~ ZARA ~
Abigail stared at me like I should understand what she was saying. When I stared blankly, she went on, a warning in her tone. "You are healed, Zara, but it takes time for the magic to…. settle. You must rest. Two days here, at least. You must give the magic time to take, or it may work against you instead."
"Magic?" I exclaimed, but Abigail clapped a hand over my mouth and looked over her shoulder.
She turned back with fear in her eyes. "Please, Zara. This is… so important. Do not speak of it unless the person to which you speak has expressly said that they know of it already. Do not. At all. While it is… known that the royals use healers skilled in this, the gossips and those who would try to undermine the King… it is something that could be twisted, you understand? Please… don't speak about it to anyone except the King himself–who waits… he waits for news that you are awake."
She met my eyes, her palm still over my mouth.
