After the cave, I shower.
Hot water for long time. Until oil and smoke smell gone. Until skin red.
I put on clean clothes Mara left. Black leggings, oversized grey sweater that smells like cedar. Not mine. Probably Caelan’s old one. I keep it on anyway.
My palm scar itches. My neck cut from North is just thin pink line now. Heals fast now, since Lyra wakes more.
I sit on floor nest. Shackles still on sill, but now they look smaller. After seeing real cage, these look like toys.
Knock at main door. Not broken anymore. Caelan fixed lock this morning with tools himself, hands still sooty.
“Ella? Can I come in?” His voice.
“Yeah.”
He opens. Clean shirt now. Hair damp. He holds two mugs.
“Tea,” he says. “Honey.”
I take one. He sits on floor across from me, not too close, like training
