Shady

Pratik grinned at the thought, then sobered when he realized she was shaken up about it. Right. Most people didn’t have to see so much gore. “I’m sure that was ...

“I think she may have preferred that to what Tarr did to her,” Pratik answered, an edge creeping into his voice. But he forced it out of it again. “I’d ...

“Yes. They were in the cage when I got in.”

“Other slaves I freed from Tarr,” Pratik answered. “The girl is a Seer from the plains. She won’t tell me much, but I get the impression her capture was relatively ...

Pratik smirked. Ash was exasperated with him, and they all knew it. But he sobered a bit and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Thankfully. It was a bit tense, but we made ...

(Sounds good!) “Turns out being a slave doesn’t do a man much good,” Pratik said dryly, then gave a bratty grin. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll be back to being an ...

Pratik inclined then looked back to the maid. He pulled open the door and held it for the maid, gesturing for her to go first. (Did he catch her name ...

“Ma’am.” Pratik took the mug and stepped towards the maid, glancing back at Sera. “Ma’am.”

“Well, I’m not gonna argue about getting to a warm bed.” Pratik stood up and looked at Sera. “I assume someone will let me know when there’s food?”

Pratik glanced between them. “I can say no, if you’d rather I stay. She’ll understand.”

Pratik nodded and looked back at Ada. "She wants to clean and bandage your wounds, then a servant will escort us to each of our rooms. She'd like me to ...

Pratik glanced at Ada, then back at Sera. "I'm afraid it might frighten her to not have a translator."

"Yes, ma'am," Pratik murmured. He didn't like the feeling of the gauze against his skin -- it was reminiscent of the collar, as if it had been replaced. But he ...

"I liked him," Pratik agreed, nodding. "I imagine he'd be more helpful, if Tarr would let him."

"He gave me salve, once," Pratik answered. It wasn't Alexander's fault that Tarr was a monster. Well, he did stay in Tarr's employ. He wondered if that was voluntary. "But ...