Curse of the Healer by Ashley York

Author:Ashley York
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ashley York

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When Diarmuid shut the door behind him, the walls seemed to close in on Aednat. Astrid’s eyes took in all of her, and she was grateful she’d thought to dress, even if her husband was not.

“I am very glad ye have wed my brother,” Astrid said at last, crossing her arms.

“Oh?”

“I thought he would never find a woman who could overlook his many faults.”

“Has he so many?”

“Ahh!” Astrid poured it on thick, her expression one of sheer disgust. “Too many to speak of, but ye will learn about them all yerself, I am certain.”

Aednat held back a grin. “I am certain.”

Astrid finally broke into laughter and Aednat joined her.

Astrid said, “I must tease him even if he is not here to witness it.” Wiping the tears from her eyes, she offered a genuine smile to Aednat. “Ye are very beautiful. He must have been pleased to take ye to wife.”

“I do not know.” Heat crept up her neck. “In truth, he did not have much of a choice.”

Astrid gasped. “Tell me he was chivalrous with ye.”

“He was! He just did not have a chance to say no. ’Twas for my protection. Sean—”

“Sean of Drogheda?”

“He was of Drogheda.”

“Ah, I forget. I have not seen him much of late. He has always spent more time with my brother. How fares he? Is Thomasina big with child?”

“She is not. Lorccán is their last, and he is nigh on six years now.” Sadness washed over her at the thought of Lorccán, but she tried to hide it. Even if she might never see him again and hadn’t gotten a chance to say goodbye, she needed to be content that she was indeed safe.

Astrid sighed and settled on the bench as she spoke. “When I was very young, our clans would gather for celebrations. That was when my father was still alive. But I am not allowed far from here now. My mother keeps me close to her side. I also think Diarmuid does not trust me to not make a fuss. He leaves me behind for his own peace.”

When she lifted her gown and revealed her wrapped ankle, Aednat gasped. “Who has done this to ye?” She turned the leg just the slightest bit to see the dirty, saggy covering that had been wrapped far too loosely around Astrid’s ankle. “This is not the way to help it mend.”

“Meic Murchadha’s healer covered it up.”

“May I see it?”

Astrid nodded.

Layer by layer, Aednat unwrapped her leg. “Does it hurt?”

The ankle was purple and black. It had to hurt, but Astrid only shrugged. “I am often hurting myself. My mother says I am clumsy.”

After soaking the wounded ankle in water from just outside the door, Aednat set it with a firm binding soaked in spearmint oils she found amongst the jars. “That should ease the aching.”

Astrid rubbed the covering. “A much better job than the Meic Murchadha’s healer.”

“Did she put anything on it?”

Astrid shook her head. “She was more interested in speaking of God’s curse on me, saying it was my behavior alone that caused me to have so many accidents.

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