1
"Where are my blades?"
Royal was sitting on a low stool in the yellow sand of this desert hideaway. He rose stiffly to his feet.
"Why are you out of bed, girl?"
"Don't call me 'girl,' it's demeaning." I approached him. "Where are my blades?"
Royal let out a sound of acquiescence.
"I put it somewhere safe."
We were standing almost toe to toe now, like two bedraggled vultures who were both picked clean. Royal metaphorically and me physically. Okay, and emotionally.
"You don't look so good, honey. You need to get back inside. The sun will tear you up with you so raw."
"Take me to my blades."
"Blade. I found one blade," he grunted. "And it's inside, so you might as well head back in there."
I turned on my bony heel and shuffled back into the adobe dwelling. It had been tw
