Chapter 19: Jason
Soon, I explained my whole story, starting from the beginning. I also learned more about Ru, like how he ended up here. Lightning even acted out his story, how he was captured and kept as a messenger bird. Ru and Lightning met in obedience school and soon became best friends.
We three learned The Wizard's sad tale, too, how he was kept as a slave by Vincent, and nearly escaped with Merlin the Wizard, when he was sent back by his own father. Then Vincent and Vulagur learned about his medicinal talents, and they gave him a wing at the castle to earn money for them. If he doesn't earn at least 15 gold coins every 2 months, he will be kicked out. His students are kind, though, and give him some extra to help him. Any extra he earns, gets put into his Release jar, which is stocked with coins to buy his freedom once it is full. But Mel also explained that on every pay day, they replace the jar with a bigger one, making it impossible to fill.
"That isn't fair!" I cry.
"Yes, but it is fine for me here," Mel says sadly.
"No, it won't be safe for you here for long," I warn.
That's when he looks at the clock. "Oh! It's time to remove your bandages! Please stay outside and wait, Ru and Lightning."
Ru gave me an encouraging smile and Lightning caws cheerfully as the door shuts behind them.
Mel begins unwrapping the thick bandages tied around my leg.
"Oww," I moan. "Why does it hurt?"
"When you came in, I found a rock lodged in your knee. Do you know how that happened?"
I think about it. "When I was escaping, I slipped on the cobblestone stairs. There was a lot of pain, but when I looked for anything piercing me, I did not see anything."
" It was deep under the skin. Anyhow, I have removed it, so you should be okay. But now there is a large cut, but I'll replace the bandages and send you with some extra, just in case it bleeds."
"Thank you!" I say gratefully.
The unwrapping took a great deal of time, since I kept telling Mel to stop whenever the pain became unbearable.
"It's from all of your cuts and bruises. I was very surprised at how many you have!" Mel says.
Once we were done unwrapping it all, I nearly cried at the sight of my arms and legs. The cuts were all over, with speckles of dried blood and a few scabs already forming.
Mel noticed my reaction. "It will be okay, because for once, I am going to do some magic."
