Page 5 (1/2)

Thea stood bolt upright and positioned herself byher body squarely in my path “Please Mr Graves Hear me out Hear the Lorica out I know it’s a lot to take in”

I crooked an eyebrow and cringed through the pain as I forced myself into a seated position God, evenskeptical, Thea, but this is all just – ”

“Our healers have been working round the clock to keep you stable, but their work isn’t done Let me assure you, Mr Graves If you leave the premises in your current condition, you will die”

That took the steais that I actually am alive”

“Yes Through whatever so

rcery that dagger was corrupted with, you only appeared to be dead”

“So I’o back to ue, the authorities And then there was my father Could I tell them all that it was just a mistake?

But the door creaked open Rather, a door, since I hadn’t noticed it before, so seaainst the immaculate uniforh, this one younger, smaller, and certainly lasses worn by the kind of girl who thought she wasn’t pretty enough for contacts

“Thea,” she said, her voice barely a squeak “I’m here”

Thea’s mouth quirked into half a sirl’s direction, favoring rin “Yes, Berta I can tell” Then she turned her body fully on ain “Mr Graves, this is Berta She’s the cleric IWill you at least let her look at your wound before you go?”

I looked at Berta, then at Thea, then down at thewas painful, andanswers – ave in

“Fine,” I said, maybe a little too firmly because Berta jerked at the sound ofher the tiniest smile

I sat up gingerly as she began the unenvious task of unwrapping es Even with her hair in her face I could tell that her cheeks were reddening I noticed that Thea was staring at my chest, too, and only then realized how naked I was I cleared my throat and looked to the far end of the roo into an alabaster void I hopedred

“There’sthe silence

“There couldn’t possibly be”