The blows stopped. The pain remained. Ilanna floated in a haze of agony. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly, gasping, trying to speak.
Sabat knelt over her, toying with her knife. "I think I'll keep this. The perfect reminder of what happens when you cross a Bloodbear."
Slipping the dagger into his belt, he stood and retrieved the cloth. His eyes never left hers as he wiped the blood—her blood—from his knuckles. He threw the soiled rag at her and spat. "Be seeing you around, Hawkling."
She couldn't think, couldn't speak, couldn't even cry. Too…much…pain. With a quiet groan, Ilanna welcomed the embrace of unconsciousness.
Chapter Thirty
"Ilanna?" The voice sounded distant, faint. "Can you hear me, Ilanna?"
Pain, more than she'd felt in her entire life, rendered her immobile. Agony flashed through every fiber of her being. She could barely moan, a pitiful sound.
"She's awake!"
She croaked. "W-Wa…ter." Her lips felt thick, her jaw at an awkward angle.
Cool liquid trickled into her mouth, wetting her parched tongue and throat. She coughed.
"Easy, Ilanna." The familiar voice soothed her panic.
Her eyes refused to focus. "D-Denber?" Darkness filled her world.
"I'm here. Prynn, Bert, Jarl, and the twins, too. We're all here."
"Wh-what…happened?" She tried to lift her head. Everything hurt too much to move.
"We were hoping you could tell us that. Elmar said he found you broken and bleeding in an alley, but there was no sign of your attacker."
Ilanna coughed, tasted copper. She raised a hand to wipe away the blood, but a paralyzing wave of pain washed over her. A weak cry burst from her lips.
"Easy." A gentle hand wiped her lips with a cloth. "Don't try to move. Bert, go fetch Tyman, now!"
Footsteps retreated and a door closed.
Denber's face hovered above her. "Who was it, Ilanna? Who did this to you?"
What happened? Why does everything hurt so much? Ilanna tried to remember. Agony overwhelmed her, numbing her mind. She couldn't think through the fog. A face filled her mind's eye. Leering, snarling, slavering, with heavy-lidded eyes and thick cheeks. The memory slammed into her with gut-wrenching force.
"S-Sabat…" She choked out the word and dissolved into tears. Sobs sent fresh spasms of agony coursing through her.
"Go," Denber said.
Jarl grunted and the heavy tread of his boots moved away.
Fear twisted in her gut. "Wh-where am I?"
Denber's hand felt warm on her shoulder. "You're safe, Ilanna. You're in your bed, in the Aerie. We're here to protect you."
She tried to raise her head to look around. "I can't see!" Try as she might, she couldn't push the darkness from before her eyes.
"Your eyes, they're swollen shut. The bones of your cheek and brows broke. Your arms and legs, too."
"Move aside, move aside. Let me see my patient." The commanding voice belonged to Journeyman Tyman. A cool hand rested on her forehead. "How do you feel, girl?"
Ilanna coughed. Pain lanced her ribs and stomach, eliciting a groan and a fresh wave of blood.
"Silly question, of course. Don't try to move, girl. Your arms and legs are splinted, your ribs bound. Now, I hate to do this, but I must. It's going to hurt." Something sharp prodded her stomach and she cried out. "Easy, young Hawk. Just checking for signs of internal damage. Your organs took quite the beating."
"How bad is it, Journeyman?" Denber sounded worried.
"Thankfully, the worst is over. The week of rest has done her good."
A week? She could remember none of it. She remembered nothing but the pain.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "H-how much longer?"
Tyman snorted. "If you so much as set foot outside this bed for the next six weeks, I'll break every bone in your body myself."
Six weeks? But my training… She hadn't the energy to protest. At the moment, she wanted nothing more than to sleep. Perhaps sleep would drown out the agony.
"Rest now, child. Listen to your body and let it heal. But first, drink this." Tyman pressed a cup to her lips.
She swallowed, grimacing at the bitter taste.
"Good! She's showing signs of life again."
"Thank you, Journeyman." Denber sounded relieved.
"Of course, Denber. You know my fee."
"Yes, sir."
Journeyman Tyman's hand rested on her forehead once more. "Sleep, child. Doctor's orders."
Ilanna complied, too exhausted to do otherwise. Blind and helpless, she floated in a sea of pain, until Tyman's draught dragged her into merciful unconsciousness.
* * *
Every bone and muscle in Ilanna's body ached. Sweat dripped down her forehead and stung her eyes. She tried to move, but the splints and bandages held her fast.
Faces danced in her vision. She could not see through her swollen eyes, but the images played over in her mind. She saw the leering face of Sabat as he beat her. She stared horrified at the lifeless, unseeing eyes of Nine, the tyro turned prostitute. She watched the rats tear at the parchment-thin face of the corpse that had once been her father.
Sleep eluded her. She needed the fresh, chill air of the rooftops, but was trapped down here in the tunnels. The heat stifled her. She couldn't breathe. Panic set her heart drumming a frantic beat. Her pulse rushed in her ears and she gasped for air.
Something damp and cool rested on her forehead. "Easy, Ilanna."
That voice! "E-Ethen?"
"It's me. I'm here." His hand felt cool in hers.
"W-What are you doing here?" Her parched tongue struggled to form the words. "You're not a Hawk."
"Denber sent for me. We've been taking turns caring for you."
"We?"
"The other Hawks and me. Even Elmar and a few of his Foxes came to visit."
Ilanna's face flushed, sending a fresh wave of pain through her skull. I never wanted them to see me like this. Especially not Ethen.
"Don't worry, Ilanna. They're worried about you. They wanted to see how their 'little killer' was faring."
Ilanna chuckled, but she broke off coughing at the pain in her stomach, ribs, and chest.
"I've brought you something. Here." Something soft and velvety brushed against her fingertips. It smelled so sweet and so familiar. "It's a viola. One of yours. I brought it here from the garden."
"Y-you've been visiting the garden?"
"Whenever I can. It means so much to you, I had to help you take care of it."
Warmth flooded Ilanna and a smile touched her lips. "Th-thank you, Ethen." She wanted to squeeze his hand, but the splints held her broken arms immobile.
"Of course, Ilanna. Anything for you."
Silence stretched out. Ilanna had no words to express the gratitude she felt. His presence meant more than he realized. More than she could say.
"Do you know what this little flower can do?"
Ilanna shook her head. Even that small movement proved painful.
"Well, many people use it to treat fevers and it's known to be a useful remedy for snake bites. It neutralizes the venom before it kills and stops the swelling. Many people use it to stop wounds from growing infected and…"
Ilanna breathed deep, basking in the comforting warmth of his presence. His quiet voice pushed back the faces, soothing her into sleep.
* * *
The door to the bunk room swung open and Denber strode in. "Well, look who's awake and sitting up in bed. How are you feeling?"
Ilanna gave Denber a weak smile, which turned into a grimace. "Like I've been run over by every horse and carriage in Praamis."
"Sounds about right." He grinned. "Thank the Watcher your sense of humor hasn't faded."
Ilanna grinned, then groaned. "Everything hurts. My face worst of all." In the week since Tyman's last visit, the swelling around her eyes had gone down, but the bones in her cheeks and jaw hadn't healed. She dreaded looking into a mirror; she had no desire
to see the mass of bruises and cuts on her face.
Denber seemed to "Give it time. You'll be all healed up and back to your normal self soon enough."
"I can't thank you enough, you know."
Denber turned away, his cheeks flaring.
"I mean it. You found me, didn't you? You brought Tyman, even Ethen. I'm getting through this..." Her voice cracked and she swallowed. "It's thanks to you."
He shrugged. "You're a Hawk, Ilanna. We take care of our own." His eyes refused to meet hers and his expression tightened. "I-I just came to tell you I won't be around as much."
Her heart sank. "Why not?"
"My nameday came last week." He turned away and spoke in a low voice. "My seventeenth."
Already? Has it really been six months since my last nameday? Everything that had happened before—training, learning the rooftops, the Alamastri job—seemed a distant memory.
Denber ran a hand through his hair. "I've started my Undertaking. It's been hard, but I've managed to squeeze in a visit every day. Now that you're feeling better, I have to focus."
She wanted to ask what the Undertaking was, but held her peace. If he wanted me to know, he would have told me.
"I-I'll miss you, Denber."
"And you, Ilanna." He squeezed her shoulder. "Take care of the others for me, will you? Jarl is in charge, but I need you to keep an eye out for them."
She rested her cheek on his hand. It felt…right. She had no other way to express the way she felt for him. He'd looked out for her since the beginning, treated her better than the others.
He removed his hand from her shoulder and, with a final backward glance, strode from the room.
A lump rose in Ilanna's throat. She had no words to say. She winced as the door shut behind him. Alone, in the silence of her room, she yielded to the flow of tears. Her world suddenly seemed hollow, empty. She hadn't felt like this since Mama died. Would she ever see Denber again or would he leave forever, as Mama had?
She allowed herself to wallow in her emotions. She hadn't let herself feel since Sabat attacked her. Now, it seemed as if she'd lost the one good thing in her life.
Ethen's face flashed through her mind. No, she reminded herself. I still have him. And the garden.
The door opened and she dashed a final tear from her cheeks. Jarl slipped into the room, moving with grace surprising for his size. Without a word, he lowered himself into the chair beside her bed and took her small hand in his.
Ilanna's eyes darted to the abrasions, bruises, and scrapes on his hand. None of the Hawks had mentioned where they came from, but somehow she knew.
She met his gaze. "Did you make him suffer?"
Jarl nodded. "Squealed like a pig."
Ilanna smiled and lay back on the pillow, closing her eyes. She didn't release Jarl's huge hand. She needed the comfort of his presence. Without him, she'd feel utterly alone.
* * *
Master Hawk shook his head. "I brought it before the other House Masters, but they all agree. There's nothing we can do."
"Why not?" Fury boiled in Ilanna's chest. "This isn't right!"
Jarl stood behind Master Hawk, arms crossed, face impassive. Prynn, Bert, and the twins surrounded her bed. They made no attempt to hide their anger.
The House Master held up a hand. "Ilanna, I understand your frustration, but what can I do?"
She bared her teeth. "Make him pay for what he did."
He arched an eyebrow. "And do you have any proof? Any witnesses?" He turned to the other Hawks. "Any of you lot witness it?"
The apprentices shook their heads.
"I already told you, no one saw but him and his Bloodbears!" Ilanna clenched her fists, ignoring the pain in her healing forearms. The broken bones hadn't fully mended.
"Then it would be your word against his." Master Hawk crossed his arms. "That is not enough."
Anger burned within Ilanna and her eyes brimmed with tears of frustration. "B-But look at me! Is that not proof enough?"
Master Hawk held up a talon-like finger. "If there was even one of the Bloodbears willing to corroborate your story, it would be different. But every member of the Fifth Claw claims Sabat was with them." He snorted. "To hear them tell it, he was in five different places at once.
Ilanna growled. Of course the Bloodbears are protecting him! He's one of them.
"There is no denying your suffering, Ilanna. But there is nothing I can do." He shrugged. "The laws of the Guild are clear."
Ilanna swallowed her angry retort. Making Master Hawk angry isn't going to do anything. She clenched her teeth and, with effort, spoke in a calm voice. "Thank you, Master Hawk."
"For what it's worth, I truly am sorry. If you had even a shred of proof, I'd have the little cunt beaten to within an inch of his life." He tilted his head toward Jarl. "But from what I hear, the boy suffered something of an…accident not long ago. Slipped down a flight of steps?"
Jarl grunted with a hint of a smile.
"Let that be enough." Master Hawk's expression darkened. "For now."
Ilanna nodded and forced her fists to relax. "As you say, Master."
"Get well, apprentice." With a nod, Master Hawk strode from the room.
None of the apprentices spoke for a long while. Prynn broke the silence. "W-We're sorry, Ilanna. We tried."
"Don't be sorry." Ilanna scrubbed at her eyes. She would not let them see her cry, no matter how angry she felt. "You did what you could. Now, if you don't mind, all this excitement has left me very tired."
Prynn forced a smile. "Of course. We'll be back with dinner."
"Get well, Ilanna." Bert smiled and followed Prynn from the room.
"You'll be flying in no time." Werrin grinned and Willem nodded.
Jarl said nothing, but squeezed her hand. For him, that was eloquence enough.
The door shut behind the big Hawk. Ilanna lay in bed, alone in the silence of her empty room. The look in Master Hawk's eyes had told her what his words could not. He could do nothing, but Sabat would not go unpunished.
Elmar made the laws of the Night Guild very clear: don't get caught. I will bide my time. Somehow, sometime, I will get my revenge.
* * *
"How many hemlock leaves are required for a fatal dose?"
Ilanna scrunched up her face. "Six?"
Ethen shook his head.
"Eight?"
He beamed. "Very good, Ilanna! Now, tell me about wolfsbane."
She scratched her chin. "Wolfsbane interrupts the natural rhythms of the heart and cuts off air, suffocating its victim."
"And where does it come from?"
Ilanna struggled to remember. "Monksfoot? Monksroot?"
Ethen shook his head. "Monkshood, Ilanna."
She threw up her hands. "Well, excuse me if I can't remember everything! You've spent nearly two years learning all this from the Scorpions, but I've been at it for just two weeks."
Ethen shrugged. "And you're doing well. But that doesn't mean I'll take it easy on you." He grinned.
"Why are you teaching me all this anyway? I'm a Hawk, not a Scorpion."
"Simple. Your body needs time to heal, but you can't let your mind grow dull. Sharpen your mind and the body follows."
She waved her hand at the stack of books strewn across her bed. "But how am I supposed to remember all this?"
"By listening and learning. Now, let me tell you about a poison that comes from the pit of a peach. It's the most curious thing…"
Ilanna groaned, but Ethen droned on. She welcomed his presence, but tired of all the learning. It's just too much to remember.
"Are you listening to a word I'm saying, Ilanna?" Ethen raised an eyebrow.
She grinned. "To tell you the truth, not really."
"Well, pay attention to this poison. I think you'll find it particularly fascinating…"
* * *
"What's wrong, Denber?"
Denber stiffened. "What do you mean? Nothing's wrong."
Ilanna rolled her eye
s. "Please, Denber. When you worry, your forehead gets all wrinkly."
Denber rubbed his forehead, then sighed and plopped into the chair beside her bed.
"Is it the Undertaking?"
He shrugged. "Sort of. That's exhausting enough, I guess."
"If not that, what's the problem?"
Denber eyed her, his mouth opening and shutting.
"What? Spit it out!"
"I…" He stroked the beard that had sprouted on his cheeks since she had last seen him. "It's…"
"If you don't say it now, Denber, I'm going to get out of this bed and beat you."
The words spilled out in a rush. "They're talking about sending you to the Grubbers!" His face darkened and his fists clenched.
"What?" Ilanna recoiled, as if struck.
"I'm sorry, Ilanna. I've made sure the talk is ended, but it's not the first time I've heard it." He looked away. "Some of the Journeymen…they're saying that you're…"
"I'm what?" Anger flared in her chest and her face burned.
He blew out his cheeks. "Useless to the Hawks. You're not paying your way."
"How can I? Look at me." She gestured to the splints on her legs. "I'm trapped here!"
Denber held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I know, Ilanna. That's why I've done what I can to put an end to it. But you know how it is. The Night Guild sees us—all of us—as an investment. There is a fine line between investment and liability."
This is what they do? Kick me out of House Hawk and send me to the Grubbers to work as a beggar. All because of that bastard, Sabat!
"Th-That's not fair!"
"Don't worry, Ilanna. I'll make sure it doesn't happen."
"How? How can you?"
He shrugged. "However I must."
They sat in silence, an awkward tension filling the room. Ilanna refused to meet his eyes. I hate how he looks at me with…with pity! It's like I'm the weak, helpless tyro he met all those years ago. Her stomach twisted and fury smoldered in her gut.
"I-I'd like to rest now, if you don't mind."
Queen of Thieves Box Set Page 24