CALM DOWN

Articus had turned to face the door when he heard the steward say there was a problem. But on seeing Selina, he jumped out of his seat, immediately on guard. He pulled out a chair and helped Selina into it, and then squatted down beside her.

King felt his chest tighten. He refused to think about it. He could not think about it. “What…what happened to you? Who did this to you?”

Selina looked up with bloody eyes, her breathing ragged like a captured animal that had thrown itself at its cage relentlessly. “The enemy attacked,” she replied weakly, her voice dry and scratchy.

Articus grabbed a pitcher of water and handed it to Selina but she shoved it aside, closing her eyes instead. Articus and King exchanged worried looks, then turned back to Selina.

“What enemy, Selina?” King asked cautiously. Selina’s eyes fluttered open and it took her some seconds to concentrate on King. She had suffered too much blood loss. He turned to the steward who remained at the door. “Send for the healer imme