I thought they were going to let me waste away down here—succumbing to either the fever or starvation. Butshehad come.
So now, when Lillian approached me with the bowl—her limp more obvious now—I didn’t stubbornly turn away.Instead, I did my best to tip my head back as she eased the bowl to my mouth, the steam from the broth doing almost as much to bring myKteerback to life as her scent had.
Although I did my best not to slurp greedily, the broth was done far too soon.
“More,” I growled, unable to stop straining against the chains to reach for her.
But she shook her head as she stepped back, gathering up the tray and the linens. “I will try to bring more tomorrow. With poultices, and tea for your pain.”
I managed not to snort derisively, but ‘twas close. What did she expect? For her father to send me a comfortable bed and roast chicken next? There was areasonhe’d had me chained to the dungeon wall, my only light coming from the tiny window high above, the one that let in as much snow as sunshine—as it did now.
As Lillian backed away, she glanced up at that window. I saw her frown as she realized what it meant; my cell was open to the elements, and now I could not even huddle beneath the blanket they’d given me.
I knew from the guards’ conversations that Midwinter had come and gone. My people had feasted and lit their fires and celebrated. Had they given up on my return, assuming me dead?
I might as well be.
MyKteershifted again in my chest, reminding me that I was still alive, for better or worse. I wondered if ‘twas thanks to the tiny female standing before me.
I scraped my tongue across my tusks, gathering what little moisture I could.
“Thank ye,” I rasped, and the concern in her eyes shifted to pity.
Fook.
I didn’t want to be pitied.
Ye’re half-dead, chained in a human’s dungeon, yer face a cursed mess. There’s nae way she doesnae pity ye.
Without speaking, she turned to limp for the cell door—but stopped.
She stared down at the metal tray in her hands. Then, slowly, she turned to peer up at the tiny window. Her head twisted, following the path of the light across the floor. At no point would that light, that sunshine, hit me. But before, when I could move about freely, I’d followed it across the floor of my cell, desperate for what little warmth it could provide.
Now she limped to the far wall, tucking the cup and bandages into her apron. She propped the tray in the corner, angling it this way and that until she was satisfied.
When she straightened, I winced.Joyfully.For the sparse sunlight coming through the high window was now reflected directly at my chest.
‘Twould only be for a short time each day before the sun continued its journey across the sky…but ‘twould be the highlight of my day.
Assuming I lived.
I watched her limp from my cell, watched the damnable guard lock the bars behind her, and wanted to give her my thanks once more.
That light. ‘Twas not much. But it had filled me with something. Hope, mayhap. Gratitude?
Or mayhap that washer.
Either way, I was suddenly determined to live through the night. To see what tomorrow—and Lillian—would bring.
CHAPTER TWO
Lillian
As I wentabout my duties for the rest of the day, I found myself thinking of the orc in the dungeon.
Nay, notthe orc. He had a name…Kragorn. I found myself thinking of Kragorn, the Bloodfire chief who’d looked so defeated—up until the moment I’d touched him.
And I wasn’t justthinkingof him, was I?
