Hours later Jana sat on the floor beside the bed in which Merlie slept. Her head rested in her arms, which were crossed on the mattress. Merlie lay mere inches from Jana’s touch—she hadn’t yet awakened, and Jana couldn’t remember when the servant last said anything. In the forest maybe? Before the bear attacked?
Her breathing was ragged and uneven, her pallid skin cool to the touch. The only light in the room came from a flickering sconce on the wall. Behind Jana, the door was open a crack, just enough to allow Edina to check in on them when she passed. Jana watched Merlie’s chest rise and fall, and wondered what would happen when word got back to her father about the incident.
Suddenly Merlie started.
Jana stood and leaned over her, but Merlie’s hand jerked up and knocked the girl ba
