Chapter 23
The sharp tang of medicinal herbs is the first thing I notice, followed quickly by a sharp, stinging sensation in my back. Something glides across it, making me hiss in a breath through clenched teeth. Someone grabs my arms and holds me still. A pain-filled moan escapes my lips.
“If you stay on your stomach and try to relax, the healing process will be easier,” a female voice instructs. She begins to hum.
I open my eyes to find a giant, unfamiliar female troll kneeling beside me. I wish I could tell her I’m fine and don’t need her, thank you very much, but the burning sensation on my back is agonizing. I remain still and immediately feel a slight tingle, followed by a small sense of relief. After a few more minutes of her healing ministrations, the pain seems to disappear altogether. She lays a warm cloth on top of the wounds and slides a soft blanket up to my neck, telling me to close my eyes and rest. I hear footsteps fading before a door clicks.
“I don’t know how she healed so quickly.” I hear her muffled voice from behind the door, talking to someone. “Her wounds were healing before you brought her to me. You saw the blood and how shallow the wounds were! I just don’t understand it – they seem to be healing at a slower pace now. Did you bring in another Healer while I tended to the other soldiers?” the female troll accuses.
“Joycelyn, you know you’re the only Healer we have.” I tense, recognizing King Destine’s rumbling voice.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in all my years,” the Healer muses. “Something is off. No troll would heal this fast.”
The door clicks open and suddenly, the blanket is pulled down and the towel is lifted from my back, followed by a calloused hand running along the sides of my body. I tense when the hand reaches the side of my upper chest, but the hand keeps going. That’s enough for me! I shoot up, trying to ignore the surge of pain that shoots through me as I grab the towel from Joycelyn and pull it back around my body, shooting King Destine a death glare. I look up at the King’s hand hanging in the air.
“What the hell?” I fume. “You don’t get to cop a feel just because you’re a king, you know!” I try to maintain my ground, but with my strength depleted, I fall forward instead. I reach my hands out to grab the nearest support, which happens to be him. In the tumult, my towel lands on the floor.
He chuckles. “I wasn’t trying to touch you inappropriately, Jewel, I promise. I was trying to see if your ribs are still bruised.” His voice softens.
I look down, embarrassed. “Oh, well, I feel a lot better. How about some new clothes and a shower, and maybe something right now to cover up with?” I ramble.
“Joycelyn will help you clean up, but you can barely sit up. You might want to lie back down for a while. Your room is being prepared now. Once you’ve rested, we’ll remove you from the infirmary and into your new room. Food will be brought up for you there.” With that, Joycelyn steps to my side and wraps a cool sheet around me. It isn’t until I’m covered that Destine moves away.
Joycelyn helps me to the bathroom, but I refuse to listen to King Destine about lying back down and decide I’ll feel better once I bathe. The Healer tries to get me to concede, even throwing in some comments about how unhappy the King will be, but I shut the door in her face. Exhaling slowly, I turn and take each step cautiously to the wide, elongated walk-in shower. I marvel at the unusual structure. There is no curtain or screen, just a long wall that stops three-quarters of the way to the ceiling that must keep the water from splashing onto the toilet and sink. Gingerly dropping the sheet, I turn on the faucet. Warm water pours out right away, just like in the North. I stand under the water for a long time, letting the water sluice away the dried blood from my skin and the tension in my body.
I don’t know how much time passes, but suddenly my stomach recoils and I puke. Joycelyn knocks on the door before I have time to breathe. I try to yell back at her, but I feel too sick to even try. As the door begins to open, I see Joycelyn standing outside with the soldier who hit me. His eyes are full of sorrow as he opens his mouth to speak, but I shake my head no, silently urging him not to say anything. When Joycelyn looks away, I place my finger over my lips. The Healer wraps me in a large, fluffy towel and asks the soldier to carry me. I start to tell her No, I can walk, I just need a moment as I rest my hand on the wall and lean against it, but the soldier comes in and very gently picks me up, careful not to jostle me.
Just outside the door, I see a ballgown hanging in the corner. I groan inwardly. How do they expect me to wear that in my condition? I point at the dress. “I refuse to wear that ridiculous thing.” I look at the soldier. He owes me. “Bring me a shirt and a pair of pants like yours,” I demand. He gives Joycelyn a concerned look.
She nods. “Go ahead, Miko.”
I feel his breath on my ear as he cradles me. “Thank you for not telling anyone it was me.”
I cringe, remembering the pain of the impact and being thrown against the wall as I defended Timber. If I hadn’t interfered, I wouldn’t be in this situation. “It wasn’t your fault, Miko.” He jerks his head back at my words, searching my eyes before frowning and setting me down on the bed.
“You know, you’re not going to make the King happy,” Joycelyn announces, standing in front of me as Miko leaves the room.
“Well, let it be known that I wasn’t born to make the King happy,” I answer snarkily, regretting the harshness of my words as she shies away. I rub a hand down my face. “Look – I didn’t mean it like that. I know you don’t have a choice. Timber told me about Healers; his mother was one, too. I’m grateful for your help.” Staring at her, I wonder if she hates it here. Maybe she gets treated badly. Then it hits me – What if she gets punished for me not complying? “I’m sorry I’ve acted the way I have, but I’m hurt, tired, and homesick. Not to mention tired of being kidnapped and bounced from kingdom to kingdom. I just want to go home.”
Understanding softens her features, but her words hit me like a stone. “I don’t think King Destine will let you go back to the North.”
“Well, that’s not my home, anyway,” I answer without thinking. “I want to find my father and Ash.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, my stomach drops. Will I ever see them again? How will they know how to find me?
“Not your home?” She looks at me with eyes full of questions.
“It’s nothing.” I brush off her concern and try to change the subject. “Please accept my sincere apology. I’m truly grateful for your help.”
She gives me a leery look, but thankfully she doesn’t press the issue further. “Can you lie down by yourself, or do you need help? I need to take a peek at your ribs and wounds.”
“I can do it.” Slowly, I roll over onto my belly and lie down. The bed is soft, but it comes with a sterile smell, nothing like my bed at home. What I’d give to be in my own bed right now.
She throws a sheet over my lower half and tugs the towel out from under the sheet. Her smooth hands run down my sides and back. “I don’t understand how you can be sick,” she muses. “You are almost completely healed, and at a faster rate than I’ve ever seen from desert thorn gashes. The poison in the thorns only makes you weak, not sick. It must be the trials of the day catching up with you.”
A soft knock on the door heralds Miko’s re-entry. He walks in and places a stack of clothing on a nearby couch. Then he stands there waiting for further instructions, followed by an awkward silence. I tense up.
This is the second time he’s seen me mostly naked! These people have no boundaries.
“Thank you, but you’ll need to leave. If I need help, Joycelyn will help me.” No way is he staying in here while I get dressed.
After he exits the room, Joycelyn retrieves the clothes and helps me stand. When my head starts spinning, I reach back towards her to balance myself. I take in shallow breaths, babying my ribs, and graciously accept the Healer’s help in getting dressed. Taking a seat at the vanity, Joycelyn stands behind me and gently begins brushing my hair. I’m so tired, I don’t even protest or try to do it myself.
“Miko?” she calls. The door opens and he strides in purposefully, picking me up cradle style. I try to insist it’s not necessary, but he doesn’t listen.
As he carries me down hallways and past dozens of rooms, I marvel at the walls made of stones in every shade of grey imaginable. A surprising array of soldiers greet us at each turn, though I tense as we get closer to what I imagine will be my new prison. A soldier stands at the end of a long corridor and swings the door open as we approach. Miko places me near a table and chairs in my new room and leaves without a word. Trailing behind, Joycelyn ducks inside and tells me she’ll have a tray of something light brought in for me to eat, since my stomach isn’t ready for heavy food yet. With a small incline of her head, she turns and follows Miko out.
As soon as they leave, there’s a knock on the door. I barely have time to stop rolling my eyes before King Destine walks in, followed by a young woman carrying a tray laden with food. I assume this young lady will play the same role Molly did in the Northern Kingdom. I shake my head, disgusted that no matter the kingdom, royals can’t seem to do the simplest tasks themselves.
He stops in his tracks and raises an eyebrow. “Would you like me to go?”
Unable to stop the bite in my tone, I retort, “Why would you ask? This is your castle, which means this is your room.”
“Yes, but you shook your head when I walked in,” he says, looking puzzled.
“I was merely struck by a realization.” He quickly looks down at what he’s wearing with a self-conscious look on his face, and I let out a short laugh. I have no issues with his looks. In fact, he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
King Destine looks into my eyes, obviously intrigued. “And what is that?”
Instead of answering right away, I wait for the lady-in-waiting to set the table and leave before I respond. I’ve pushed a lot of buttons today; I don’t want him to think I’m ungrateful for the use of his Healer.
The young woman turns to him and he nods. “Thank you, Madeline.” He waits as she crosses the room and softly closes the door before pressing, “Do carry on.”
I exhale. “I just don’t understand why you royals think you’re better than everyone else and have to get other people to do the simplest jobs for you. Timber did the same thing in the North. Speaking of Timber, why did you kidnap me and bring me here?”
He chuckles. “You surprise me with every answer you give to my questions. I feel as though you’re trying your hardest to spurn my hospitality.” He ticks off on his fingers. “You don’t like the dress, you refuse help at every turn, and now you’re passing judgment and saying I think I’m better than others simply because I don’t carry my own food. Oh, and for the kidnapping part, the Darkland King and his men had just arrived. It was either that, or let you be taken by him.”
Ugh!He twists my words until I’m not sure what to think about him. “Wait! You said King Gus and his men arrived? Did one of his men have glasses, brown hair, blue eyes, and was a little taller but leaner than you?”
He stared at me in confusion. “No, but I didn’t stay around to categorize his men by their appearance,” he stated in a saucy tone. “Why, were you expecting someone?”
I roll my eyes. I would be a fool to tell him about my dad after knowing how avidly the other kingdoms sought captives to tell them about the Darkland Realm. King Forrest taught me that. “No, I was just wondering.” Was it possible my father was there? I need to play nice until I can figure out what King Destine wants from me. If he wanted to hurt me, he wouldn’t have had his Healer assist me. Right? What does he want?
“I’m grateful for your hospitality, King Destine,” I begin. I make it a point to look around the room. “The dress,” or should I say dresses, since the closet is filled with several gowns, “is lovely, but I’d prefer more comfortable clothes like the ones I wore back home.” Not to mention I’ve been wearing one ballgown or another since I arrived in the Troll Realm. “Also, I didn’t mean to pass judgment on customs I know nothing about. It’s probably natural for someone of your stature to have servants. After all, you are King.” He holds my gaze as if waiting for me to say something else. My eyes travel to the food tray.
“Having maids and servers creates jobs and employment for citizens in the kingdom,” he begins. “Do you want me to take away their jobs? I don’t think I’m better than them, but I do have reasons for keeping the tradition going.” He pauses as his eyes rake over my body. “The North allowed you to wear pants and shirts?” he asks incredulously.
Chagrined by his tone, I answer honestly, “Yes, but only when I went running. Otherwise, it was back to ballgowns. I wore pants and shirts back home, though.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I bite my lip, cursing myself at my second slip in as many minutes. I go back to looking at the food tray, my stomach rumbling.
He stares at me for a moment, thoughtful, and then turns to the food tray where he divides the bread and ladles soup into two bowls. Adding two ladles worth to my bowl, he places it in front of me.
I remembered what Timber taught me the first time I ate with him about how they rationed their food. “I don’t want to waste your food. This can be your bowl.” I pick up the bowl and place it in front of him. “I only want half a ladle-full, please.” He places it in front of me, and without thinking, I take a sip of the scalding hot soup and spit it back into the bowl. Heat crawls up my neck, embarrassed at my display.
“You don’t like it.” His disappointment shows.
“No, it’s not that!” I hurry to say. “It’s too hot.” Dipping my spoon back into my bowl, I blow on it. Deciding on small talk while it cools off, I entreat, “Why don’t you tell me your kingdom’s story, and why you decided I needed to be in it?” He tilts his head. “You know, kidnapping me and all.”
He ponders my questions, and for a minute, I don’t think he’s going to answer. Perhaps I was too bold. Then he speaks. “Well, my parents passed away long ago. I’m not much older than Prince Timber. After my father passed, I became King.” He takes a spoonful of his soup.
Well, short and sweet is one thing, but he didn’t even answer my questions!“That’s it?” I scoff.
He offers a barely-there smile. “As you know, trolls live a long time. My parents conceived later in life, when my father had already reigned for a century. Those were tough times. They became even tougher in the end.” He shrugs, like what he admitted is no big deal. “I didn’t intend to kidnap you, but before you blacked out you said help me, so I brought you to my Healer. Joycelyn is the best Healer in the land,” he adds proudly. “So as you can see, I didn’t kidnap you. You asked.”
Well, heck. I have nothing to say to that. “Thank you.” I glance down awkwardly, popping a piece of bread into my mouth. “What’s the rest of your kingdom’s history? When did you take over?”
He gives a faint smile. “I’d much rather hear more about your history, including how you entered the Troll Realm, as you mentioned a few moments ago.” He smiles, proving that he picked up on my slip from earlier.
I deliberate for a moment on what to reveal and what to keep hidden, but in the end, the desire to go home and find my dad outweighs my wavering trust in him. Maybe his people will be able to help me locate him. I take a deep breath. “My dad is a Seeker, and my mother was human.”
“Was?”
“She passed away when I was younger.”
His eyes hold sorrow as he processes my words. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother. I lost my family long ago.”
Not sure how to respond, I slump lower in my chair and continue eating my soup. I feel hungry, but as soon as I take another bite of bread, my stomach recoils. I rush to the bathroom, push the door open, and find the toilet with seconds to spare. Gentle hands keep the hair back from my face as I spew the contents of my stomach into the gleaming porcelain bowl.
Destine yells to someone outside, “Find Joycelyn!”
Once my stomach is empty, my body relaxes and I sink to the floor. Destine cradles me in his arms, easily lifting me and bringing me to the bed. Just then, Joycelyn walks in and places a cold compress on my head while Destine places a trash can close to my bedside. I thank them both just before I close my eyes and pray the nausea goes away.
I wake up to a sliver of light coming from beneath the bedroom door with muffled voices on the other side.
“I don’t know what could be making her sick, Destine,” Joycelyn’s worried voice frets.
The King’s voice answers calmly, “We can fix her, and then I’ll find out who hit her with the desert thorn.”
“I tried reading about desert thorns in my Healer books, but I haven’t found anything that explains how it could still be in her bloodstream. It’s just supposed to render the opponent unconscious for a little while.”
“She mentioned she’s not from this realm,” King Destine ponders. “Maybe it has something to do with that?”
“Possibly… Did the Elder pass any knowledge along to you? Maybe we should contact the North...”
Feverish, dark clouds creep into my vision and I fall back into a deep sleep.