He was dying, and there was nothing I could do.
I knelt in the grass of the garden, just outside the door that led to my quarters in the palace. Gently, I lifted the tiny bird and tried to make him comfortable in the folds of my dress. His wing flapped uselessly. I suspected that he must have clipped one of the branches of the tree that looked over the high wall that enclosed the garden.
If only we had a Healer in the palace, it would have been different. But no Madmen had been permitted within the walls since Ratans were outlawed, more than five hundred years ago. I could take him outside the palace grounds, but it was unlikely that I’d be allowed out without an escort, which would take more time to form than the little guy had. If they even allowed me out for what my uncle would consider such a frivolous outing.
So there was nothing I could do but kneel on the ground and care for him as best I could. If it was just his wing that was broken, it might have been possible to set it and splint it, and maybe it would heal on its own. But I could see his body was battered, likely caused by his rough landing.
“Tori!” The voice behind me shouted my name in alarm. I closed my eyes. Not good. I made no movement as footsteps approached.