The Healing Wars: Book II: Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

Author:Janice Hardy
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

I ran a comb through my hair, my stomach twisted from more than just the pain I was carrying. It had gotten worse overnight, and this morning I felt as if I’d eaten bad food. “I hate this, I really do.”

“We had to do it,” Aylin said. “Vyand knows what you look like, and you needed another disguise.”

“I wasn’t talking about my hair.” Although I hated that too. Aylin had used the last of the dye to darken my curls. I tried not to notice it was the same black as Onderaan’s.

Aylin waved my concerns away. “I can handle a little pain for a day.”

“What if something happens to me? You’ll have no way to get rid of it.”

“I’ll live,” she said, even though she wouldn’t if that happened.

“What if Siekte really doesn’t let us out of here?” Danello said.

“Let’s hope Nya’s new disguise works on her.” Aylin started braiding her long hair. “Hand me that cord.”

I picked up the leather cord and passed it to her. “At least with the bounty hunters I knew I was a prisoner. I’m not so sure where I stand here.”

“Jeatar will figure out something, or move us somewhere safer,” Danello said. “He must have a home somewhere in Baseer. Unless you think he lives here all the time?”

“I don’t know. I think he travels a lot, so maybe.”

“Knife, please,” Aylin said.

I gave it to her. “I don’t think he’d leave us here if he thought we were in danger. And it’s not like Siekte can force us to—Aylin, what are you doing?”

She had the knife blade against the base of her head, just under the top of the braid. She squeezed her eyes shut and sawed through.

“Aylin!” I gasped.

“I told you, you need a new disguise.” She brought the braid over to me. “Now hold still while I tie this into your hair. It’s long enough to hold it.”

“But you love your hair!”

“It’ll grow back.” She didn’t sound as casual as she probably hoped. I heard the catch in her voice, saw the shine in her eyes as she looked at the braid in her hand. A tiny sacrifice compared to what else she was doing for me.

“You didn’t have to do that.” I meant so much more than her hair.

“To keep you safe, I’d shave my whole head.”

I hugged her, trying not to cry. “Thank you.”

“You find Tali and Danello’s brothers and we’ll call it even.”

“Deal.”

I sat still while she wove the braid into my hair. A good tug would rip it right off, but it would stay put otherwise. She darkened my eyebrows as well, and lined my eyes with black powder.

“Where did you get all this?”

“From Neeme. She’s the only one here who’s actually nice.” Aylin held up a mirror. “What do you think?”

“Wow.” Danello whistled. “Doesn’t look like you at all.”

I looked older, darker, Baseeri. “Is that good or bad?”

“Good for a disguise, but I like how the real you looks.”

I blushed.

Aylin stole the pillows off my bed and propped herself up on hers.

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