Chapter 12
‘Idon’t know how many ribs you’ve broken, but I’d guess at least four. Maybe more,’ Ruben says as he manoeuvres my hand so that I’m holding the ice against my side. One thing about living in this temperature is that there’s always plenty of ice on hand for when wounds need to be tended.
I’m just not used to them being mine.
We’ve been in here for close to twenty minutes now, of which I spent the first fifteen apologising to Evelina and Corem for disturbing them. Although now that Ruben is using some of their cloth to clean up the blood on my face, I feel like I should apologise again.
‘So you want to tell me what you were doing to get beaten like this?’
It’s not the first time Ruben’s asked, but it’s the first time I’ve felt like I can actually form an answer. ‘Honestly? Just trying to get home,’ I reply.
Evelina boiled me up a cup of nettle tea, which I’ve sipped slowly as it cools.
I know there’s no magic or even medicinal herbs in it, beyond the nettle, but it goes a fair way to easing the tightness of my throat.
Now, though, she retreats to the far corner of their shack, trying to give us some semblance of privacy, while Corem has gone outside to keep watch over Kay with Jack.
‘This happened coming home?’ Ruben arches an eyebrow, clearly not quite believing my claim.
‘I swear. I was on my way back home, and Tella caught me.’
‘Tella?’ Ruben’s jaw locks. ‘You said it wasn’t that bad. You told me you could handle him.’
‘I thought I could,’ I reply, aware of the fury flashing in Ruben’s eyes.
In a moment of lapsed concentration, he pushes the fabric a little too hard against my skin, causing me to flinch.
He winces in turn, like he’s the one in pain. ‘Sorry.’ When he eventually talks again, his voice is lowered to a whisper. ‘You should have come to me.’
‘I thought I could deal with it myself. Besides, we’re just friends, remember?’
‘Exactly,’ he spits back through gritted teeth. ‘I look after my friends. I don’t let things like this happen to them. Any of them.’
‘Now you’re starting to sound like Rula,’ I reply, huffing out a laugh, only to instantly regret the throbbing it causes across my sternum.
‘So Rula had something to do with this?’ he asks, reaching out to stroke my bottom lip. The tenderness with which he touches me contrasts sharply with the manner in which Tella undertook the same action. If Rula hadn’t turned up when she did …
‘No … this had nothing to do with Rula,’ I tell Ruben truthfully. ‘But I think she’ll deal with him.’
‘You think?’
I can’t cope with the interrogation now.
What I need is sleep. It’ll only be a few hours before I need to get up and take Kay to Rula, and there’s no chance I can risk being late for that.
Not after everything I did to make it happen.
Nervous about what I’ll find, I tentatively pull the ice away from my ribs and look down.
It’s not pretty.
The bruises are already blossoming purple and spreading down to my stomach, which means I’m going to have to be pretty deft when I get dressed or wash myself for the next few weeks, or Kay’s going to see the injuries.
I need to search through my stores, see what I’ve got that’ll help ease the bruising.
‘How does my face look?’ I ask Ruben.
‘Other than startlingly beautiful?’ he says.
I let out a groan at his cheesiness, though the smile he gives me warms me far more than I expected.
‘You’ve got a split lip and you’re going to have a bruise here’—he gently brushes his finger across my forehead—‘but other than that, you’re good.
I think your knees are pretty banged up though.
I mean, I’d be willing to go again like this afternoon, but you might want to wait a little. ’
A genuine laugh leaves my lungs, only to instantly turn into a coughing fit, which makes my ribcage burn in pain.
When I finally catch my breath, I lift my gaze back to meet Ruben’s. ‘I guess I’ll just have to tell Kay you and I had more fun than expected?’ I joke, flashing him a grin in the hope he’ll reciprocate, but he doesn’t.
‘Rose, you need to stay safe. Whatever you were doing tonight—’
‘Was a one-time thing,’ I cut across him, placing my hand on his. ‘And I wasn’t lying. This didn’t happen because of that. It was just me in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘With guys like Tella, you don’t get a right place or time,’ he mutters, and I can’t help but feel he’s right.
I lift my hand to his cheek and tilt his head upwards so that his eyes meet mine again. ‘Thank you. Really,’ I say. ‘For this. And for keeping an eye on Kay. You really are the best friend I’ve got out here.’
‘Right,’ he says softly. ‘Friend.’
Ignoring the poorly hidden longing in his tone, I push myself onto my feet. ‘I should get back,’ I say before glancing over at Evelina. ‘I really am so sorry about all this,’ I tell her again. ‘If you need any tonics for anything, just let me know.’
‘Don’t worry, Rose. I’m sure you’d do the same for us,’ she replies. ‘But if you can tell my husband to get back in here before he freezes to death, I’d appreciate it.’
‘Of course,’ I promise.
Outside, both Jack and Corem are pacing up and down the alley. As much as I’d like to think it’s because they’re looking out for Tella, I’m aware that it’s also the best way to make sure they don’t freeze to death.
‘Thank you so much. Now head home,’ I tell them both. ‘It’s fine. I can keep an eye on Kay now.’
Neither of them put up any form of objection, but Corem’s the only one who bids me good night. Though it should probably be good morning by now.
I’ve no idea what the time is.
As they both head their respective ways, Ruben moves closer to me.
‘Let me stay here tonight?’ he says. ‘Sleep on the floor, just so I can make sure you and Kay are all right?’
‘You don’t need to do that,’ I tell him. ‘I can barricade us from the inside. Tella won’t be able to get at us once I’m in there. Promise.’
Rather than replying, Ruben bites down on the inside of his cheek before reaching out and taking my hand.
‘Please, Rosey. I would feel better knowing I was here with you.’
‘And how would I explain that to Kay? You, asleep on our floor?’
He shrugs slightly and then lets out a sigh. ‘I don’t know, just maybe tell her you liked my company even more than you expected.’
Another laugh leaves my lungs, but it stops almost as quickly as it started.
‘It would complicate things, Ruben. I can’t do complicated.’
‘I know. Me neither. I just want to make sure you’re safe.’
‘Don’t worry. If he comes for me again, I’ll be ready.’ And then, primarily because I need this conversation to be over, I momentarily ignore my broken ribs and reach up to kiss him on the cheek. As I clench against the pain, his hands are back on me.
For a second, I think he’s going to try again. Insist that it’s best if he comes in, keeps me warm, and makes sure we’re both okay. And even before he’s spoken, I feel my resolve wavering. Like, I might just say yes if he does. After all, would one night of pretending really be that bad?
But instead, he leans down and kisses me gently on top of the head. ‘I’ll see you in the morning, Rosey,’ he says. ‘Make sure you lock up well.’
‘I will,’ I promise. ‘I will.’
Inside our home, Kay’s kept the fire burning. Her white hair is splayed out around her as she breathes softly in and out. I should take pride in how peacefully she sleeps. After all, if she knew of the things I saw tonight, did tonight, I doubt she would ever sleep again.
Rather than climbing into bed and risking oversleeping, I take a seat on the floor and replay the night over and over again.
Dinah’s disappointment. Provik’s death. Kay’s safety.
That’s the one that matters. Kay’s safety.
I know it’s secure for now, but things change.
The only way she’ll ever truly be safe is if I can get our magic back, but a Retterheld is the only way that can happen, and who even knows if one will happen in my lifetime, let alone soon enough to help us.
‘Did you have a good time?’ My sister’s voice pulls me from the unending, cyclical thoughts I was trapped in.
‘You’re awake.’ I jolt upwards only for pain to spasm through my ribs.
‘I am.’ She yawns as she rubs her eyes. ‘And you were out very late with Ruben. So did you have fun?’
A bitter scoff catches in my throat. ‘Um, I’m not sure I’d say that.’
Her face falls, and I realise her perception of my night was very different from what actually happened.
I shake my head, forcing a smile back onto my face. ‘No, it was fun. And I’ve got news. Good news.’
‘Yeah?’
‘You’ve got a job.’
‘What?’ She rolls over, eyes wide and suddenly bereft of any hint of sleepiness. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Deadly.’
‘Doing what?’
My smile widens, and this time it’s genuine. ‘Teaching. Nannying, maybe. I’m not entirely sure, but it’s in the fifth.’
‘Oh Gods, Rose.’ She jumps out of bed and, with a squeal, throws her arms around me. It takes all my restraint not to yelp in pain.
‘Shhh! You’ll wake Corem and Evelina.’ And they deserve all the sleep they can get after last night’s disruption – not that I’m going to tell her that.
Despite my plea, Kay can’t stop giggling, and regardless of the pain I’m in, I feel my cheeks start to ache with a smile.
‘I have a job,’ she whispers in wonder, then repeats herself, more loudly, ‘I have a job!’
‘You do. Now get dressed so you’re not late for your first day.’
I never realised how much of a painkiller hope is, although it probably also helps that I swallowed back two vials of white willow bark tonic before we left. Either way, I move well enough that Kay doesn’t seem to notice that anything’s wrong. Though maybe she’s just distracted.
By the time we reach the market, she’s practically skipping. It wasn’t something I realised people here could even do.
‘Teaching. I can’t believe it. Oh, I can’t wait to meet all the children.’ She spins around and looks at me, grinning from ear to ear. ‘Now, where did you say we need to go?’
‘To Rula,’ I tell her. ‘She’ll take you to the house. Her stall’s just up—’
I stop, unable to finish my sentence as I frown. The way to Rula’s stall hasn’t changed but getting there’s the issue as an entire blockade of people is barricading the way through.
‘What is it?’ Kay asks. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Just a body,’ someone casually answers in front of us.
Just a body. That’s what life’s like here. Death’s so commonplace.
‘Come on,’ I say, taking Kay’s hand and squeezing tightly.
As harsh as it might be, I can’t let a dead body screw up my sister’s chance of a job, not after everything I’ve been through.
Bracing myself against the agony that comes with jostling through the crowd, I drag myself between the hordes of people towards Rula’s stall, only to stop a few feet away.
From where I stand, the body is in clear view.
Only it’s not just a body I’m looking down on. It’s the face of someone I knew.
‘Tella,’ I murmur aloud in disbelief. ‘Don’t look, Kay.’
‘Oh Gods, poor Tella,’ Kay squeals, turning her head away, but I can’t draw my eyes from the single dagger that protrudes from his chest.
The chest that last night I longed to put a blade through myself. And I would have had I only got the chance.
As I stand there in silence, a numbness taking hold, Rula sidles up beside me.
‘Always a shame, loss of life, but I’d say he had it comin’, wouldn’t you?’ Rula’s voice is a low drawl.
I don’t respond. I already know she’s capable of murder, but is she trying to tell me she did this?
Do I want to know if she did?
‘Here,’ Rula says, tossing me two apples. ‘A promise is a promise, after all.’
I tuck the apples into my pockets. ‘Thanks,’ I mumble.
I spot another figure on the other side of the body. Numbly, I walk over to him.
‘It’s slum life,’ Ruben says flatly. ‘Far less deserving people than him have suffered far worse fates.’
He’s right. Of course he is. Death is more common than a good meal in the slums.
As I stand there, a haggard frame stumbles into the crowd, knocking several people into Tella’s dead body. Ruben pulls me back, but as several hands reach out and grab the old man’s arms, he lifts his head and his eyes meet mine.
‘It’s coming,’ he slurs. ‘It’s coming, my lady.’
Goosebumps rise on the back of my neck. I don’t need him to clarify what he’s talking about. It’s the same drunken spiel he gave before. About the Retterheld.
Only this time, I don’t scoff in response.
Because if there is a Retterheld coming, if there is even a slim chance of claiming a single wish from the Goddess, one that would restore our powers and deliver vengeance upon the king and his son, then the Gods know I will take it.