I distanced myself from this window, for the creaking and groaning of the boards continued on, increasing in intensity and frequency, until I was certain someone was attempting to enter. Perhaps my sentence was lifted! Or perhaps it was the frog-man, Cranley, and I would have no choice but to become a murderess after all.

But the boards fell away, one at a time, and when at last I dared to peek out the window, there was no one present. Who could have done this and then vanished? No ladder was present, no rope or grappling hook. The fact that there was no explanation made my chest unbearably pained.

But alas, the window was open. And that meant I could escape. But I no longer had a rope made of linens and dresses to aid my descent. How would I get myself down to the ground without breaking my neck?

<<Aurelie>>, Liza appeared beneath me on the ground below, her head tilted up to see me. <<Aurelie, you must come at once. It is the Gangly Human, Niall. He needs you>>.

I pointed down to the ground such a far distance away from where I stood.

In response, Liza put her arms out. <<It is half moon. I believe I have enough strength to catch you>>.

That was all I needed to hear. I squeezed myself through the narrow window and aimed for the female pyre, my skirts flying chaotically around me like the wings of a bird—or perhaps more like a bat—as I fell through the night air.

Liza caught me with a grunt and set me on my feet. <<They have taken down the boards and let you out of your prison>>?

So it was not Liza who magically removed the boards from the window? Then who? Then how?

She took my hand and ran with me to the forest, dodging trees and lifting her skirts over thick, curling roots until she stopped at a large tree.

Niall sat with his back to the trunk of that large tree, his head hung into his hands. I hurried to him and knelt before him, lifting his face. It was destroyed, that beautiful, kind face. Bruises and gashes and swelling taking the place of his wide smile and clever gaze.

“Aurelie, no, Cousin, why have you come here? You should not be seen with me. It will be detrimental for you.” He mumbled his words past split, puffed lips. “Take her home , Liza, or she will be…reprimanded.”

But Niall had not been reprimanded . He had been devastated. I looked to Liza, wondering why she had not taken him to Sylvie, who could at least begin his healing process with a simple touch of her pyre hands.

Just then, a sob left Niall’s thin body, lurching him forward and into my arms. I held on to him while he wept this way, his head causing my damaged shoulder to throb.