The Healer's Rune by Lauricia Matuska

Author:Lauricia Matuska [Lauricia Matuska]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Epiphany's Quill
Published: 2022-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

A lead weight of dread dropped through Sabine’s stomach.

“You couldn’t mention this sooner?” Sabine tried to moderate her voice, but it took all of her self-control. If the Emissary knew Aodhan was in Khapor, then how long would it be before she discovered him in her home?

“I have told you before that I could not stay, yet you persist in keeping me.”

The matter-of-fact tone in Aodhan’s voice did nothing to soothe Sabine's temper, especially since he was right. “Even so, you could have—”

Sabine stopped. Panicking would only cloud her thoughts. Everything within her wanted to dump the Aethel now, but she was trapped by her own standards. Compound that with what he had just told her about the Wereden, and she was even more obligated to his well-being.

“All right,” she conceded after a prolonged silence. “I will do what I can, but this does not change the fact that you cannot be moved.” In an effort to forestall any more arguing, Sabine rose from the bed, collected Aodhan’s bowl with hers, and carried them to the table in the other room.

“Enough of this!” Aodhan growled.

Sabine glanced up, her eyebrows arched.

The afternoon sun charged in through her window, inundating her room with a surge of harsh, almost-white light. Aodhan sat up straight in the bed, glaring at her across the half-wall that divided the house into two rooms. The sunbeam glistened against his long black hair, accenting an iridescent blue sheen that overlay the glossy strands. She had never noticed that before.

“I will leave today,” he commanded. His glare declared that he would not listen to any more argument.

Bree looked up, roused from her nap beside the table by the tone of the Aethel’s words.

“I heard you the first time,” Sabine snapped, ire flashing through her as unannounced as an ambush. Turning her back on him, she collected her pestle and mortar and a dried bunch of lavender that waited to be ground. She would have to save the dishes until later. “I was only wondering how you plan to walk all the way to the forest when you can barely stand. And who will remove your stitches?”

Aodhan scowled. “The Lady Diera waits only for my arrival. She has sufficient… skill… to hold me together until such time as we can return through your portal. The healers among my people will see to the rest. Now bring me some clothes.”

Sabine slammed the pestle onto the table, an angry retort loaded on her tongue. She held it in check, though, focused on regaining her composure, instead. Breathing in measured, deep breaths, she calmly placed some of the lavender into the mortar.

It was no use arguing with him. He simply refused to listen to reason and accept that he was not ready to travel. She was tired of it! If he wanted to go off into the woods as weak as a month-old babe, fine. Let him try to walk to that cabin. He would fall on his face not five steps from her house, but she did not care.

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