Moira glanced behind her, debating for a moment. Then she sighed. “All right. For a little while.” She ran a hand over my hair tied in a loose braid. “Goodness knows you could use some sun.”
A few moments later, I was settled down in a wicker chair on the back porch, staring out at the calm waters of Lake Erie. Despite the warmth of the day, Mom brought me a blanket and wrapped it around my legs. Then she brought me tea and insisted I drink it.
“The doctor should be here soon,” my mother said, taking the seat opposite mine.
I took a long drink of the tea, surprised to find I didn’t hate it. Finally, I cleared my throat and said, “Is everyone okay? Did the island stay afloat?”
Mom sighed and crossed one leg over the other. “Yes and yes. What you did … it was amazing, although if you ever do something so dangerous again, I’ll ground you for life.”
I smiled, a part of me fully aware that she wasn’t joking.
“What do you remember?” Moira said.
I took another sip of tea and then gave her the best summary I could. It was hard talking about it, but only because I was tired and my throat sore from lack of use. “So what happened after the merkind saved me?” I asked when I came to the end of it.
“We took you to Vejovis. You were there a few days while the doctors treated your injuries. There were surprisingly few. Some burns on your arms and legs, mostly healed now and with very little scarring.”
I frowned and pulled up my shirtsleeve. The skin there was bright pink, like a newborn baby’s. I exhaled in relief. I’d gotten even luckier than I realized. But then I remembered that force that had wrapped around me as I fell—perhaps it wasn’t luck at all, but the sword.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
My mother swallowed, and her eyes looked wet. “Ten days.”
I sucked in a breath. That long? How was it possible? No wonder she was so relieved to see me up and about.
Mom turned her gaze toward the water. “The doctors worried you might not wake at all. I’m so glad you proved them wrong.”
“Me too.”
Mom turned back to me, smiling.
“But why am I here?” I motioned to her apartment.
“After that first week, the doctors said there was nothing left to do but wait and see. So I brought you here where I could keep a better eye on you. It’s also made it easier for your dad to visit. There are so many restrictions on ordinaries visiting Vejovis.”
I sat up. “Dad’s been here?”
“Everyone’s been here, Dusty. Eli and Selene have come by every day. Even half of the Magi Senate has come to visit you.”
I blinked, the mention of the Magi Senate setting my mind to racing. “What about Magistrate Kirkwood? Did they stop him?”
“Oh, yes.” A dark look crossed Moira’s face. “They arrested him and Gargrave while they were still on Lyonshold. They were on the outer island, along with some of the other senators. Titus pretended to be innocent of everything until he spotted Brackenberry’s men coming after him. Then he and Gargrave tried to flee, but they didn’t get very far.”
For the first time since I’d woken up, I felt good, happy even. I smiled. “Did Brackenberry haul them off to jail?”
Moira stood up. “I think I hear the doctor.”
I frowned. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“I’ll be back in a bit.” She turned and headed for the door.
“Wait, Mom.” I knew instinctively that she was avoiding the question. “What are you not telling me?”
Mom faced me, folding her arms across her chest. “I don’t want you to worry about it. Right now all you should be thinking about is getting better.”
I glared. “Don’t you dare try and do that. I have a right to know what happened.”
I could see the debate raging in my mother’s expression. Finally, she sighed and came back to her chair. “Gargrave is in jail along with his men.”
“And Kirkwood?”
Moira’s nostrils flared as she answered. “Titus Kirkwood is dead. He was murdered inside his cell in the jailhouse. And no, they don’t know who did it or why, but it’s a Magi concern. Not yours or Eli’s or Selene’s. No matter what you all might think.”
I would’ve laughed if the news hadn’t been so terrible. It seemed the Dream Team had been carrying on without me. A sudden powerful desire to see my friends came over me. “Can I use the phone? I want to tell them I’m awake.”
Moira looked away from me, her expression impatient again. “I’ll do it for you. But no visitors until the doctor clears you. I don’t care if Eli and Selene try to break down the door. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Good. Now sit out here and relax while I make you something to eat.”
The idea of my mother’s cooking filled me with a whole different kind of dread, but as she disappeared inside the house, I did as she asked, resting my head against the back of the chair. I was asleep again in moments.
* * *
The next time I woke it was to the sight of a doctor standing over me. The woman seemed nice enough, although her fingers felt like icicles when she had me raise my shirt so she could check my heart rate and breathing. Twenty minutes later she gave me a clean bill of health and a regimen of lots of bed rest and food for the next two weeks, and only approved visitors.
I shot a look at my mom as soon as the doctor had left.