‘It didn’t work!’ he thunders, but Locke doesn’t seem overly perturbed.
‘It may take a little time for her memories to filter back in, but the conjure is gone.’
‘Make her sleep then!’ Morgan growls. ‘She’s slippery as a fish. I can’t hold her!’
All is quiet.I can hear birds chirping outside. I’m curled up on something soft, and I’m not sure I’m comfortable. I’d rather be in front of a warm stone hearth, I think as I yawn.
‘Bryn?’
I blink and see Morgan sitting on the bed. I give him a grin, still half asleep.
He smiles back, a little tentatively.
‘Is it time to get up?’ I ask, glancing at the closed casement.
He tenses a little when I look at it.
‘How do you feel?’
‘Fine. Why?’ I shift in the bed. ‘Well, except that my body aches. Everywhere.’
I sit up, closing my eyes, grasping the side of my skull with one hand. ‘My head hurts.’
‘That’s to be expected,’ I hear Locke say quietly.
He sounds different. I look at him. He stands by the hearth, watching me with wary eyes.
‘Where’s Jak?’ I ask.
‘He went to get some food,’ Morgan says. ‘He’ll be back soon.’
I nod and then I look around the room and frown. ‘Where are we?’
‘Merediea.’
I look down at the coverlet and rub my head, trying to think.
‘How…long have we been here?’ I ask carefully, feeling as if I’m coming out of a long dream.
‘Since yesterday.’ Morgan shifts closer and takes my hand. ‘But, Bryn, this is the second time you’ve been here. It’s been over two weeks since we all arrived here together. Do you remember that?’
‘Of course,’ I say, looking at him in confusion, and giving him a small smile. ‘But if so many days have passed, then where have I?—’
I feel the grin drop from my lips.
‘The pits,’ I whisper, letting out a harsh breath as I remember exactly where I’ve fucking been.
I pull my hand from Morgan’s and I stare at Locke.
I’ve never seen the mage before, I realize. Not really. I leave the bed, stalking toward him.
He at least has the decency to not look me in the eye.
‘I’m sorry, Bryn. I never meant?—’
I hit him with my closed fist in the side of his cheek and his head snaps to the side. He makes no move to defend himself. I hit him again, and again. And he just sits there in the chair.
I can’t see, I realize. I angrily dash my tears away.
