Pain exploded through her shoulder again, like she had been shot a second time. She screamed through gritted teeth, surprised she had it in her.

‘I need pressure on that,’ Genevieve said.

Blackmane moved to the other side of Isabel. Her eyes followed him. She needed to see his face to know everything was all right.

‘It’s out,’ he said. ‘You did great.’

Isabel felt hot tears slide down her temples before her eyes sank shut.

‘Belle.’

That was Ita’s voice singing her name. There was instant comfort in hearing it, like stepping into a warm bath.

‘Open your eyes,’ Ita urged. ‘Look who’s here to see you.’

Isabel slowly peeled her eyes open and found an eagle mere inches from her face.

‘See?’ Ita said, sitting on the edge of the bed. ‘I told you she wasn’t dead.’

Margery turned her head back and forth, studying Isabel.

‘I agree.’ Ita nodded. ‘She does look like she’s been run over by a wagon three times and left to bleed out, but we must remember what my mother always used to say. Some thoughts are inside thoughts. Let’s not make her feel any worse.’

Isabel went to speak, but her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. It took a moment to work everything loose. ‘Water, please?’

Ita rose to fetch it. ‘As much as I’d enjoy watching you spill water all over yourself, we should probably get you sitting up first.’ She slid her hand beneath Isabel’s back and gently raised her up, stuffing a pillow behind her in the process.

Isabel looked down and saw one of her arms was in a sling.

‘Genevieve recommended you keep that on for a few days to avoid the temptation of using it and potentially reopening the wound.’ She poured some water and brought it to Isabel’s mouth.

Isabel emptied the cup, then looked around the unfamiliar room. ‘Where are we?’

‘Talgarth. They’ve turned the whole town into an almshouse for the injured.’ Ita smiled mischievously. ‘We did it, you know. We took the camp. The remaining guards were marched to the border.’ She glanced out the window. ‘And now everyone is moving about out in the open, above ground, without fear of being captured or having to pack up one’s life with a moment’s notice.’

Isabel watched Margery settle herself in the blankets, then rested her head back against the wall. It was amazing how exhausting the act of sitting still could be. ‘Did you really remove my family from Hampstead Keep?’

‘They removed themselves, really. I was just the messenger.’ She returned to the bed. ‘Though I think it took them a moment to accept what I was telling them.’

Isabel blinked up at the ceiling. ‘Did they go to my uncle’s?’