When I awoke within the trailer, it was Magnus's face I saw crouching beside me, his features plastered in worry. My eyes fluttered shut after a moment their lids far too heavy to lift, the heat of the trailer was overwhelming. The cup of water I'd imbibed was a long distant memory and my parched throat cried out for relief.

"Alice," Magnus whispered, touching my shoulder gently, no doubt worried he might startle me. "We have arrived."

His prompting forced me to respond by opening my eyes more fully.

"Is this real?" I asked through a groggy haze. I could feel the words in my mouth, thick like wet sand. "Did they really let me go?"

"I made a promise," he answered with a smile. "I swore I would not abandon you."

I tried to smile back, hoping my lips were moving as I commanded. I wanted him to know how grateful I was.

"Here," he said, "Let's sit you up."

I felt his hands on my back, helping me to a seated position before he took a flip knife from pocket.

"Hold out your hands and I can cut the restraints," he said.

I complied without a second thought and allowed him to slip his knife beneath the ropes wound tightly about my wrists. A moment later the pressure released.

"Thank you," I said, separating my hands to inspect the damage. They were red to be sure, the tying and retying of the ropes having left deep grooves embedded in the skin. But there were no cuts in the flesh that I could see. Now that the pressure was gone, those marks would fade. Magnus however seemed horrified at my condition.

"Your wrists!" he exclaimed in concern. I couldn't worry about something so trivial. I knew that other injuries were more problematic. Though I was so glad to be in the safety of Magnus's care I could feel the pains of the past month upon my body.

The dizziness I felt walking to the trailer had only intensified now. The air was cloying and the smell of hay was making me sick. I tried to imagine how I might hide how ill I really felt. Magnus had rescued me, but would he still want a human that was so damaged?

"They will heal," I said in response to his troubled gaze. It was hard to force the words from my lips. My head pounded and my body ached. I needed fresh air, water, something to relieve the pain. I could see from his expression that Magnus was not fooled by my attempt at strength in any case.

"What is taking so long!"

A call from outside the trailer. I recognized Torvald's voice, his tone laced with the same irritation I'd heard back at the holding facility.

"I have other things to do today, Magnus. Take the animal so I can be on my way." Magnus only rolled his eyes in response.

"Forgive my brother's rudeness," he said, offering me a kind smile. Even in my exhaustion I could see through the lighthearted reaction there was indeed some worry within. "Can you stand?" he asked.

The question surprised me. Did he suspect I might be too frail to do even that? In the haze of my mind I felt panic join the other sensations coursing through me, only heightening the pounding in my head. Was it possible I was indeed that weak? In response, I attempt to rise.

I gritted my teeth against the pain I felt trying to put pressure on my sore wrists. My arms protested as I continued. I'd been moving so little for so long they could barely support my weight. I didn't care. I'd pushed through impossible pain before. But when I tried to put pressure on my leg, the agony that shot through my body sent me back down to the straw. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I was so helpless. It seemed my injuries were worse than I'd realized.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling a mix of shame and despair. What would anyone want with an old, sickly animal. "I'm certain I can stand I just." Before I was able to finish my words, Magnus placed a reassuring hand on my back.

"It's alright," he said. "Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tightly."

I stared at him in shock for a moment before the words registered in my head and I follow his command. A moment later I felt myself lifted from the ground, Magnus's arms cradling my body as he carried me from the trailer.

I was overwhelmed by the impossibility of his kindness. Defenseless, I laid my head against his chest, grateful to feel the pressure in my skull relived slightly. Tears leaked down my cheeks entirely unbidden. Tears of exhaustion, relief, gratitude.

"I will repay you for your kindness," I said, glad I could still manage words. "I swear it. I will be loyal and serve you as long as you permit."

His cold blue eyes met mine, somehow radiating a degree of warmth unlike that of any sibla. An almost human warmth, filled with true care and compassion.

"And I will protect you," he said. "As I swore to do. I will never forget what you did for me, Alice. None will ever harm you again."

———

The air outside was cooler than the stuffy heat of the trailer and I was glad for it. As uncomfortable as it was to be so much at the mercy of another as I was in Magnus's arms, I could not help but feel relief that I was not forced to walk. The dizzy feeling I had first noticed in trying to stand was making the world spin. I closed my eyes for a moment in hopes of steadying my gaze. When I reopened them again I saw Magnus's brother standing by the car, a scowl on his face as his eyes fell upon me.

"What in the world are you doing, Magnus?" he asked.

My heart pounded in my chest. I knew it was wrong for a slave owner to be caring for me so. Did Magnus not have servants who might take care of such things as a downed animal? Tears welled in my eyes again at the thought, or perhaps it was merely exhaustion. If I was indeed beyond help it wouldn't matter what conventions Magnus was breaking. Death would be the result either way. But this man had gone through such trouble to bring me back alive. I had to repay that debt. I had to fight.

"The animal is sick," Magnus answered calmly. "It seems that the authorities did not quite keep their promise to maintain her until our arrival." I watched as Torvald rolled his eyes.

"She was brought in under suspicion of collision in a plot against a sibla man and his entire estate," he answered. "There was suspected culpability in an attack that left over fifty sibla men, women, and children dead. Given the circumstances, I'm sure they treated her quite well. Perhaps the animal is not as hearty as you'd hoped."

"She merely needs some proper food and rest," Magnus answered, apparently undeterred by his brother's words. "You are welcome to leave now, Torvald. I know you were eager to return home. I appreciate the loan of your trailer."

Even in my groggy state, I could see clearly the annoyance in Torvald's face to be so dismissed.

"Just be careful the animal does not bite the hand that feeds it," he replied as he opened the door to his vehicle and climbed back in. "I'll call you later tonight."

I could feel Magnus nod his head as he stood watching his brother's car drive out of sight.

"Let's get you inside, Alice," Magnus said, his hand brushing a wisp of hair from my eyes. I saw a frown of concern cross his face for a moment and wondered the cause. I was grateful however that we might soon be indoors. the fresh air had been pleasant at first but I now felt an uncomfortable chill traveling through my whole body.

#

Though I might have expected to find myself in some sort of slave quarters, I instead stared in shock as an image of a large main house soon came into view. He took me straight up the front stairs and into a grand entryway where a sibla woman came to greet him.

"Welcome home, Mr. Kendrick," she said. "I made you some lunch if you are hungry."

"Thank you, Greta," he answered. "Perhaps you might bring it up to my study. I wish that I might not be disturbed for the rest of the day. In fact you may retire early if you'd like."

The sibla woman cast an uncertain look at me where I lay, still wrapped in Magnus's arms like a child.

"My new slave," Magnus said in response to her unasked question.

"Looks sickly," the woman answered with a disapproving scowl. "I wouldn't let an animal like that into the house if I were you."

"The human is merely in need of a good bath and some rest," he answered.

Did he know it was a lie? I wondered. Could he feel the fever radiating from my body? Even I could not deny it now. The shivering tremors running through me were growing more pronounced, the throbbing in my head was unbearable.

"Please make some chicken soup, Greta, and leave it on the stove. I will need nothing else until tomorrow."

The woman's frown did not leave her but she nodded.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Kendrick," she answered, shaking her head in dismay. "But I'm not coming close to that diseased thing."

"Thank you," Magnus replied, not responding to the latter half of her statement, instead carrying me through the house and up to the second floor.

I was struck by how beautiful his home was. Clearly he was a man of some means. Though not quite as large as Dulane's, Magnus's holdings were richly decorated and it seemed he had the funds for sibla servants. Of course with my conscious fading in and out it was hard to fully assess my surroundings.

Taking me to a large bedroom Magnus finally set me down on my feet. I did my best to remain erect, hoping my legs would support me.

"Are you alright, Alice?" he asked with concern as my body swayed, trying to find balance.

I nodded my head in denial of my true condition, though I knew it was silly. Clearly he could see that I was unwell. I watched as his attention turned to the wounds on my leg.

"Let's get you into a warm bath," he said. "Those clothes are filthy and your scars will heal better if they are clean."

I didn't answer. In my attempt to nod my head to accept his kindness, the pressure in my skull had suddenly increased and I felt a new wave of dizziness overtake me. The sibla man was there to catch me before I could fall. Hand on my shoulder he helped me walk into the room's attached bathroom.

Sitting me down on the toilet, Magnus offered me a glass of water before quickly filling the claw-footed tub before me, soothing steam entering my lungs. I could barely keep my head up at this point, but at least the heat building in the room seemed to be taking the edge off of my chills and the water helped soothe my sore throat.

I tried not to flinch when he stood me again and gently peeled the ragged clothing from my body. Some part of my mind sounded echoes of alarm, warning me how vulnerable I was. Warning me of the danger I faced putting myself so completely in the hands of a sibla. But what choice did I have? I was helpless to stop him even if I wanted to. And Magnus was not acting the part of an enemy. Every touch of his hand, every movement, was so careful.

He helped me into the warm waters and bathed my wounds, apologizing each time he saw me wince in pain. I knew he was right of course. The injuries had to be cleaned. I bit my inner lip to fight any noticeable response to his efforts to help me.

I had never before experienced such extravagance as Magnus treated me to now. Hot running water? A bath? Soap that smelled of rose petals and lavender and not harsh lye... These were luxuries for sibla, not animals. I only wished I could better appreciate them. Instead I found myself working to keep from slipping into unconsciousness and drowning in the lovely scented water.

From the tub Magnus quickly wrapped me in a towel the likes of which I had only felt when doing my Master's laundry. Soft beyond the texture of anything I might have hoped to feel against my raw skin. Still Magnus was careful to avoid the sorest spots, only dabbing the injuries to dry them.

Whisking me back to the bedroom he sat me on the bed assuring me he would be back in just a moment. He returned a few minutes later with antibacterial salve for my wounds, an oversized silk shirt that must have been one of his own, and a fresh glass of cool water which I gulped down greedily. He quickly refilled the cup and offered me more, putting a pitcher by the bedside so I might drink my fill.

I was in awe at the care he was providing me. The silk on my skin was almost weightless, and the salve did indeed help to soothe the burning red flesh. The water filling my empty stomach and quenched my parched throat, so long kept from fulfillment of my thirst.

Tucking me beneath the covers Magnus laid quilt after quilt upon me until I assured him I was warm enough.

"You were shaking," he said, his brow knitted into a furrow of concern as it had been since he'd seen my wounds more closely.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, though in truth, I was feeling my mind slip further and further from the room, the luxuries, the impossibly kind sibla man who cared for me as if I were one of his own species.

I watched him reluctantly nod.

"I told Gerta to make you soup. I will bring some later."

I lay back in the soft pillows on which he had propped me up. Tears dripped down my cheeks again. It was too much. I didn't deserve this. Of course at the tears, Magnus's concern seemed to only increase.

"What's wrong?" he asked, tone frantic. "Are you in pain?"

I shook my head.

"You...too kind," I managed, my throat sore. "I can't repay."

"Hush," he said, rejecting my concerns. "Sleep now. You need your rest." He reached out and lay his hand atop my own, his thumb rubbing the back of my skin gently.

"I will stay with you," he said. "Anything you need, I will make certain you are cared for."

As I finally let sleep overtake me I vowed that whatever happened I would find a way to thank this man for his generosity and care.

-----

Relief for Alice!! She deserves it after all she has been through. But the story isnt over yet! Magnus has provided rescue but Alice is in rough shape. And of course she is still quite a ways away from being the Alice of AH. But 6 chapters remain! Monday begins Alice's recovery & some clarity on how she finally took on her role as Magnus's overseeer