Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sierra wasn’t sure how much time had passed in her cell, but it was enough that she was forced to use the bucket in the corner. The two guards had brought her some sort of pastry with vegetables in it at some point. It was good, but not enough to calm the growling in her stomach.
There were no windows in her cell, and she truly had no idea what day it was, or whether it was day or night even, when the guards came a second time to collect her.
Clearly, they didn’t speak English, as she was roughly dragged through the castle a third time, though this time she recognized the route, and was relieved when they stopped outside Slaine’s door.
As soon as she was seated on the stool and the door was closed behind the two guards, Sierra turned to Slaine, questions burning in her irises, but she had no idea what to say, or how to ask.
Slaine noticed her dilemma. “I told them I would need to treat your ‘rash’ every day for the next few days.”
“So, it was yesterday when I was last in here?”
Slaine nodded a second time. “I’m afraid so.”
Sierra looked around the room, taking in the many plants she didn’t recognize. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask yesterday, but are you a healer?” She vaguely remembered Aodhan speaking about the healers in Sidhe and Slaine talking about magic being able to heal the day before.
“I am, the only healer on staff in this household, in fact.” She replied, her hands busy cutting more fruit, which she was arranging on a plate just like she had the day before.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything more to feed you.
They would be suspicious if I asked for extra meals.
” She held the plate out to Sierra, who immediately grabbed several of the slices and began putting them in her mouth.
“It’s okay,” she said around the food crammed in her cheeks.
She knew she needed to slow down, or she would choke, but she had never felt this sort of desperate hunger before.
She hadn’t eaten dinner on Friday, and it was now Sunday, and all she had eaten the day before was that pastry they brought.
She was ravenous. “This fruit is delicious.”
Silence settled over the two women as Sierra ate as quickly as possible without choking. When the plate was clean, she looked up to find Slaine observing her curiously.
Breaking the silence, which had suddenly grown awkward, Sierra asked, “So, where did you learn English?”
Slaine smiled. “Most Sidhe learn it these days, as long as they have an education.” She stood to stir a large pot that was hanging over the fire.
“It used to not matter if they did or did not speak English when your world spoke the same as us here, but now, without English, they can’t leave.
Otherwise, humans would become suspicious.
It was made a decree that all Fae schools and tutors teach their students English about 100 years ago. ”
Sierra tried to imagine what it would be like to meet someone who spoke only Old Gaelic in Ireland, but then she realized that people who moved abroad probably felt the same way when they went to a country that spoke a language other than theirs.
“That makes sense,” Sierra agreed, before changing the subject. “Have you heard of Aodhan arriving?”
Slaine shook her head sadly, sinking into the stool opposite the one Sierra was sitting in. “I’m afraid it won’t be that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Aodhan’s job, per se, is to help his father break the curse. The fact that he didn’t accompany you back tells me Aodhan and Conlan had a disagreement about something…and that something was probably you.”
“Wait…what?” Sierra felt the last glimmer of hope for her rescue drain from her chest.
Slaine set her hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “Aodhan was supposed to bring back anything that could help his father. Whether that was a person, book, or other material. The fact that you came back without him tells me he is likely in trouble with his father.”
“So…he won’t come?”
“I didn’t say that.” Slaine grasped one of Sierra’s hands, not seeming to notice, or mind, that they were a bit sticky from eating the fruit.
“He may have already come back, but Conlan may have punished Aodhan for not bringing you himself, especially if he believes you are the key to whatever fake curse he’s dreamed up this time. ”
Sierra hung her head, feeling the tears build in her eyes. “I…I…”
“I know. But don’t panic. I’m working on a plan to get—” Before Slaine could finish her sentence, the door was pushed open, and the guards came in, collecting Sierra as before.
Sierra kept her eyes on Slaine as she was dragged out the door, wishing they had more time, but she knew better than to say anything because, based on what Slaine had said, it was very likely her guards were just pretending not to speak English.
Once she was thrown back in her cell, the tears she had been fighting while she was with Slaine began to pour down her face.
She had been so sure that Aodhan would be able to rescue her, but now it was likely that he was in trouble of his own.
Sierra would need to figure out how to get out of here without him, and fast. She began looking through her cell, looking for anything that could help her escape.
Besides the bucket (which had been emptied while she had been out) and the two blankets, she had nothing, which severely limited her options for an escape.
As she was thinking, Sierra glanced down at the white gauze gown she still wore, grimacing at how dirty it was.
She hadn’t been offered anything to change into, nor had she been given her old clothes back.
While it was fine for now, it certainly made escaping difficult, considering she didn’t have any shoes and had no idea what season it was outside.
Sierra thought back to the first day she had been brought here, trying to remember if it had been cold when she was transported from the entrance to this castle.
Now that she thought of it, while she couldn’t remember how she felt temperature-wise, she had been kidnapped without her jacket, wearing just her sweater and jeans.
While that didn’t mean it was summer, it also meant she would probably be okay running without a jacket, though the dress offered much less coverage than her sweater and jeans.
Sierra winced as she remembered her running skills, which were next to nothing.
She had never been much for jogging, and she doubted she would be able to outrun her well-trained guards.
This meant she only had one option left, and that was to sneak out without them noticing and hope she could make it far enough away that she could hide before they noticed.
Surveying the tools she had on hand again, a plan began to formulate in her mind.