When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling stared back at me. I tried to wiggle my fingers, but pain tore through my body like a jagged blade. Memories flooded in—flames, betrayal, despair. I thought I was dead.
"You're awake?" a gentle male voice came from beside me.
I turned my head, wincing, and saw a stranger's face. He looked about thirty, with clear features and kind eyes, focused on mixing a salve. "I…" My throat was too dry to speak.
He set the bowl down, poured a glass of warm water, and carefully lifted my head to help me drink. "Easy now. You're hurt bad. It's a miracle you're alive."
His voice was soft but steady, calming my frayed nerves. I noticed my arms and neck wrapped in bandages, the faint, bitter scent of herbs lingering in the air. My hand trembled as I touched m
