House of Bane and Blood (Order and Chaos Series Book 1) by Alexis Menard

Author:Alexis Menard [Menard, Alexis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing
Published: 2023-10-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

CAMILLA

“Why did you lie to him?”

The haelen’s hands paused over my knee, where torn flesh held together by bloody scabbing wove into a seamless new patch of skin. “What do you mean?”

“You felt something during your assessment. I felt it. This is not just another mark on my body. Why didn’t you tell him?” When her remnant pushed against the black stain, it pushed back. Whatever the voidwalker pierced me with, it was alive and reacting, shriveling away from the healer’s touch like a shadow against the light.

“A haelen’s purpose is to care for the individual. It is your body and your decision to share what is going on inside it. Not everyone wants to share their diagnosis, and that’s just fine.” Moving to my other leg, she looked up at me and smiled. “Your body, your secrets, your choice. I’m just here to heal.”

I didn’t know what to make of her confidentiality, only that I appreciated it. I didn’t want to give the Attanos any more reason to be concerned about me. “You’d risk Nico finding out you lied to him? Most are afraid to get on his bad side.”

“I’ve been one of the family healers for years. Ms. Edith wouldn’t let him harm me, nor do I think Mr. Attano would try. He isn’t a cruel man. I think he’d understand, however I would appreciate it if you kept my withholding information to the two of us.”

“I will if you tell me more,” I offered. “Have you ever seen this before?”

“Never. I honestly have no idea what it could be, only that I have no desire to remove it. Whatever it is, it has made itself a home in you. It’s like you’re a host, but it has no parasitic tendencies.” Glancing at my face, she quickly added, “And hopefully it never will.”

“Hopefully,” I said dryly. The haelen wrapped up her work, erasing the evidence of the fight one bruise at a time. When she was finished, it was like it had never happened. The only thing left was the numbness lingering in my legs and the mark on my back. As she gathered her supplies to leave, I asked, “Do you know anyone who would have an idea about this? Are there other haelens who have encountered anything similar?”

She sighed and bit her bottom lip. “Not a haelen, no. But perhaps an Acolyte.”

“An Acolyte?”

“They are keepers of the remnant history. If anyone knows about what attacked you and the mark it left, it will be them.”

“Great,” I said, feeling more optimistic. “Where do I find them?”

“You don’t.” She shut her case and stood at the foot of the bed, ready to leave. “They live on the Continent. None of them immigrated to the Isle, refusing to abandon their towers and the knowledge inside.”

My chest deflated with a scoff. “That does put a damper on my plans, I suppose.”

She offered me a kind smile, one that exaggerated the lines around her eyes. “Get lots of rest, Milla. Do not hesitate to call on me if you are in any pain.

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