Elodie's POV
"Hi, are you okay? Do you need anything?"
The exhausted girl sprawled out on the bed in front of me feebly pointed towards her empty glass of water.
"More water? Sure."
She coughed. "Wait, Elodie."
"Hm?"
"I want to tell you what happened."
I smiled and walked over to sit at the end of her bed.
"Okay, take your time."
She dug her nails into the palm of her hand and took a deep breath in.
"Okay, so there's this castle. Quite far from here I'm guessing."
My heart sank.
"I was taken from my village around November 2026, people from the castle stormed it and forced us all into captivity. Probably burned it all down for all we know."
I nodded, urging her to continue.
"But it was really weird, because when we woke up, or the ones who survived did, we were outside the castle gates, and they'd removed our restraints."
"What?"
"Yeah, no, exactly. It made no sense. My fiancée and I found the nearest dock and got on the first ship we could. Most people died at sea and then, the rest you obviously know."
"That's awful. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But if it's any consolation, you found the right people. The people who captured you are called members of the kingdom and what we're trying to do is take them down."
She smiled a little. "That's lucky."
I nodded. "Are you feeling well enough to go to medical? They want to check you over now you're completely conscious."
She sighed. "Yes, I think so."
"Alright, come with me." I said, holding open the door for her. I stepped out of the tent behind her, but something caught my eye.
"Wait, Pippa, stop for a second."
She stopped walking. I cast my eyes over the back of her legs and furrowed my eyebrows.
"Do you know where these rashes are from? They're quite angry. Burn-like, almost." She shook her head, concerned.
"Okay, head to medical, I'm sure they'll know." I smiled. She nodded and wandered off in the direction of the medical cabin.
Kieran approached me silently and stood next to me. I didn't face him.
"You don't trust her."
"I didn't say anything." He grumbled.
"You didn't, but it's true, isn't it?"
Kieran said nothing for a second. "We can't just trust everyone, Elodie. That's true."
I nodded. "I know, I'll be careful."
***
Bryony's POV
"Could just be a heat rash, or allergic reaction. Keep an eye on it and we'll wrap it up for a couple days." The medic said as I walked in the room.
"Hi, Pippa, right?" She smiled and nodded.
"I'm Bryony, this is Arya. She's trying to teach me some things about medicine. How are you feeling?"
"Not bad, other than this weird rash on my leg that Elodie pointed out." Arya stepped aside to look but retained the same facial expression she'd had seconds ago.
"A rash?"
She nodded.
I swallowed deeply before peering round to look at the rash scattering the back of her leg. Hoping, praying it looked nothing like mine. I had no such luck. For a second, I thought I was going to throw up, and ran out of the tent with Arya calling my name in the background. I crouched down on the grass and held my hands over my stomach. Nothing came out.
"Are you alright?" Arya's shocked tone rang out from next to me.
I nodded and stood up slowly. "I'm not sure where that came from, I might be getting sick."
"Bry, are you sure this is the kind of research you want to do? It's not for the weakest of stomachs."
I shook my head. "It's not that, I promise. Think I just need to go lie down."
She smiled and nodded. "Okay, get some rest. I'll speak to you later."
I wandered off, holding my head in my hands, feeling ever sicker than I had been in the first place. I needed to tell someone; I knew that. Nobody could mistake the sickening burns that now patterned Pippa's leg too.
At that moment, it was Elodie who passed me. Holding plates in her hand she was obviously taking to be washed. I took a deep breath and closed my mind off to the best of my ability.
"Elle?"
"Mmh?"
"Can I talk to you about something?"
"I'm really busy right now, Bry, can you go speak to Cara?"
I bit my lip. "Yeah, I will do. Sorry."
She smiled and ran off in a hurry, leaving me stood in the centre of camp with not a clue as to what to do. Even more confused and queasy.
***
Elodie's POV.
"Arya, here." I tossed the plates in the air, putting full trust in my friend.
She, very easily, caught them mid-air and gently placed them down next to the sink. "Thank you."
"It's still so cool." I grinned. "I can't believe you figured it out."
"Me neither. It just happened one morning; I was in utter shock."
"I can imagine." I whispered, scrubbing at a piece of meat that was refusing to separate itself from the plate surface. "God's sake."
"Here." Luke said, snatching the plate from me and getting it off almost instantly.
"Thanks." I said under my breath.
"You still not talking to me?" He said hesitantly.
I ignored him.
"Listen, let me make it up to you. I want to talk."
"Oh, so now you want to talk?" I snapped, putting a cup down on the side and crossing my arms. "Where were you when I wanted to talk when I walked in on you with your tongue down another girl's throat."
"Elodie that's not fair." He said.
"Like hell that's not fair." I sneered. "See you later, Arya."
She smiled sadly as I walked out. I wanted to go find Kieran.