He smelled dead leaves and incense. Something scratchy and cold as a dead leaf stroked his cheek. He could feel! Slowly he came back into his body. He was warm, and lying on something very soft. Something wet and delicious flowed over his tongue. He swallowed, choked, and opened his eyes.

He was in a fancy bedchamber lit by lots of candles. A beautiful lady in a red velvet gown sat on the edge of the bed where he lay, smiling down at him and holding a clay cup and small wooden spoon. She had thick, wavy black hair so long it almost touched the counterpane where she sat. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch it; he’d never seen hair like this before.

“There you are, child,” she said. “I was so worried about you! Here, have some more cider. It’s nice and cool.”

She dipped the spoon in the cup and gave him another sip.

“More, please,” he whispered with dry, cracked lips.

“Of course, my dear, but not too much at first.” She gave him a few more spoonfuls, and each one made him feel better and better. He still felt terribly weak, as he had out on the road, but he wasn’t thirsty anymore, and that was a blessing. His arm didn’t hurt, either.

“Where am I?” he croaked.

“You are in my castle, my dear.”

“Castle?”

She laughed softly. “You may not think so much of it, when you are up and about, but someday I will have a proper castle again. My name is Queen Rhazat. What’s yours?”

“Mika of Rhíminee, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, Rhíminee. And where is that?”

“In Skala, my lady. It’s the greatest city in the Three Lands.”

“I see.” She offered him another spoonful of cider, and he swallowed it gratefully. “Do you want to sleep some more, my dear?”

“No, I was having a bad dream.”

She gave him a sympathetic look as she stroked his cheek with cool fingers. “I have those, too.”

He sat up and looked around. He was in a big fancy bed in a large bedchamber with lots of silk hangings and lady furniture. It was a nice room, with pretty hangings. A tall window across from the bed showed nothing but darkness.

“Where am I, Majesty?” he asked. Had the place of dead grass and grey sky been part of his bad dream?

“You are in my tower, as I told you. There’s a bathing tub in the next room, and some clothes laid out for you. A big boy like you doesn’t need help washing, does he?”

“No, Majesty!” Mika replied, blushing.

“Very well, then. Take your bath, then come downstairs, all the way to the bottom. Just follow the corridor to the second room on the right and we’ll have a lovely supper.” With that she kissed him on the brow and swept out of the room.