Mercy's Gift (He Who Finds Mercy Book 2) by Jones Katy Huth

Author:Jones, Katy Huth [Jones, Katy Huth]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Quinlan Creek Press
Published: 2015-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Children’s children are the crown of old men.

Liall entered Dame Edrea’s cottage. The gloom of the cramped room contrasted with the bright sunny day outside the wattle and daub walls. The single window was barred. The only illumination came from a dozen candles of varying sizes placed around the perimeter of the room. Instead of a hearth against one wall, the witch had a fire pit in the center of the dirt floor. A small opening in the roof directly overhead ventilated the smoke.

Mingled sweet and rotten odors drew Liall forward. Over the fire sat a multilevel metal frame. Upon several grates crouched pots of various sizes. Steam came from each, and over the largest pot hung a hand-blown catchment to capture the condensation and allow it to drip into a glass vial. Liall leaned closer to better see the arrangement.

“Greetings, my lord.” The witch’s low voice behind him startled Liall. He whirled around and saw her silhouetted in the doorway.

“You said in your message it was urgent I come in person.”

“Yes, my lord.” Dame Edrea walked to a table pushed against one wall. She picked up a small glass container and a tiny blade. “In order to turn this woman’s affection to you, there must be some direction added to the potion.”

“And how will you manage that?” Behind him something bubbled, startling him, and he glowered.

The witch smiled, baring her small ragged teeth.

“By adding a few drops of your blood. Life is in the blood, after all.”

With a nod Liall rolled up his left sleeve and held out his bare forearm to her.

“Take what you need and make it quick.”

“You should not wish to rush such a procedure.” Dame Edrea prodded his wrist. “This blood must be red, having come directly from your heart. Care must be taken lest you bleed to death.”

Liall froze, his arm still bared. The pulse pounded in his temples. Was this really worth the risk? He considered changing his mind, but he could not let the witch see any weakness in him. Anyway, forcing the princess away from Valerian had become integral to his plans.

“Shouldn’t I sit down?” he asked.

Dame Edrea met his eyes, scanning their depths as if she were a Seer. “You must remain perfectly still.” She gestured to a stool.

Liall sat, bracing his legs. He remembered what his father had told him about pressure points to stop bleeding. There was one somewhere in his armpit. Would he be able to find it if necessary?

“You will not need a pressure point.”

“Why did you say that?” Liall clenched his fists. “Were you reading my mind?”

“One does not have to be a Seer to know what another is thinking.” She stared at him. “Are you ready to hold still?”

“Yes.”

“This will hurt. There is no other way to obtain the living, pulsating blood.”

“I know how to deal with pain. Get on with it.”

Dame Edrea prodded along his wrist until her finger came in contact with his pulsing artery. She pushed her finger harder, and Liall’s pulse quickened against the pressure.

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