Hounds and Lightning

Chapter Fourteen

"Becca!"

She stirred heavily.

"Wake up Becca!"

Her eyelids were so heavy she could barely force them open. Her whole body felt as if it were molded out of lead.

"Damnit."

She felt someone lift her up, and  wondered faintly who could lift something so heavy.

When she felt fingers at her mouth, fear flared inside of her.

A flask was forced between her lips and she nearly choked as liquid poured down her throat.

It tasted like gold, and sunlight, with a hint of sugar and laughter.

The flask was pulled away, and Becca felt warmth spread through her.

She was able to open her eyes finally.

Sarah held her up with one hand, the other holding the flask.

"Sorry." Sarah said vanishing it. "The sleep tonic I gave you last night should have made you sleep for several more hours, but something has happened I thought you would want to know about."

Becca sat up, the lead feeling in her body, replaced with concern.

"What happened?" She asked

"Matty's horse returned with the one Flaska borrowed last night," Sarah began

Becca's stomach dropped.

"There was a boy riding the horses. He's in a bad way. I need your help with him."

"Matty?" Becca asked

Sarah shook her head. "He's fine as far as I know. The boy says Flaska gave him the horses to return. Well, he didn't actually say anything, he's terrified of us, but Flaska sent a note with him."

Curious, Becca rose off the bed, testing her legs, which were steady. Whatever Sarah had given her to wake, had impressive properties. She made a mental note to ask about it later.

"Show me." Becca said.

"I brought you a dress." Sarah said apologetically,  pointing at the pale lilac dress on the edge of the bed that she had worn before, along with the fancy belt they had given her.

"The boy appears to be in shock, I'd like not to stress him any further."

It sounded to Becca like she was apologizing for asking her to wear a dress.

"I brought you water to wash with as well" she said pointing at the chest of drawers, which had a pitcher of steaming water and a bowl with a wash cloth in it.

"I'll leave you to dress," Sarah said moving towards the door. "come to the kitchen when you are done. Amber is feeding him now."

Becca washed and dressed as quickly as possible. She dragged a comb through her long, red hair and smiled when she  found she still had some hay in there from her mock battle with Matty in the stables the day before.

When she descended the stairs to the kitchen she saw the boy seated at the table.

He was covered in grime, hair matted and greasy. He ate with his head bent over his food, and one arm on the table wrapped around his plate in a possessive posture that Becca recognized.

That's how people eat when they're used to fighting for their food.

The boy was skin and bone, he had hardly any muscle, and no fat to speak of. His skin didn't hang from his body, which told Becca that he had always been hungry, not just recently starved.