again, and he’d be good as new in no time.
Hoisting herself up onto his horse behind him, she struggled to pull away the heavy wet fur he wore. The momentary satisfaction of success evaporated as she checked the bandage and found it securely in place.
This was far more serious than the bandage slipping.
“Day three,” she whispered, resting her head against his back.
It wasn’t fair. Day three hadn’t yet come to an end.
Gradually, she became aware of a faint sound beneath her ear. A steady, if not strong, heartbeat.
Hall still lived, and that was enough for her. She wouldn’t give up, either.
“Hold it together, Brie MacCulloch,” she ordered aloud.
If there’d ever been a time she needed her wits about her, this was that time.
She directed his horse next to hers and gathered up the lead of her mount.
They still had time to reach Orabilis. They had to.
“We will arrive at Rowan Cottage by nightfall. I’ve sworn it and it will be so. And you, my big warrior . . .” She ran a hand down Hall’s back before lifting the fur back up to protect him from the cold rain. “You must do yer part in this, too. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep right on breathing, do you hear me? Elsewise, you’ll have me to answer to.”
S eventeen
T HE WESTERN SKY flamed with the last traces of red and pink light as the trees surrounding Orabilis’s home came into view.
Brie didn’t dare yell out to try to attract the old woman’s attention. Though they were many miles from Tordenet, with the Beast’s powers, they were much too close for comfort.
Step by step, she waited on full alert to confront whatever Hall had expected would keep him from crossing onto the property around Rowan Cottage. She directed his big horse to within a few feet of the front door before dismounting to survey her surroundings.
Nothing at all unusual happened. No beasts or invisible barriers of any kind.
If Hall were conscious, she’d give him a piece of her mind for all the useless worry he’d caused her.
“Later,” she whispered as she approached the door. There would be plenty of time to chastise him for having worried her later.
Please let there be plenty of time later.
She lifted her fist to knock, but the door glided open and Orabilis stepped out into the evening to greet her.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the last daughter of the House MacUlagh. Yer back so soon, Princess. To what do I owe this grand honor?”
Brie’s face heated, remembering her first meeting with the old woman, and how she’d embarrassed herself by listing her birthright and ancestry as if it might give her some added authority.
Orabilis had been less than impressed with her pedigree. It was more important who you are, the old witch had informed her, than who yer family had been in generations so long gone that few even remembered they’d ever existed.
The witch, it seemed, was as wise as she was aged. Brie hoped now that her generosity would rival that wisdom.
“I need yer help. My . . . my companion has been injured and the Tinklers tell us yer the only one who can help him.”
“The Tinklers told you that, did they? Well, let’s have a look at him, then. If the Tinklers chose to send him to me, he just might be worth saving.” Orabilis tottered over to the big horse and squinted up toward Hall. “Wake up!” she yelled, slapping a hand to his leg.
“He’s no asleep,” Brie said, straining to keep the desperation she felt out of her voice. “He’s dying, damn it all. Can you no see that? He’s losing thebattle with the poisonous Magic that infects his wound.”
“Magic, eh?” Orabilis scratched at her chin, studying her patient. “Magic too strong for the Tinklers means we’ve got our work cut out for us. We’ll need to start by getting this big one down from his perch.”
“We can do it,” Brie answered, sounding much more confident than she felt.
Climbing back up on Hall’s horse behind him, she worked the
Hoisting herself up onto his horse behind him, she struggled to pull away the heavy wet fur he wore. The momentary satisfaction of success evaporated as she checked the bandage and found it securely in place.
This was far more serious than the bandage slipping.
“Day three,” she whispered, resting her head against his back.
It wasn’t fair. Day three hadn’t yet come to an end.
Gradually, she became aware of a faint sound beneath her ear. A steady, if not strong, heartbeat.
Hall still lived, and that was enough for her. She wouldn’t give up, either.
“Hold it together, Brie MacCulloch,” she ordered aloud.
If there’d ever been a time she needed her wits about her, this was that time.
She directed his horse next to hers and gathered up the lead of her mount.
They still had time to reach Orabilis. They had to.
“We will arrive at Rowan Cottage by nightfall. I’ve sworn it and it will be so. And you, my big warrior . . .” She ran a hand down Hall’s back before lifting the fur back up to protect him from the cold rain. “You must do yer part in this, too. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep right on breathing, do you hear me? Elsewise, you’ll have me to answer to.”
S eventeen
T HE WESTERN SKY flamed with the last traces of red and pink light as the trees surrounding Orabilis’s home came into view.
Brie didn’t dare yell out to try to attract the old woman’s attention. Though they were many miles from Tordenet, with the Beast’s powers, they were much too close for comfort.
Step by step, she waited on full alert to confront whatever Hall had expected would keep him from crossing onto the property around Rowan Cottage. She directed his big horse to within a few feet of the front door before dismounting to survey her surroundings.
Nothing at all unusual happened. No beasts or invisible barriers of any kind.
If Hall were conscious, she’d give him a piece of her mind for all the useless worry he’d caused her.
“Later,” she whispered as she approached the door. There would be plenty of time to chastise him for having worried her later.
Please let there be plenty of time later.
She lifted her fist to knock, but the door glided open and Orabilis stepped out into the evening to greet her.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the last daughter of the House MacUlagh. Yer back so soon, Princess. To what do I owe this grand honor?”
Brie’s face heated, remembering her first meeting with the old woman, and how she’d embarrassed herself by listing her birthright and ancestry as if it might give her some added authority.
Orabilis had been less than impressed with her pedigree. It was more important who you are, the old witch had informed her, than who yer family had been in generations so long gone that few even remembered they’d ever existed.
The witch, it seemed, was as wise as she was aged. Brie hoped now that her generosity would rival that wisdom.
“I need yer help. My . . . my companion has been injured and the Tinklers tell us yer the only one who can help him.”
“The Tinklers told you that, did they? Well, let’s have a look at him, then. If the Tinklers chose to send him to me, he just might be worth saving.” Orabilis tottered over to the big horse and squinted up toward Hall. “Wake up!” she yelled, slapping a hand to his leg.
“He’s no asleep,” Brie said, straining to keep the desperation she felt out of her voice. “He’s dying, damn it all. Can you no see that? He’s losing thebattle with the poisonous Magic that infects his wound.”
“Magic, eh?” Orabilis scratched at her chin, studying her patient. “Magic too strong for the Tinklers means we’ve got our work cut out for us. We’ll need to start by getting this big one down from his perch.”
“We can do it,” Brie answered, sounding much more confident than she felt.
Climbing back up on Hall’s horse behind him, she worked the
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