I'm Glad To See You Are Fighting

"Hmm," Doctor Roseleaf said, her expression making it clear there was considerable doubt about just how good the morning was as she strode forward. "You left quite a lot of chaos behind at the infirmary."

"We're sorry for any trouble that caused you," Sera said, when Six didn't speak up. Six was frozen into a panicky ball as the Doctor approached.

"How much trouble have you had keeping your feet on the ground?" Doctor Roseleaf wanted to know, as she circled around, peering closely at the damaged wing.

"We can usually remember, and so far the splinting reminds us if we start to flex the wing," Sera answered. Doctor Roseleaf continued her inspection, gently manipulating the undamaged wing, their shoulders, and the spot on the back where the wings attached to the spine. Shoulders? would that be what they are? She asked questions about what Sera and Six were feeling, and Six slowly relaxed as she realized the doctor was not about to whip out a saw and start hacking. By the end of the examination, Six was answering questions.

As she finished, Doctor Roseleaf moved to stand directly before them, surprisingly close. She made a show of peering at Six's pupils as she murmured, "Am I correct in thinking that I am speaking with Sister Forty-Six now?"

Six nodded.

"Good. The psychological trauma of an injury like this one . . . I'm glad to see you are fighting," the Doctor said in approval. She peered into one of Six's ears and asked. "How are they treating you here? Do you need help leaving?"

"Everyone has been very kind," Six said, hesitating as she flicked a glance over at Lady Snowpearl, who was making a show of filling a plate for herself and ignoring the examination. "When do we need to see you again?"

"Well, I meant to release you from the hospital today and with instructions to see me again in a week, mostly to make sure you are resting your wing properly," Doctor Roseleaf said. "Circumstances being what they are, I think it best that I come to you, yes?"

"The House of Llinn is fully capable of protecting our Six on a visit to the infirmary," Lady Snowpearl called. Captain Nightfire made a noise, and the head of the house turn to her. "Captain?"

"We can protect her," Captain Nightfire conceded, with a slight nod. "But it will be loud and messy. If the doctor is willing to come here, it would be the wiser course. Unless a loud and messy demonstration of power is what you are after."

Lady Snowpearl frowned thoughtfully.

"Then it's settled, I'll come back in a week," Doctor Roseleaf said. She shot Lady Snowpearl a hard look as she said, "Make your loud and messy demonstration of power somewhere other than my infirmary. And when there is less risk of further injury to my patient."

"As you wish," Lady Snowpearl said, with a nod and a smile of amusement. "What do we need to know to ensure Six's recovery is complete and as swift as possible?"

Doctor Roseleaf glanced inquiringly at Six, who gave a slight shrug. Taking that for assent, the doctor relayed the timeline for Six's recovery, stressing that she was not to use her wings until the bone was fully healed, and recommending weights for the ankles and arms should it be difficult to remember as the healing progressed.

"That they have managed not to use the wing for a day is promising. Flying is something we do without conscious thought, and it can be difficult to remember not to do it," Doctor Roseleaf concluded. She smiled over at Six. "You are doing well. Before I go, do you have any questions for me?"

Six had questions, mostly around how long it would take her bones to heal, and what she would need to do to rebuild the muscle to fly again. Doctor Roseleaf had, of course, already explained that. But she gave the answers again patiently. Even when Six asked the same question a second and third time. Even when one of the guardswomen, most of whom had drifted onto the terrace, or were hovering near the door, asked something that had already been answered. Catching a glint of poorly concealed satisfaction in the doctor's eyes, Sera realized the woman was eager to take advantage of the opportunity on offer. The more people she could educate, the fewer women who would face losing their wings.

Lady Snowpearl had questions about how much work Six was allowed to do, explaining as the doctor's eyes narrowed, "Six is deeply concerned about earning her keep here. I want to be sure we don't let her push herself too far."

The doctor's expression softened only slightly as she answered this question, saying, "I do not recommend lying around in bed all day, but the healing process can be painful, so you will tire more easily. It is also more difficult to remember your limitations when you are physically active. Absolutely NO sports, as you are are very likely to forget, or be accidentally injured by your opponents or even your own teammates. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, and when you are tired, rest. Listen to those around you, as they are concerned with your recovery. But ultimately Six, you are responsible for your recovery. No one else."

This last was said with a stern frown. Six nodded obediently.

When all the questions were answered, and Doctor Roseleaf had shared business cards with Lady Snowpearl and most of the guardswomen, the doctor said her farewells and departed. Most of the guardswomen back into the bedroom on her heels, but a few took up stations looking out over the balcony.

"Are you ready?" Captain Nightfire asked softly, with a nod towards Lady Snowpearl, who had seated herself at the table with her plate of food.

"No," Six admitted, "But I don't suppose I ever will be ready for this conversation."

Captain Nightfire gave a faint smile and said, "Shoulders back, chin up, and keep in mind that the fork is actually a better stabbing implement than the table knives. I think Lady Snowpearl keeps them extra-dull."

Six and Sera both laughed at that. Then Six squared her shoulders and marched over to the table. As Lady Snowpearl looked up inquiringly, Six took a deep breath and said, "Lady Snowpearl, I thank you for your kindness and the kindness of your house, but I am aware that you may have extended me protection under a false assumption."

"Oh?" Lady Snowpearl asked.

"Three had no right . . . that is, we have not . . . I . . ." she floundered.

'Deep breath,' Sera told her, 'And count to five as you let it out.'

There was a flash of annoyance from Six as she did as Sera instructed. But when she was finished, she began again, "I am not prepared to be a broodmare for the House of Llinn in exchange for your protection. And since my presence here is causing problems for the House, I think it's best if we--if I--leave. So again, thank you for your kindness and hospitality, but we must be going."

Lady Snowpearl's eyes narrowed and she pointed at the chair opposite hers. Six sat automatically. She promptly swore at herself and stood back up.

"You have taken advantage of my hospitality already, Six," Lady Snowpearl said mildly, and Six froze in place. "And while we will not stop you from leaving, I think it is only fair that you should at least hear what we are offering before you dismiss us."

Six thought another long string of curses, ending with, 'What do I do, Sera?' But she didn't wait for an answer, instead sitting back down to say stiffly, "You are right, that is fair."

Captain Nightfire set two plates and two cups of coffee down at the table, one of each before Six, and the other at the table's third chair. Lady Snowpearl's gaze flicked towards her and her eyebrows rose inquiringly. The captain said nothing, and after a moment the noblewoman turned her attention back to Six.

"I married for love, Six," Lady Snowpearl began, and this was sufficiently unexpected that Six relaxed a little further. "At the time my grandmother was Lady Llinn. My mother was still alive, I had five aunts, six sisters, and thirty two female cousins. My great aunts and their daughters and granddaughters were still alive as well. My grandmother had forty five direct heirs, and half of them were mated. So eyes were rolled when I announced I planned to marry a musician, but it was allowed, because it did no harm to the house if I never had children."

Lady Snowpearl smiled as her thoughts turned inward, but the smile slowly faded as her thoughts apparently turned dark. Grief and weariness settled on her features, and for the first time she looked old enough to be the mother of nine grown sons.

After a long, thoughtful look at Lady Snowpearl, Six turned her attention to the food and coffee in front of her. The bacon wasn't exactly bacon, but tasted close enough. The coffee wasn't quite coffee, thicker and richer, with a tart undertone. But it was delicious. The cinnamon-scented roll was not as sweet as Sera expected and was a bit dry. The fruit ranged from sweet to tart and from firm to soft and juicy. Six ignored the pile of shredded something or other that looked like slimy eggplant, and Sera had absolutely no desire to prompt her to try taste it. It smelled as unappetizing as it looked.

Finally, after Six had risen and refilled her coffee and Captain Nightfire's and seated herself at the table again, Six prompted gently, "What happened, Lady Snowpearl?"

The noblewoman started and looked at Six in confusion for a moment. Then she blinked and her gaze cleared. She sipped at her coffee, made a face upon discovering it was cold, and said, "My grandmother died. And while she was a remarkable woman, she had . . . old fashioned . . . beliefs about how to prepare the next heir to the house. While she lived, she pitted her daughters, granddaughters, and favorite nieces and great-nieces against each other. When I married Stoutoak, I wasn't just choosing love, I was also surrendering my right to be the next Lady Llinn, because one had to be mated to be the heir."

She paused, flinching, "My grandmother did not appoint an heir before she died. So those who were eligible fought each other. It was vicious and it was deadly, and when my cousin Goldenmaple was seated as Lady Llinn, a third of the women in our line were dead. Another third had fled to other families or entered one of the temples. Of those of us left, only Goldenmaple and three others were mated, and those three were serving in the war with Osbreck. Goldenmaple forbade any mated pairings except for her own daughters once she was Lady Llinn. She lasted twelve years before she was poisoned. Her daughters were too young to lead, and none of them were mated, so for several years we had a council rather than a lady. That made us weak, and other Houses took advantage. More of the family died, not all of them women this time."

She gazed off into the distance for several minutes, and Six waited patiently.

"I met my mate about eight years after I married. Stoutoak was touring, and I was travelling with him. Our marriage was rocky from the beginning, and by then we were on the verge of divorce. We had a fight after a concert and I stormed off to a park to cool down. Redwillow was supposed to be looking for his fiancee's missing puppy, but actually wandering around trying to decide whether to break off his engagement. We spent the night together in the park, and four weeks later I found out I was pregnant," Lady Snowpearl said. She was silent for a long minute, her expression hard. Finally she said, "Goldenmaple's eldest daughter and slipped me an abortion drug four months after that."

Her gaze shifted back to Six. "She was ten years old."