Page 69 of A Conduit of Light
Chapter33
Karus
“Whyhaveyou brought me to this dreadful place,BurnedGirl?”
Moiralay againstKarus’spillow, her iridescent wings splayed out behind her delicate green body.Shelooked out of place there.Thebed was far too big and her makeshift clothesFiguerahhad fashioned out of a stocking hung off her shoulders at an odd angle.Thematerial wrapped around her chest and waist in a half-hearted attempt to give her body cover.Itwas mostly an unsuccessful attempt, andMoirabegan pulling at the thin material, trying to unwrap what was wrapped around her several times.
“Ash.ItwasAsh.Myname has changed since we last met.”Karusgently swept the faerie’s hands aside and helped unravel the stocking from her body. “Myname isKarusnow.”Shesmiled warmly as she brought the blanket up overMoira’schest, the stocking tossed aside.
“Well, that’s eons better.Whydidn’t you go byKarusin the first place?”Moirasat up, the blanket falling off her chest as she flexed her wings in and out, testing their fluidity.
Karuslaughed and shrugged. “Iwasgiventhe nameAsh.Ichosethe nameKarus.”
Thefaerie scoffed and rolled her large violet eyes mumbling, “Humansare so backwards.”
“Howdo you feel,Moira?”
Shecrossed her arms and cocked her head. “HowdoIfeel?DoIhave to answer to leave?”Shestood up, stumbling, but catching herself.Herwings fluttered as she lifted off the bed.Herright wing faltered after a few moments and she cascaded down, bouncing and rolling back onto the sheets.
“Yourwing and legs were broken.Maybeit’s best if you stay here for a few days.We’renot keeping you here forever, just suggesting you stay until you have your strength back.”
Moira’sgaze was venomous as she sat cross-legged, arms folded and teeth clenched.
“Wouldyou like something to eat?Ihave fruit, meat—some water if you’d like.”
“What’sthat there?”Shepointed to the single cinnamon bunKarushad been able to snatch from the kitchens after changing her clothes.
“Thatis something delicious.It’scalled a cinnamon bun.It’scinnamon, sugar, and butter wrapped in dough and baked.Thena sticky icing is added—”
“What’sbutter?Ido not know these words,Karusss.”Shehissed her name just as she did on their first meeting.Andnow thatKarusknew she was out of danger, she laughed, the little fae’s attempt to be menacing lost in her new environment and situation.
“Justtry it.Ithink you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”Shetore a piece from the bun and handed it to her.
Moirasniffed it tentatively before taking a small bite, chewing loudly.Hereyes raised in surprise, and she heartily took another.
“Iwant to ask—what were you doing in theBlight?Youwere so far into it,Ialmost didn’t make it out afterIfound you.”
“Iwas exploring,obviously.Whywould anything go in there unless that was their reason?”Shenarrowed her eyes atKarus, staring at her as if she was dense as stone.
“Idon’t know,Ijust thought maybe you knew somethingIdidn’t about theBlightand you had another reason.”
“I’msureIdoknow more than you aboutThatWhichConsumes, but surely even you are not surprised by that.”
“ThatWhichConsumes?That’swhat you call it?”
“That’swhatallthe living things in the forest call it.Itconsumes.Makesmore sense than this…blightyou keep saying.”
“Ablight is a disease on plant life, so—”
“Anddoes it just disease plants,Karus?”Sheshook her head in dismay, licking her long fingers. “Youhumans and your language.”Shesighed and flexed her wings again. “Isuppose, though, thatIshould be grateful to you.Thedark became too thick for even me to notice that it had not yet completely devoured the muriIwas examining.”
“Muri?Thatwas the large cat creature?”
“Doyou knownothing?Whatdo they teach you here in this eyesore anyway?”Sherolled her eyes and began examining her fingers.
“IsupposeI’ma bit behind in my lessons on forest fauna.I’msureFiguerahknows—”
“Thewooded one?”Shescoffed. “Donot bring her back in here.Shepestered me with so many questions while you were gone just now thatIdecided to pretend to sleep to escape.I’venever met a human so interested in my kind.”
