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The female stared at her, holding a basket between her hands. A chain still dangled between her wrists and bruises crawled up her arms like tattoos.
Zylah didn’t move when Arianna started toward her, but when the Fae followed, the female ducked her head in their presence. Her body trembled slightly, but somehow Arianna knew it wasn’t because of her.
She beckoned Eoghan over and lowered her voice. “Is there a place we can go that’s a little more private?” Arianna didn’t know what to expect, but Eoghan pivoted on his heel and she followed, gesturing Zylah to follow as well. The warriors surrounding them didn’t growl at the half-breed as they might have once done. If fact, she hadn’t noticed much aggression toward the slaves at all. Perhaps she really could make a difference.
“This is as good as I can do, my lady.” He pulled back a tent flap and Arianna stepped inside. Someone kept a tidy space, with a raised bed stuffed into a corner and a large wooden trunk at its side.
She scented the interior and turned to him. “This is where you sleep?”
“Where I used to sleep.” Used to. Did he never leave the cabin door? Maybe she could convince someone to take shifts with him. Why hadn’t she considered it before?
“Thank you.” Arianna held the flap open, and Zylah ducked past her and Eoghan. She made a point to stand in the center of the room. Arianna let the flap fall and the tent darkened. Their only light was a small opening in the roof.
Zylah cradled her elbow. “I was surprised when you shifted into a Fae, but this—”
“I’m still the same female you took under your wing when I arrived.”
“Should I bow to you?” She unfolded her arms, but Arianna rushed forward and gently took her hands.
“I think you’ve bowed enough for one lifetime.”
Zylah stared at their wrists. One clasped in iron, the other with scars. “Why did you want to talk?”
“I wanted to see if you were okay.”
Zylah gave her a weak smile, but her lips trembled. “I’m alive.”
Arianna eyed her bruises. “Can I heal them?”
“I—sure.”
Arianna placed her hand around Zylah’s arm and her magic heated the female’s skin. Zylah sucked in a breath, and she watched the dark spots on her skin fade to yellow then vanish, the magic working its way up past her elbow. Arianna did the same with the other side.
“Anywhere else?”
“This—I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
Arianna took her hands again. “No, thank you. Without you, I might not have made it past my first day.”
“Is he kind to you? Please tell me he doesn’t hurt you.”
“He doesn’t hurt me. Quite the opposite actually.”
“I heard his speech the other day. Do you think he’ll let you return home when the time comes?” Right, because she couldn’t stay in this camp forever.
“I think so.” Arianna tightened her grip on Zylah’s hands. “And I want you to come with me.”
Zylah’s eyes widened. “I can’t leave the others.”
“Then we’ll take them too. I have a feeling the Fae here won’t argue against it.”
“Taking advantage of your position already.” Zylah’s playfulness didn’t quite reach her eyes but Arianna was glad the female felt comfortable enough around her to try.
“I want to change things. Starting here. I want to make this land a better place for everyone. Would you—Do you think you could help me with that?”
Zylah furrowed her brow. “What do you need?”
Arianna glanced at their hands again. “First, to get these chains off. Then I need you to gather the slaves.”
