When the old man left, I straightened and my hands reached up, feeling my hopelessly tangled hair. I sighed, returning my gaze back to Frid.
“How can you turn without ripping your clothes?” I asked.
The girl stared at me, her eyes scrutinized my face. “What do you mean?”
“When I turn, my clothes are destroyed,” I explained. The girl lifted herself up on her elbows, eyeing me. “What?” I asked.
“You’re really not from here,” she said at last.
“No,” I said, noticing Frid shaking her head.
“Never mind,” the girl responded, “The clothes stay on, because of this,” she pointed at her light brown leather suit.
“Is it magic?” I asked.
“Yes, I suppose. Everyone gets a flying suit as soon as they can turn. No one wants to see you running around naked. Although, I’m sure the boys wouldn’t mind,” she added.
“Can I get one?” I felt my face turn bright red.
I hated asking her for favors, but it seemed like the only option.
“Sure, I’ll get it for you.” Frid closed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“Will you tell me what you did?” Frid turned to her side, watching me.
“I... I don’t think I did anything,” I responded.
Instead of answering, Frid gave me a long look.
The servants brought a bath and when it was finally filled with water, Frid was already asleep on top of her covers. A moment later the old man returned with a change of clothes for both of us. When he was gone, I approached the narrowmirror on the wall, looking at my messy hair and scratched up face. My hand lifted up, touching the dark circles under my eyes, and hollow cheeks. Slowly, I combed my hair with my fingers and took off my clothes, noticing the bruises and the frighteningly thin frame underneath. I stepped into the water enduring the burning of every wound on my skin.
My eyes returned to the sleeping girl on the bed. I had to get away from them. I needed to find my way back home. Even after everything Frid did for me, I could not forget that all of them had been ordered to escort me to another prison cell. I would rather die than go back to that. I bit my lip and picked up the bar of soap. The smell of fresh pine and lavender invaded all of my senses, but did little to calm my nerves. My mind was still racing. I did not yet know how to get away from the group, but I knew for sure that I was going to make a run for it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TYNAN
Ijust finished bathing and wrapped myself in a stale smelling towel when Erin walked into the room.
“We can get dinner here. They have a decent menu. What are those? Oh, man, you’re pretty scarred up,” he answered his own question.
I raised my eyes to him, saying nothing. I knew very well that I was stuck listening to his never ending monologue all evening and probably a good chunk of the night.
“You know, Ty, that’s a good thing. Girls love scars,” Erin continued.
“Is that right?” That was all the enthusiasm I couldmuster.
“I wish I had some,” Erin would not shut up.
I sighed and dropped my towel, picking up the change of clothes that the clerk brought for both of us. When I peeled off my flying suit, almost right away I felt bare and vulnerable. My mind could not easily switch off from being on duty and I saw myself fighting crawlers wearing the thin fabric of the dark brown pants and a matching shirt. It felt wrong. To top that, I could not have all my knives on me. The belt that normally attached itself to my waist like a second skin slid back and forth, annoying the hell out of me.
“What do you think about the girl?” Erin asked suddenly.
“What about her?” I stopped buttoning my shirt.
“And he speaks! No, I’m being serious. Why do you think she was in a high-security prison? She doesn’t look dangerous to me.” He lounged on the bed.
