She moans, wondering if she has been in an accident. Her face feels raw, her clothes smell singed. A fire. There was a fire... Then she remembers. The Bennu. Riel took control of the Bennu and made it attack Brehan. She opens her eyes and looks up at Riel, his face contorted with pain. He looks down at her, his green eyes swimming in tears. “Awake, are we?” he asks, his voice cracking. He sets her down so abruptly she nearly falls. “Good, then you can walk back to the palace.” Laila wobbles, unsure if she can stand, and Riel makes no move to help her. His hands are on his hips. She takes a few unsteady steps away from him. She has never seen a face so malevolent. It is a thousand times more frightening than that of her stepmother throwing a jealous rage, than that of the most violent men in the brothel beating women to a pulp. She realizes she is on Iron Street inside the city, not far from the palace.
