Chapter 15: Day 18

Dragging herself across the pavilion floor. Rainbow felt the pain in her back, her wings and the muscle of her arm and legs. Her whole body was just a mass of pain that numb every other senses she had. She wondered she should have visited the healers instead of running around like this.

The day after the beating, she went out of her way to find Mako and told her about the beating. However, Mako's expression was not of shock. Rather, of despise and contempt.

"I told you, didn't I? You're being too close to that little prince. Now look at you. Got yourself all beaten up because of him. Why can't you be like all the other servants and just leave him alone?" Mako said.

"You know I can't. Tidal had assigned me to be his caretaker. And I can't just to walk away from it. And besides…" She winced. Not sure whether it was from her muscles or her heart. "He needs me."

"Persistent. I'll give you that." Mako shook her head. "But being a headstrong in places like this, only brings coffins and graves to your doorsteps. You got to play it smart. Take sides. You don't survive by being alone in this palace. "

All the injuries hung on her body and that was all her friend thought of? Sides. Play. Smart. All these words sounded like a game to her. Pieces of chess to be play around. Palace as her playing board. Was this how all royalties and the nobles saw? Instead of thinking ways to improving the life of dragons, they busied themselves by moving pieces with cunning words and poisonous ideas.

"Ugh, suits yourself." Mako flashed. "It's like talking to a log. I have more urgent tasks to attend. Prince Hammerhead had been busy with the task to prepare for the Queen's solitary stay in the hatchery. I wonder how that would even work…"

That was the last Rainbow saw her before she disappeared down the hallway. The rest of that day, she would try her best to perform her cleaning duty with these injuries. Mostly doable, if not irritating.

However, the same can not be said if she were to visit her grandfather at this very moment. Not that her grandfather would shun she away. It was her safety that had always concerned him. If she shows any sign of having hard time around here, he would have pack up everything and went straight home. Without her working there, they probably sent him back to the healer nearest to her home and let him waste there.

So she promised herself that he mustn't know any of this. Not until everything was over and his health was recovered. Only that seem to grew ever more hopeless as the days passed.

Rainbow had been sweeping around the library floor for the third time now. Maybe it was the time for her to swipe the dust of the shelves instead. She could feel the librarian's suspicious eyes following her as she walked around the place. The longer her stay, the more intense the stare.

She did like to reassure the librarian that she was just trying to keep an eye out of Prince Turtle while cleaning her lovely library. The view from the library to the little prince room was clear, and it had only one way in and out. Maybe she could even alternative between this floor and the floor above. So long she didn't disturb anyone, everything should be fine.

She sighed on the very last thought. That was the same reasoning she gave herself when she started to look after Prince Turtle. Now, her limbs were protesting the very same idea by emitting constant pain for her every action.

I should be paying attention to Prince Turtle right now. He should have had his breakfast already, but I don't see him taking his plate out of the room. Had some other servant took care of it?

"Rainbow is that you?"

A familiar voice jolted awake from her own thought, and she quickly grabbed a scroll from shelves. With one smooth motion, she spread the scroll in front of her face before she acknowledged the speaker.

"Why are you hiding?"

This voice. It couldn't be.

"P-Pri- Turtle?" She said.

"Where were you? You disappeared that day after lunch. The other servant sent the food over and told me not to wait for you. Then the next day, I couldn't find you anywhere. Where had you been?"

She wanted to lie. Said that she was busy. She had forgotten that she had other duties to attend. Or she has just forgotten about things they should do that afternoon.

"Was it something I say. Something about the animus magic that you better off without? I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the bad way…" He said.

"No, it's not that. It's just…"

She couldn't do it. She couldn't lie. Not when she had finally gained his trust.

She lowered the scroll and Turtle just stood there. Staring. Stared at all the bruises and bumps that was all around her. Stared at the swollen cheek on one side, purple marking on the other. Stared at one of her wing, which had covered her from most of the attack, having difficulty staying tugged behind her back. Stared at her tail, closer to its tail tip, can be seen visibly crooked at an angle.

"We should get you to the healers. Come."

Turtle wanted to grab her by the talon, but he stopped at the sight of bruises.

"I can't." She said. "My grandpa, he's there. I can't let him see me like that. I probably couldn't ever meet him until he is healthy again."

Turtle thought for a while and took a look around for a moment and said.

"Come to my room."

Curious. She followed Turtle back to his room. Wondering what could he possibly do.

.

Not much was changed since she last in the writing room. Everything was as it was since last she had tidied them. The seaweed beds. The table. The trinkets on the table. The only eyesore was the dirty plate which must be his breakfast from this morning.

Turtle stride across the room. Pushed aside the plate to the corner of the room and motioned her to come.

"I know this will sound weird but could you sit on the bed?" He said.

It was indeed weird but not wanting to disappoint him, again. They pull the bed over to the centre, and she went over the bed and sat there. The soft seaweed squelched under her talons, giving her bruise a cushion against the hard concrete floor. The bed barely able to fit her, but she wasn't planning to sleep.

"So, I know a way to 'soothe' the pain. I never tried it with that sort of injuries. I will start by putting this blanket over you. But I need you to promise me." His eyes stared hard into hers. "Promise me that no matter what happened. You would never look to took off the blanket or peek through it. Not until I'm done with… whatever I'm going to help you. Promise?"

Questions written all over her face but the intense stare from him told her to trust him. Could she trust him? She did say she trusted him with animus magic…

She nodded and made herself comfortable on the bed before the seaweed blanket spread on top off her and gently surrounded her vision mass of green. She gave a little shudder, remembering how she was kidnapped before the beating began.

Being underneath the blanket had made focus on her other senses. She could hear her own heart beating in her ears. The sound of her breathing going through her snout, in and out. She heard a scraping sound to her left and few more sounds of 'thud'. Looks like he dropped something.

"Turtle?"

"Sorry. Just trying to get something from my table." He said.

After a couple sound of slapping footsteps, she felt his presence just beside her. She still herself to prepare for whatever come next. But she only heard a slap for what could only be a slap on his own face.

"I can't see your injuries when the blanket on top." He said.

"Hm… Maybe I can show you where?"

With one talon held the blanket slightly above her, she poked the blanket with her claws. Signalling the location of her injuries at her arm. A while later, she could feel his talon touched back against hers and…

"Ouch!"

"Sorry! Didn't mean to." His talons withdrew from the bruises. "Okay. Let see. Perhaps you might feel a little pain, but please bear with me."

Even with that warning she couldn't help herself but to groan a little. Something ice-cold, smooth, and flat touched her through the blanket sending a sharp pain straight into her. But it quickly subsided and sweet relief flowed through her. When she turned to look at her arm, the bruise was healed.

"Turtle! My injury. It's gone!" She said.

"Great. But I need you to hold still for the rest of them." He said.

And she did. The whole process repeated itself as she poked the blanket, he touched her with something, she winced and the pain were gone. Her sense of awestruck renew each time she saw the injury disappeared before her eyes. All these happened again and again to what she could only describe it as miracle. Or even…

Magic.

Her heart raced with excitement of this revelation. If this could heal injuries, maybe it could also heal her grandfather too. Then, they could go home. Her grandfather could continue his garden and she with her shells. Everything would go back to normal.

No. Not everything. Turtle still stuck with his punishment. Already over half a month and still no sign of its end. She promised to herself that she will see through this punishment. To repay the kindness he had shown her — and even maybe — to spite those who against this. But mostly to show her gratitude.

After a while, she had confirmed all the injuries had healed, he finally lifted the blanket over her. She stretched and moved. She had never felt so refreshed. Not even after those hot air massage.

"Oh, we missed one. It's on the side of your neck. Let me just-" He froze midway as he turned towards the table. "Could you close your eyes for a moment?"

He's going to heal me. She thought. This might be my chance to see how he has actually done it.

A thought flashed through her mind. This was the chance that she could see how Turtle heal her. Without the blanket, she could open her eyelids just enough to peek. But would he notice? Dragonet always seem to know when an adult dragon was lying. And what happened if he saw her peeking? Would their friendship be over?

"It's done."

Somehow, she was glad that her hesitation had made the decision. She open her eyes and put a talon over her neck. Even without any reflection, she could feel the pain had gone.

"This is an amazing Turtle!" She hugged him "ThankYou-ThankYou-Thank YOU! Now I can go see my grandpa without any worries. Speaking of my grandpa." She went over and examined the blanket. "Was it this? Can I use this to cure my grandpa too?"

"No, and I'm sorry. You can't. Not that I wouldn't wish your grandfather to be healthy. It is just— It can only heal surface wound. Look."

He pointed at her tail. Her heart sank at the sight of it. Even though the bruise and swell had gone, it was still slightly crooked to one side. She tried to straighten it with her talons, but it wouldn't bulge. At least it did not feel pain any more.

She sighed and said.

"Still, I thank you. With all those injuries I had, my grandpa definitely going to send me back home. But now that's gone, would like to continue what we planned that day? To the library?"

Rainbow walked over to the door, but Turtle didn't move. Instead, he asked.

"Rainbow, how were you injured? Did something bad happened?"

She paused with her talon on the door knob. With a little hesitation, she answered.

"Nothing Turtle. It was just an accident. I got swiped away by a strong current, and it dragged me through a cave tunnel. That's all."

She held the door and beckoned him out to the library floor.

Next day, Rainbow spotted Tidal at the cave entrance while she was swiping the corridor. His energetic and light footing suggested that things had been going smooth on his side. He greeted her with a wave of talon.

"Greetings Rainbow. How goes your work?"

Ostracized. Threaten. And beaten. Not that having those injuries healed wash away any of those. Those experience of pain still etched in her mind. Her muscles involuntary winced at the thought of that.

"Everything is well." She managed to reply.

But of course, he must not know. At least, not now. If he knew and reprimanded the others for their behaviour. She might get another beating. Or worse, killed. Best if she revealed these after her grandfather had recovered. Then she could tell Tidal all about it and retreat to the furthest reach of the sea. Never to come back.

Tidal cocked his head and said.

"Hm… What happened to your tail? Did you stub it on something?"

"Y-yes. I mean I accidentally left my tail in the doorway, and it shut on it. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt any more. Just a little bend."

"You should at least get the healer check on it. Make sure it doesn't get worse over time." He said.

Rainbow nodded. Tidal took out his slate, examined it, and said.

"I can't help but to notice that Prince Turtle had been rather well these days. And at times, he was unusually cheerful. How did you manage that?" He asked.

"It wasn't my doing. I believed it was because there was something else in his mind to keep him from reminding those unfortunate days." She said.

"No no. I saw the effect you had on him. Your presence must have comforted him because I remembered there was a time he went out to look for you. Asking everyone at Summer Palace." He said.

Rainbow stopped her cleaning as a realization hit her. Maybe it was Turtle's action that had to bring attention to her. That day when he had asked around the palace for her to help him with the 'Talons of Power'. Then, someone — probably Prince Hammerhead — sent a group of dragons to beat her up.

"Is there something wrong?"

Rainbow stare back into his inquisitive eyes and shook her head.

"Well, if there is nothing else. Then, keep up to good work. I'm glad that the prince in a good hand. If this continues, you might earn yourselves a promotion. A pay raise and a place in the Summer Palace to stay."

She blinked at him then feeling obliged to said something she bowed her head.

"Thank you."

But her mind wasn't on the promotion. She knew that a couple of days later. Turtle would have to go back to eat the food he stashed on that secluded island. Those foods probably going to be so rotten that even a bite of it could make you vomit everything inside you for the past week. And the smell.

She quickly pushed those thoughts aside before saying.

"It's been more than two weeks now. It doesn't seem like Turtle- Prince Turtle's punishment come close to end. Are they really set to isolate him forever?"

"Much as I like to say otherwise. I have no clue. We can only hope it last just a few more days from now. But with you on his side, I'm sure he would pull it through."

With a smile, he took off from the pavilion floor and flew away. While she had to content with the dreadful approaching Turtle's anticipated illness.