Up You Go

ELIA

The next morning was worse.

She'd already been up late because everything had taken longer because she'd had to hobble through the day. When she sat down for dinner, she almost fell asleep in her plate. Then when she stood, Reth had to catch her arm because the muscles in her thighs gave such a stab of pain, her knee gave out.

When Reth woke her before dawn again, she almost threw the furs at him and told him where to stuff his training. She'd slept poorly—both because of pain, and her worry for the festival. But she bit back the urge and got out of bed, groaning and swearing, while Reth darted around getting dressed, and sniggering at her.