I noted her use of the past tense. If Estrid kept expanding, then it was more than a possibility that the Fifteen Realms would cease to exist outside of stories. Pain bit down on my intestines as the wasting disease settled deep in my guts.

Nyrie sat up. Her warm brown eyes glowed. “My stomach doesn’t hurt,” she marveled.

Releasing her hand, I said to the nanny, “Don’t let her eat too much or else she’ll throw it up. Start with soups for a day, then gradually increase to thicker food.” I turned to Jael. “Is there some place I can lie down?”

“Of course. There’s a guest room.” She led me to another opulent room.

I slipped into the bed. Despite the needle-sharp pains in my lower stomach, I enjoyed how the mattress cushioned my back and the comforting weight of the supple blanket over me. Now this was luxury.

“Can I get you anything?” Jael asked.

“Nothing for now, but in about five or six hours I would like more of that tea.”

Only when she left did I wonder what happened to my knapsack, new cloak and weapons. Those thoughts led to Kerrick and the others. What were they doing? Was Belen organizing a rescue? I worried about them, but it wasn’t long before the fight to cure the disease consumed all my energy.

When I woke hours later a servant appeared with a pot of tea. She fetched more when I had drained it, and then brought me a tray overflowing with food. As soon as the scent of hot stew reached me, I felt ravenous. I devoured the stew, bread and cheese in no time.

After the girl cleared the tray, she waited for more instructions. The girl looked to be about thirteen. She wore an acolyte’s ruby-colored robe. I wondered if she had applied for this job or been conscripted.

Not wanting to start with personal questions, I asked, “Do you know where my knapsack has gotten to?”

“What do you need it for?”

“I’d like to change my clothes.”

“Would you like me to draw you a bath?”

I froze. “A bath as in a bathtub?”

“Yes, miss.”

“That would be wonderful.”

She smiled at my enthusiastic response. When she finished filling it, I eyed the tub as if it was the peaceful afterlife.

“I’ll still need clean clothes,” I said.

“Yes, miss. While you’re soaking, I will inquire about your effects.”

“Thank you.”

This time her grin included surprise before she darted from the room. Poor girl acted like she had never been thanked before.

I shed my smelly clothes and dipped a foot into the steaming water. All thoughts about the servant, my situation, Noelle, Kerrick, Belen and Jael disappeared as I sank into paradise. Lulled by the warm water, I dozed.

When the girl returned, I jerked awake. She carried my knapsack. “The High Priestess wishes to see you, miss. Do you have appropriate attire for a meeting with the Blessed One?”

The Blessed One? “What is considered appropriate?”

“Not travel clothes, miss. An acolyte’s robe would be best.”

“I have a skirt in my pack.”

“I can fetch you a robe.”

“No, thanks. I prefer my own clothes.”

She clutched my knapsack a little tighter to her chest.

“Would the High Priestess be upset with you if I showed up wearing inappropriate attire?”

“Don’t worry about me, miss. I’m just—”

“In a bad situation and trying to survive? Forced to be a servant for the High Priestess’s family to avoid being sent to a training camp?”

“I…”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Inari, miss.”

“Inari, how about a compromise?”

She gazed at me in astonishment.

“I’ll wear my skirt and tunic, but I’ll wear the robe like a cloak.”

Inari considered.

“And I’ll let you do my hair.”

The clincher. She brightened. “That would be acceptable, uh, yes, miss.” Setting my pack down, she grabbed a towel and held it out for me.

I stepped from the tub, turning so she could wrap it around my shoulders.

Inari gasped. “Your back…”

Probably looked horrid. “Doesn’t hurt.” Curious, I asked, “What color are the marks?”

“A deep red, almost purple.”

Farther along than they should be. At least, that’s what I thought, having no real experience with such deep lacerations. I examined the scars on my stomach. It had been about forty days since I healed Belen. Visible but not red, the puckered skin shone a bit lighter than my beige skin.

Inari drew the towel around me. “Who would do such a thing to you?”

“I did it to myself.”

The girl covered her mouth with both hands. I suppressed a grin. She was too young to remember when healers had been respected. When all the big cities had at least one healer who lived and worked there.

“I healed a…” What to call Kerrick? Not a friend. “Someone who had been whipped.” By the High Priestess’s soldiers, but I didn’t want to increase Inari’s apprehension. Instead, I explained how my magic worked as I dried and dressed in my green skirt and yellow tunic.

Inari swept up my hair into an elegant knot. She pulled a few tendrils down and curled them with a hot iron rod. Then she fetched a robe and soft leather shoes. I eyed the shoe heel. Not too bad, but I wouldn’t be able to run far with those things on.