Crystal wakes up in a brightly lit room that she recognizes as one of the rooms kept for when anyone in the court is ill. She doesn’t remember being sick, but she must be to be here. Spotting a small bell beside the bed, she reaches out to ring it, surprised to see her arms are bandaged.
One of the nurse maids comes in and looks relieved. “Princess, you’re awake. Do you need anything, or should I get your parents?” the maid asks.
Crystal frowns. “Why am I here?”
“I will let your parents explain.”
The nurse leaves, and Crystal is left alone again. She tries to remember what happened, but everything is a blur. Her feet hurt and she remembers walking a lot but not why. Her mind has big gaps, like someone has torn pages from a book.
Her mother and father come rushing in, no formality, whi
