Nightsong Chapter 14
I awoke with the Dawn, watching the sunrise through the window, enjoying the slight chill in the air on my skin. When the sun had finally risen, I began to dress. I unbound, brushed, and rebraided my hair. Lucy arrived as I tied the braid off with an elastic I'd found in my bag. "Good morrow, Lady Asya." She placed the tray of food she carried on the small bedside table.
I took the first bite of freshly baked bread and sighed with pleasure. It was still warm and Lucy had slathered the thick slice with fresh butter that was now melted and dripping down the sides. I quickly finished the first slice and started on the second, savoring it and eating it more slowly.
I realized for the first time in days, I felt truly refreshed. I allowed Lucy to help me dress in a very simple green gown. I walked slowly to Helen's room to check on her, she was sitting up in bed, Lord Breckon sitting on the bed's edge. They had been talking, but he went quiet when Helen crawled from under the covers and hopped off the bed, running to me and throwing herself into my arms.
I grinned down at her and laughed. Her eyes sparkled with health, her face was no longer pale, and her hair now held a shine and was no longer limp and lank. "You look lovely, Helen. So much better." I said, kneeling down to her height, running my hands over her hair. It felt so silky, and glinted blue-black in the light. She wrapped her arms around me and i lifted her up when I stood. I balanced her on my hip as I had done many other children when I had been a babysitter.
She snuggled into my side. Lord Breckon stood and walked to me. He took Helen from my arms and put her down. She stood beside me and took my hand in her tiny one. I smiled down at her once more. Lord Breckon just sighed.
"I must admit that she is much better. Your father asked me to return this to you so you would recover more quickly." He said and handed me my father's ring. The instant I touched it, the silver brightened and the opal flared with inner fire. I felt a strange pulling sensation that stopped when I put the ring on my finger, it seemed to glow even brighter. Not enough to give off true light, but enough to glow lightly. I smiled when I felt the ring begin to pulse in time with my heartbeat...it felt strange, but strangely felt right.
"Thank you." I looked at Helen and nearly fell over when instead of looking at her, I seemed to be looking through her. Her body was encased in an outer layer that seemed to glow a dull yellow, and i could see small red spots where there seemed to be cuts and bug bites. Inside there was the spinal system and the nerves that flowed outward, signals of pain ran along them. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, my vision was normal again.