That damn pearl!
One moment I was at the Empress's palace, practically curtsying as I took my leave; the next, I woke up on a cold, hard stone slab, the air thick with the heavy stench of blood. My head throbbed like a solo drummer, a dull, persistent ache that made me want to succumb to unconsciousness once more.
A faint, sharp whimper caught my attention. Where on earth am I this time?
Chapter 41