GIS

l physician and his team tried to co

he re

d itself. The sight of it shattered something inside me. What had she been through to react this way? What kind of hell had she sur

my hair in frustration, and

t stubbornly assumed she'd be anywhere but there... Would I have

t my insides like

when I carried her back to the palace. She had been unconsciou

e bath, careful not to jostle her. i had wanted so badly t

ore of her autonomy while she was defenseless, made me si

female staff members, ordering them to tend t

thing else, I caught glimpses of her scars. So many of them running like rivers from

iving being should possess. Her skin was sallow, almost translucent under the soft lighting,

he ra

yone daring to harm her...It was not the righteous

shook my head sharply, forcing myself back to the present. I watched

r own sake," Maravek, the royal physician, coaxed gently. B

e bed, making sure my movements were slow and n

mured, keeping my voice low, "nobody here is go

a skepticism there so raw, so cutting, it felt like a bla

avy sigh, forcing my

nued, "the royal physician

over there," I gestured subtly with my head, "He's Lupercus,

r to feel the weight of my

d my life...They won't touch you in any way

tting her see every ounce of

rocking. Her trembling hands slid down

realized I was holding

k a silent no

softly, giving her a

ke one might approach a wounded, cornered creature. He took her vital signs first, using her wri

ibbled something onto his notes. He move

a weighing scale. Then came her height measurem

g her like fragile glass. Maravek managed, after

oom filled with a foul ste

chipped, her gums receded so far back

kles turned white, barely restraining

notes, I felt like I

ple

el

proof of her torment u

nses. Her reactions were sluggish and her ref

ple questions, trying to co

remained

rouching to her level, "I just w

s, alright? Nod twice for

numbers, you can show

hat

odded

intly. "Do you understand

her

ways been un

ook he

ast time you us

her frail hands, and she slowly,

re

e ye

e, of suffering so profound that she had lost her voice and h

ing still, who e

w old you are?"

ony hands. Two fingers on one ha

nty

nd yet her eyes had seen more darkness

our name?" Mar

no

rite it do

her

ed Maravek a notepad and a pen

rembling hand grasp the pen. Her grip was awkward, almost painful to watch,

pad back to Maravek, dropping her hand

down at the note,

e guessed t

ook he

Marine?" he tried a

shake of

ion was practically built around the most incomprehensible handwriting known to man, prescription

im. Her handwriting was rough like a toddler just learning how to

d, trying to m

I mutter

e bed, sh

softly, tasting the n

ave an aw

he apologized gently. "F

s. I watched silently, with my hands clenched behind my back, while inside my mind spun violentl

king up his tools, and the

ed, casting a

ed with a respectful bow. "If I may, I would lik

. "Let's talk in m

ng guard in the shadows. "Assign Hasmik to her,"

d swiftly exited the ro

the bed again, her small form nearly swallowed by the massive mat

mured quietly, though I do

as no r

f the room, my heart was heavy with rage so consuming, it was a

And by the gods, they would wish fo