Freydil was taller now, with long blonde hair that she wore in braids. She was six, perhaps? With her two top teeth missing, a few light freckles on her nose and cheeks, and a contagious smile, she looked adorable—and completely impish. Eugrid wore a white gown beneath a long green apron. Her belly bulged with a discernible baby bump. In her arms, she carried a tray laden with a fluffy loaf of bread and a dish of white butter. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the room, and it took a great deal of self-control for me not to grab it away from her.
“Olive,” Heidel said as she stopped beside me. “Are you well?”
“It seems so, although I haven’t eaten in several days.”
“Days?” Eugrid said and quickly gave me the tray of bread. I grabbed up the loaf and took a bite. Ambrosia couldn’t have possibly tasted as good as that bread at that very moment. Pacing myself was impossible, and I swallowed whole bites without chewing.
“You were imprisoned by the bloodthorn?” Heidel asked.
I nodded. “What happened to him?” I asked between bites.
“He escaped. We tracked him into the wild lands near the elf kingdom’s border and would have continued to track him, but—despite the crossing—our injuries failed to heal, and some of us had lost much blood. We were forced to return. Unfortunately, we don’t know where he plans to go next.”
“He’s going to Dragon Spine Mountain,” I said. “The entrance to the undiscovered land is atop its peak.”
“How do you know?” Heidel asked.
“Because he tried to make me take him there. He had almost succeeded when you and the others arrived and stopped him. How did you know where to find me?”
“The detective came to us while we were imprisoned. He grew concerned once he learned you were no longer being held captive in the same prison we were in, so he paid the money himself to free us. With help from the other officials, we were finally able to learn of your location.
“We feared we were too late once we discovered he had taken you away from the cabin, but it seems we found you in time.”
I pushed the empty tray aside and rested my head against the wood-beamed headboard, realizing that if they’d arrived only a few minutes later, I wouldn’t be here right now.
“What of the others? Has everyone else recovered?” I asked.
“Yes, for the most part. You sustained the worst injuries of us all.”
“I wasn’t sure what to do with you,” Eugrid said. “I have never seen such injuries before. Removing the chains from your wrists took much effort, and only with the help of the fairies’ magic was I able to remove them. I’m afraid your wrists have lost most of their skin. You will most likely have permanent scars.”
I rubbed the gauze covering my wrists, feeling a mixture of emotions—grateful that the chains were finally gone, angry that I would forever be reminded of my time held captive by the bloodthorn.
“Also,” Eugrid continued, “you were bleeding from your ears and nose as if you’d been compressed from the inside. I feared you were bleeding internally as well, so I administered a draught to clot your blood flow and give your body time to heal. It was an unnatural malady to say the least, and I wasn’t sure I could save you. But others had faith in my abilities, even if I did not, and so I continued to do what I could. When I feared all was lost, your body began to heal, and so it seems you have overcome this malady.
“When you feel ready, you may bathe in the extra chamber. I can find clothing for you, and towels as well.”
It was then I realized what I must look—and smell—like. I prayed the Wults were familiar with shampoo and toothbrushes. And toothpaste. I would die to have any of that right now.
“Yes,” I said, “I’d like to bathe as soon as I can.”
Freydil turned to her mother, looking concerned. “What of Kull?” she whispered. “Shouldn’t you tell her?”
Heidel and Eugrid traded wary glances at the mention of their brother.
“Tell me what?” I asked.
“We do not wish to concern you while you are still healing,” Eugrid said.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Rest first,” Eugrid said with a strained smile. “There’s no need to burden you now. You will learn soon enough.”
“I’d rather you told me now,” I said. “What’s the matter?”
No one answered, which made me wonder what had happened. The last time I’d seen him, his chest had been cut open. Since the portal had failed to heal my injuries, it was likely his hadn’t healed, either. Was he dead? They’d said everyone else had healed from their wounds, but perhaps he had other problems. What could possibly be wrong with King Skullsplitter?
“You said you’d like for me to rest,” I said, “except I don’t think I’ll be able to until you tell me what happened.”
Eugrid eyed me. “You’re concerned about him?”
“No. Not at all. That is—I mean… I do care about his well-being, of course. Who wouldn’t? He is the king after all, right?”
I cleared my throat as the three looked at me.
“Yes, but he is not your king,” Eugrid said, “so why do you show such concern for him?”
Oh for the love of…
“I am not showing concern.”
“Very well. If that is the case, I assume we can tell you about him later, after you have recovered.”
Eugrid was more infuriating than her brother, if that were even possible.
Heidel sighed. “She will find out sooner or later, Sister. We might as well be the ones to tell her.”
Eugrid rubbed her swollen belly. “Perhaps.”
“He has given away his crown,” Freydil said before the others could.
Her mother shot her a dark glare.
“Sorry,” she whispered to her mother, then clamped her hands over her mouth.
“Given away the crown?” I asked, confused. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he felt he’d allowed the bloodthorn to escape with the fairies’ stone, and so he
