Page 69 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

Taking deep breaths, I try to conceal my shudder. “How long was I asleep?”

“Two days.”

My eyes widen. “Two days?”

“We kept up your fluids; a healing liquid I devised that can be administered without choking unconscious patients.” She gives me a small smile as she continues. “But after this much time, I imagine you might wish to use the bathing room, yes?”

Damn, yes.

I nod. “I have so many questions.”

“Let’s take care of the practicalities first. Then I’ll tell you everything I can. But please, be assured, you’re safe here with us.” Miriam glances at the other women before she adds, “As long as you stay within this compound for now.”

At the narrowing of my eyes, she takes a deep breath. “I understand your instincts might be to leave as soon as you can. All I ask is that you wait and listen first so you understand what challenges await you and why we’d like you to stay. Can you do that?”

She isn’t wrong about my instincts.

While we’ve been talking, I’ve taken a quick study of the room: Simple clay walls, softly lit. A large rug on the floor. The pallet I’m lying on, while cozy, is accompanied only by a small, low table no higher than the bed. There’s no other furniture.

I rapidly consider the women, at least ten whom I can see. They spill through the door, all of them seeming at great pains not to crowd me, even though they wear a tension around their eyes that I can’t dismiss.

“I won’t run,” I say.

“Thank you, Oracle.” Miriam reaches for me. “Let me help you up.”

I accept her assistance to get back to my feet, leaning heavily on her, taking a long moment to regain my balance and bearings.

While the other women step aside, Miriam helps me across the room and through the door.

I’m surprised to step directly out into a wide garden. The circular space is filled with flowers and plants of kinds I’ve never seen before, some bright green, others brilliant purple, and still others in all shades of pink. Other buildings like the one I stepped from surround the garden. Footpaths meander down the side of each.

In the distance, I make out wooden walls that stretch all the way up to the ceiling, which appears to be made of clay. The ceiling soars overhead, not so low as to feel confining while high enough that I have the strange sensation of having stepped outside, but also not outside.

My forehead creases and Miriam’s hands tighten around me. So far, she hasn’t made any comment about my armor, even though she’s in close contact with it.

“The enclosed feeling in this place may take some getting used to,” she says, “but I promise you’ll adjust sooner than you think.”

She continues to describe my surroundings as she leads me along the path and through the garden. “This compound is made up of seventeen homes, all interconnected around this central garden and accessible via the footpaths you can see between the huts. Up ahead, we have a communal bathing center.” She gives me a brief smile. “It’s a little bit of a walk if you need to use the bathing room in the night, but don’t worry, we have separate toilet rooms.”

Oh, good.

I take note of multiple raised platforms set within the garden, none more than a single step up from the ground, each one scattered with large, plush cushions and little low-lying tables. Places to gather.

Several of the tables are set out with cups and pots of what could be tea, all steaming, as if my awakening interrupted the women in the middle of refreshments.

Now that I’m outside the room, I can count the women more accurately: sixteen plus Miriam. They’re all highborn, their skin flawless and eyes bright, each wearing golden jewelry and silken clothing. The faint lines on their faces indicate they’re at least in their fourth decade, if not older.

What strikes me most clearly is that they carry themselves like queens, regal and dignified.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“These women are known as the Mothers,” she replies with a small smile. “I will explain everything shortly. You must take care of yourself first.”

I can’t argue with that. We’ve reached another building, from within which comes the bubbling of water that only makes my need for a bathing room more urgent.

As I hurry into the communal area, finding my balance stronger, I’m taken by the beauty of the bathing area, a reminder of the rock pools in the Alak-Teah. Except that this place isn’t steaming with heat.

A glistening rock pool of varying depths is surrounded by wooden decking, but I can’t stop to admire it.