Free Breath of Winter, A by Hailey Edwards

him?”
    “Because I would have to be the one pursuing him?” I challenged.
    “That’s not what I meant.” He stabbed the air with a finger. “You are twisting my words again.”
    “You’ve got your tail in a knot because Henri asked me to tour his laboratory. Can you imagine anything so dull? How bored I must be to accept his offer? Do you think for a moment I would be so eager if I hadn’t been stuck in bed for two entire days with nothing to do but listen to your whining?”
    “Have I come at a bad time?” Henri stood in the doorway with his hand resting on the knob.
    Dread pooled in my gut. As big as my mouth was and as riled as Ghedi had made me, I had no doubt Henri had overheard me. How much, well, it didn’t matter. I had said it all and meant it to a degree, though I hadn’t meant for him to hear it. “I’ve been waiting hours for you to remember me.”
    “You were never far from my thoughts,” Henri assured me.
    Ghedi’s sneer slid off Henri, who ignored him.
    “I have an invention I would like you to test for me,” he continued. “Mana wrote me some weeks ago about a young girl she met in Cathis. As a result of a birth defect, the girl is unable to walk, so her aunt commissioned a craftsman to design and build a wheeled chair for her.” He pushed a ladder-back chair ahead of him as he entered the room. “I was curious about its potential applications and designed my own version. This is my first attempt. It’s the product of a series of sketches Mana sent, with some alterations.”
    Once he skirted Ghedi, I saw the contraption clearer. It was a chair, and its legs had been sawed off to accommodate four spindled wheels. The two wheels in the rear were much larger than the pair in front. Handles had been attached behind the support piece, at shoulder height to the person sitting.
    It was a singularly bizarre thing to behold.
    “I made another modification after our talk.” He bent down. “This is an adjustable leg rest. You can raise or lower it to fit your comfort.” He patted the plush cushion. “It’s perfectly safe to ride in.”
    “I don’t understand the purpose of this chair.” Ghedi nudged Henri aside and sat with a force that made the seat creak. “If a patient ought to stay in bed, what good will come of giving them wheels?”
    “Mobility for those who suffer from long-term illnesses will be its targeted audience.” Henri let my brother roll across the room. “There are short-term benefits as well, as Zuri will soon discover.”
    Not until Ghedi had cracked one of the leg braces on the chair and Henri strode after him with purpose did I intervene. My brothers weren’t fond of being told what they could or could not do. It was best if they were told by someone, if not bigger, then meaner than they were.
    “Ghedi,” I snapped. “Get out of the chair before you break it.”
    “It’s sturdier than it looks, I’ll give it that.” He continued to rock himself back and forth. “If you removed those leg braces, it would be more comfortable.” He leaned back. “I could get used to this.”
    “You can sit there until dawn if you like,” I informed him tartly. “I’m going no matter the hour.”
    Ghedi spun the chair around to face Henri, frowning at his proximity. “As Zuri’s physician, I trust you will do what’s best for her. Is rolling down tunnels in this thing you pieced together safe?”
    “I tested it myself.” Henri sank his hands in his pockets. I think to keep from throttling Ghedi. “I would never compromise her or anyone else’s safety to sate my own curiosity.” The starkness of his gaze when he looked at me was riveting. “If you have any concerns, Zuri, you don’t have to do this.”
    Desperate as I was for a taste of freedom, I wasn’t about to miss out on this adventure.
    I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “Ghedi, get out.”
    “Suit yourself.” He stood with a grunt. “I’m going with you, just so you know.”
    “Why?” I