I had spent years learning medicine for him. Long nights hunched over borrowed texts, mixing poultices in secret, memorizing antidotes so I could patch him up af

leaves, a pinch of silvery mos

nstructed Jade, pointing to

he swelling. The skin was hot to the touch, but there was no yellow tinge around the broken edges-no infection. Not yet. Good. I mixed the paste with quick, certain movements, the

pered, "how do y

sk. "My mother taught me. I

was the only explan

te filled the small bowl.

me see to that c

, it is no

tone leaving no room for argument. "My people do

e sat, her posture still rigid

fective salve the house doctor had given her. Her skin was so fragile benea

lied my own creation. The cool p

t feel?" I

hurt anymore. It feels cool.

that went far beyond the duty of a maid to her m

gged across a courtyard, her heels scraping against the stones, her mouth open in a scream I could not hear. I had seen that girl's back for the last t

was rougher than I intended. "Jade, the path ahead wi

slid from the chair to

nd soul. I will follow you until my l

ing her to her feet. I looked her in the eye, two

. To any who offer me their loyalty, I will off

s and maid. We were allies. The first two

build something new. Something strong

on the door br

s Torres, forgive the intrusion. Fritz Woods, from

ike a shard of

trada's lead guard, h