Allied (Ruined #3)(76)
“I want to see about getting some clothes for Iria,” he said. “Is that possible?”
“They provided some basic stuff to the Ruined, so check with Mariana. There are a lot of refugees from Gallego City and Westhaven in Royal City, so they’re stretched thin, but Cas is doing his best to get everyone basic necessities.”
He realized that the burst of annoyance that used to accompany any mention of Cas’s name had disappeared. “And you and Cas? Are you officially staying married?”
“Yes. We’d have to marry again, but we’d like to.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “I was hoping I could get your support on that. I think the other Ruined will follow your lead here.”
“Em,” he said gently. “Of course. It’s your choice.”
She looked a little surprised. “You’re sure? You told me once that he was nothing compared to me.”
“I was wrong. He’s not as strong as you, he’s not the natural leader you are, but he’s not nothing. He’s a good man, and you deserve to be happy. Everything you’ve done has been for the Ruined. We can let you have this.”
She got to her feet, crossed the room, and circled her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Aren.”
He laughed as he embraced her. “You must have known I wasn’t going to fight you on Cas. I just went to Olso to rescue a warrior.”
She was smiling as she pulled away from him. “I hoped. But I also would have understood if you told me I had certain responsibilities as queen.”
“You do, but we’re about to upend the entire Lera government, and probably our own as well. I’ll fight for you to marry Cas in the meetings, if that’s what you want.”
“It is, thank you.”
THIRTY-NINE
A DOCTOR VISITED Iria and examined her foot. He said she was healing fine, but she needed to stay off of it as much as possible for the next few days. Apparently he relayed this information to Cas, because a staff member showed up in her room with a pile of books, a tray of snacks, and a bell. She told Iria to ring it whenever she needed something.
Iria had pushed the bell across the nightstand. Her new personal goal was to never ring it.
She lay back on the pillows. Her foot hurt a little, but it had healed a lot on the journey from Olso to Lera.
She’d asked the doctor how long it would hurt, and he said not much longer, provided she rested and took care of it. She supposed that was good news, but she was having a hard time getting excited about it.
If the journey from Olso to Lera had taught her anything, it was that she wasn’t nearly as strong as she used to be. She couldn’t walk without limping, and that wouldn’t change once her foot healed. Her balance was off without toes to steady her, and she frequently almost fell on her face just trying to move from one place to another. Aren was constantly catching her, and it was humiliating.
This could have been good timing—she was no longer a warrior anymore—but it didn’t really feel like it. She wasn’t sure what skill she had if she couldn’t fight. Her loyalty to Olso felt thin at best after her time in prison, but it wasn’t like she could offer to help Cas. What was she going to do in Lera?
A knock sounded on the bedroom door. She’d left the sitting room door open so she wouldn’t have to get up when Aren returned. She called for him to come in.
The door opened to reveal Em, and Iria sat up a little straighter, surprised.
“Hello,” Em said. “You look terrible.”
“Thanks,” Iria said dryly, even though she knew it was true. She’d caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror after bathing. The bruises on her face were an ugly shade of yellow and blue, and she was gaunt and pale.
Em shut the door behind her and crossed the room to perch on the edge of Iria’s bed. “Who did that to you?” she asked, gesturing to Iria’s face.
“Cellmate.”
Em glanced around the room. “This used to be my room, you know.”
“I remember. Where are you now?”
“With Cas.”
Iria smiled. “Of course.”
“You didn’t come out for dinner last night. Are you hiding from us?”
“Just from you, actually.”
Em gave her a mildly annoyed look, her lips twitching.
“I’m resting.” She pointed to her foot. “I’m injured.”
“I heard it’s healing very nicely.” Em walked closer to the bed. “Do you mind if I take a look?”
Iria threw the blankets off to reveal her feet, the right one bandaged. Em perched on the edge of the bed and examined her feet.
“It could have been much worse,” Em said.
“That doesn’t really make me feel better.”
“Sorry.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Aren stepped inside a moment later. He wore fresh clothes, all evidence of their journey gone. He looked relaxed and handsome, his eyes lighting up when he looked at her.
“How are you feeling?” Aren asked. He’d visited her last night when the doctor was there, and peppered him with so many questions that the man seemed a bit aggravated by the time he left.
“Fine,” she said.
“I was just making her feel worse,” Em said.