Easing out of bed, he stretched this way and that, trying to loosen strained muscles without opening up any stitches, then gave himself a cold basin bath, hazarding a look in the mirror as he washed. It wasn’t a pretty sight. At least the bandages weren’t soaked through anywhere today. He slowly dressed himself for the city in a fine coat and boots, slipped his tool roll inside his shirt, and buckled on his sword. As he stood before the looking glass again, he was acutely aware of the empty space behind him. Where was Alec and what was he up to?

Seregil ran a comb carefully through his butchered hair and skillfully tied on the silk headscarf Kordira had given him. His fingers remembered the necessary tasks; the scarf did make a passable sen’gai. It was even almost the right color for Bôkthersa. He closed his eyes a moment, considering, then took it off and tied it more simply over his head. He looked like a corsair now, not an Aurënfaie clan member. He had no right to claim that anymore.

Clean and dressed, he decided to see if he could make it downstairs on his own. It was slow going. Kordira had been right when she said he needed another day’s rest, but that was not an option. And, he reasoned, perhaps he could pry something more out of Zella on the journey.

He made it to the kitchen, surprising Sabriel and Khiria.

“Good morning!” the cook exclaimed, coming around the kneading bench to look him over. “You’re a sight, my dear. Should you be up?”

“I’m up, and I’ll be leaving today for Deep Harbor. Khiria, I’ll need a small clothes chest packed and loaded into the carriage I saw in the barn last time I was here. Do I have a coachman?”

“Yes, Erian is one of those who came back here,” the housekeeper told him. “I’ll see to all that. Is there anything else before I go?”

“Have any more ’faie come here for shelter?”

“Seventeen since you were last here,” Khiria replied. “We’ve had to start putting them up in the empty cottages.”

“Build more if you have to. Make them comfortable, too. Cost is no matter. I’ll greet the newcomers when I pass through again.”

“There’s a few like me among them, if you take my meaning,” said Sabriel.

Seregil raised a brow. “Magic? That does bear looking into. Thank you for telling me. Please let them know that I value their talents. Lady Zella will be accompanying me, and the doctor. Have they eaten?”

“They’re in the dining room now,” said Khiria. “Breakfast is laid out there.”

Seregil found Zella still pale and bruised, but dressed and looking considerably better.