Tower of the Four, Episode 5: The Resurrection by Todd Fahnestock

Author:Todd Fahnestock [Fahnestock, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: F4 Publishing
Published: 2020-12-14T22:00:00+00:00

9

BROM

Brom awoke. This time, the room didn’t seem so cold, and the aches in his body were gone. Gingerly, he levered himself up to a sitting position, putting his back against the headboard. Gods, he was weak. But the cuts on his back were bandaged, and he could feel the scabs underneath. They were healing.

And he was starving.

Faline had diligently forced him to swallow spoonfuls of broth every time he’d awoken, but he’d hated every minute of it. He’d only done it because she was so unfailingly sweet and unfailingly persistent. But now the scent of cooking food that wafted up from downstairs smelled amazing.

As though thinking of her had conjured her, Faline opened the door and backed into the room. She turned, bearing a wide tray. It held a plate of golden roasted chicken, a plate of steaming vegetables, and a tall flagon of foamy ale.

“By the gods,” he breathed. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Talkin’ to me or the chicken, love?” She winked and deftly bumped the door shut with her hip.

Her slitted skirt swished as she walked to him, giving him a fine look at her legs. She set the tray on his nightstand and smiled. She had a dimple on her right cheek, but not on her left. Just the one dimple.

“I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream,” he said. She’d slept in the same bed with him every night, keeping him warm with her body heat. It was like they were lovers, except she hadn’t done more than hold him and occasionally kiss him on the forehead.

Faline hadn’t just healed his body, she’d made him feel safe and secure when his entire life had been torn apart.

He bit into the chicken with vigor, and she laughed. He chewed and gulped, chased it with a swallow of ale, then chewed and gulped more. Faline went to stoke the fire.

Around a mouthful, he said, “No. Please. It’s fine. I’m sweating.”

“Fever broke, did it?” She stopped fussing with the fire and stood up. “That’s good.” She picked up the little brazier from the mantle and brought it over to the nightstand.

“What is that?” he asked. She’d given him a little of the purple smoke every day, but he’d never thought to ask her what it was.

“You’ve never had Lyanleaf before?” she asked, seemingly surprised.

“Like from a Lyantree?” he asked.

“Exactly like that.”

Brom knew of magical weapons and armor harvested from Lyantrees. But he’d never even heard of smoking the leaves.

“That’s what’s been healin’ you, love.” She set the brazier down, took a deep whiff herself, then waved some of the smoke his way. She tapped the edge of the brazier, and it rang lightly. “Kept you alive.” Again, he tasted that acrid tang on the back of his throat, then a coppery taste. Then, almost immediately, the flavor of the chicken he’d just eaten increased, filling his mouth.

He stuffed a spoonful of potatoes in after it, closed his eyes as he tasted them. Salty and buttery…

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