Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Runaria isn’t far from where we were, but our pace is horrid, taking us far too long to arrive.
The attack costs us an extra day. Yet, I couldn’t risk the splinter moving closer to Mikael’s heart.
He anchored himself into the saddle, insistent that he could make it, but he keeps slumping to the side before jerking upright and wearily reassuring me he’s okay.
I haven’t taken my eyes off of him, and once again, Mikael’s eyes flutter and close. His head lolls to the side, and I know he’s about to do it again. I can’t stand it anymore, so I grab his reins and bring us to a halt.
I dismount, then tether our horses together before getting onto Mikael’s. Fusing our bodies together, I tighten my thighs against his and pull him against my chest, securing his body within my arms. He needs to survive so we can break this curse, and he won’t if he keeps jerking around.
His heartbeat is slower than it normally is. When I used to lie on his chest, it was always so slow and steady. I could count the beats on one hand each minute. Now, it’s half of that.
A conflict rages within my own heart.
I hated him only a few days ago.
I want to love him. But I can’t. Won’t.
I can save him, though. And in turn, save myself from this curse. My time for change is past due, so I vow to try and leave my bitterness and anger at the end of this journey if we make it through.
It’s almost sunrise when we reach the top of the hill that looks down on the city.
Pink and orange hues light up the sky, the sun resting just below the horizon.
The ocean spreads out beyond Runaria’s buildings, the port city essential to our maritime trade with the humans who occupy the land across the Raging Sea.
Also used for shipping goods to cities up the coast, including the capital, instead of using slower land travel.
When we get closer to the towering gates, two guards are standing atop the battlements.
Reasons for our current state of appearance run through my mind, and I settle on being attacked by the Varnox.
It’s common enough for this area to be believable, and our clothing is stained crimson.
I look worse than him, caked blood spread across my neck and arms, but it’ll add to our cause.
A human wouldn’t have as much of a chance as a fae warrior at survival.
Plus, it’s me, a famed warrior—even if I have fallen from grace.
Everyone knows who I am from centuries past, and about Varithen, as we often have traveling merchants. I also make it a point to visit nearby cities and make alliances with their leaders.
“Halt!” the deep voice of the guard on the left calls out when our horses’ hooves are a step away from the drawbridge. The entrance is open, and usually remains that way even throughout the night, but I know our appearance is cause for caution. “Who seeks entrance?”
“Bryn, of Varithen,” I respond, then add, “Varnox attacked us on the way back to Varithen. This is the closest city where we could stop. My companion needs rest and healing.”
The guards converse with one another before the one who spoke responds, “Proceed, and welcome.”
Once we pass under the arches of the entrance, I’m reminded that after the dwarfs helped build Varithen, I helped the leaders of Runaria strike a deal with the dwarfs to transform this city.
Instead of wood-framed buildings, the structures are now made from stonework.
It has a similar architecture to Varithen, but the decor is different.
Around town, water elements carved into the stone honor the sea and the ship merchants that make this city thrive.
Some early-rising residents are out, preparing for the day. Hopefully they are too busy to scrutinize us. I head down an alley and find the inn I’ve frequented in the past. The wooden building is surrounded by stonework, the owner unwilling to conform to the changes of the city.
I gently shake Mikael to wake him. “We’re here.”
“Here so soon?” Mikael’s voice is shaky and faint.
“For you.” I scoff, then dismount and tie up the horses.
“I felt you holding me.” He lifts his lips in a smile as he swings his leg over the saddle and slides off with my help.
“Let’s go. Up the steps.” I pull his arm around my neck to support his weight.
I’ve always loved the doors to this inn. The two massive panels are carved with intricate details of a forest and animals. The burly, round-bellied man behind the bar lifts his bearded face when we enter.
“Hi Josef.” I smile at him, then continue, “We need help.”
He’s one of the few humans who runs a business in our fae cities. He’s safe, the best with secrets, and has never betrayed my confidence. Concern and confusion flickers across his face, then he rushes over.
“Bryn! I almost didn’t recognize you. Oh my, what have you gotten yourself into?” His eyes go wide as he gets the full view.
“We passed through Varnox territory on the way to Varithen.” It’s not a lie, but not the entire truth either. Even though I trust Josef, he doesn’t need to be the keeper of all secrets.
“Those pests. Let’s get you up to a room.” He rushes back to the counter and asks, “One bed, or two?”
“Two,” I answer.
“One,” Mikael interjects, looking up at Josef with a low chuckle before returning his head against my shoulder.
“Two,” I respond firmly.
“Apologies, Bryn’s in charge here.” Josef rushes over and puts Mikael’s other arm over his shoulder.
“Yes, that she is,” Mikael says.
With Josef’s assistance, it’s much easier to bear Mikael’s weight, and we make quick work of going up the stairs. Mikael groans when we lay him on one of the beds.
“What do you need?” Josef asks.
“I need Eydis,” I respond. “Please.”
“She’ll be here within the hour.” Josef leaves, shutting the door behind him.
“This is torture. I can feel when the splinter moves. The wolfsbane is no fun either. Although I did have some lovely dreams of us.” He raises a brow at me. “Sure you don’t want one bed?”
“Mikael, you’re dying—and you want to make jokes about being intimate?”
He shrugs. “It was worth a shot, especially if I might die.”
I release the stress of the situation in my next exhale and shake my head. “You’re not dying on my watch.”
“I knew you’d come around,” he responds.
“I’m not coming around. I’m not doing this for my soul and life, but for my city.” I enter the bathing chamber and lock the door.
My clothes didn’t look as bad as Mikael’s, but they are still ruined. We’ll need to get some new clothing before we leave.
The one thing Josef did upgrade was the piping throughout the establishment, and now there is running water.
I let water run for a while, turning from cold to warm, before getting in the bathing tub.
I scrub my skin and wash my hair, removing all the blood and grime and letting it run down the drain.
There are no new riddle tattoos on my skin that I can see, but that problem can be solved after dealing with Mikael’s injury. I take a dressing gown hanging off a hook and slide it over my head. It’s early enough that I don’t care about going down only wearing this.
“I’ll be back,” I tell Mikael, not waiting for a response as I leave the room.
Sunlight streams through windows, illuminating the vaulted wooden rafters. I take a seat at the bar and rest my head in my hands.
“Can I have some honey wine, please?” I ask Josef.
“Only the best for you.” He pulls out a jug from under the counter and pours a large cup.
“Besides the attack, how are you Bryn? I haven’t seen you around for years.” Josef leans his elbow on the counter and puts a hand on my arm, giving me a gentle squeeze.
“I’ve been hanging in there.” I look up and grip his hand. I sigh and take a long drink. I so easily forget my vow to make a change. But we’re nowhere near the end of our journey, so one drink is all. “How about you? The place looks great.”
“Thank you.” He smiles.
“Josef, you summoned me? What urgency demands my attention this early in the morning?” The annoyed voice comes from behind me. I spin in my seat to see an aged fae female standing there with a hand on her hip. When her eyes land on me, they immediately soften.
A smile spreads across my face. “Hello, Eydis.”
“Bryn.” She assesses me. “What is it this time?”
I rise, walking over to pull her into a hug. “It has been too long.”
“And whose fault is that?” Her arms wrap around my waist, squeezing me back. “You never stop over for tea, and only visit when you need something.”
“I have come over for tea.” I release her.
“Not enough,” Eydis chides, pinching my cheek.
“I’ll correct that.” I can’t truly promise, because I don’t even know if I’ll be alive in a few weeks.
I motion her to follow me, and she does without question. Before I enter the room, I turn. “I require your word, the unspoken vow, that this will remain between us. No one can know.”
She tilts her head and narrows her eyes. “Is it worth it?”
“Yes. My life is on the line. I’ve been cursed, and the other half required to break the curse lies on death’s edge behind this door,” I tell her. Eydis was a friend of my mother’s, so she’s known me since I was a child; she’s like family to me.
“Very well.” She holds out her hand, and I grip her forearm just as she grips mine.
In the old tongue, we both speak the vow of silence. “This encounter will remain between Bryn Salinthor of Varithen, daughter of Tork, and Eydis of Runaria, daughter of Falinmer.”
Purple threads shimmer around us before dissipating. I open the door, ushering her inside. Mikael opens his eyes and looks at us.
“Hi,” he says, more weakly than before.
I don’t waste time talking around it. “Mikael’s a vampire. He has a poisoned splinter near his heart. I need you to remove the splinter, then heal him from the poison.”
She turns to me. “Bryn, this is forbidden. He shouldn’t even be in the city.”
“I know. I don’t want him here either. We’re trying to break the curse, and I need him to complete the trials. Or I’ll die as well.” I run my hand down my face and worry at my lip. “He’s my bonded mate.”
“Bonded mate?” Eydis’s eyes go wide, and she looks between us.
“Yes. From before the war. That is all I’m willing to say on that matter.” I turn to her, picking up her hands and holding them in mine. “Please. You’re a skilled healer, and I didn’t want to risk trying to remove the splinter myself.” I drop my head.
She doesn’t ask any more questions, only nods and approaches the bed. From within her bag she removes a knife, sliding it through the rest of Mikael’s shirt, exposing his chest.
“This is going to hurt.” She pulls a cloth out of her bag and offers it to Mikael.
“I’m already in pain.” He closes his eyes and bites down on the rag.
I stand at the top of the bed, wrapping my fingers around his bicep. Eydis’s hands hover over his exposed chest before centering on a spot close to his heart.
Green threads of light leave her hands and enter his body. Her eyes close, brows pinched in concentration. Fingers slightly curled, she slowly moves her hand up, pulling the now taut threads of green light.
Mikael’s muscles stiffen, as tightly wound as a rope, and his eyes fly open as his head arches back.
A tinge of pain radiates through me, coming through our bond.
Instinctively, my free hand finds his, and I clasp it firmly.
A tiny piece of wood breaks through his skin and hovers in the air.
It’s as thin as a piece of hair, and the length of a sewing needle.
Mikael shudders, closing his eyes, his body relaxing into the bed as he removes the cloth from his mouth.
“Grab it,” Eydis instructs.
I pinch the splinter between my fingers and place it in a waste bin.
“There is no true cure for the poison. I will pull what I can from his body, but we need something to put the poison into. A plant will do. Go find one.”
I rush to the kitchen and swipe one of the potted herbal plants from the shelf.
When I return, she’s swirling her hands above his body, but this time the shimmering threads of her magic are white.
I place the plant next to him on the bed.
As the threads leave Mikael’s body, they turn black, tainted by the poison.
The more threads that enter the plant, the faster it withers.
Once she’s done, the plant is a dead and shriveled version of itself.
“Since the splinter has been removed and most of the poison is gone, he should be able to heal within a few hours.” She picks up her bag and heads to the door.
Mikael looks like he’s asleep.
I grab my coin purse and walk her downstairs and give her a handful of coins. “Thank you, Eydis.”
“Do not linger in this city. I want you both gone when he is able to travel. Which should be tomorrow.” Eydis walks out of the inn, her warning clear.
“Understood.” I nod and close the door when she steps beyond the threshold.
When she’s gone, Josef asks, “Do you need anything?”
“New clothes for both of us.” I give him our measurements so he can arrange for them to be sent here. I toss him the bag of coins. “And whatever food you have available. It smelled delicious in the kitchen, and I owe you for the plant.”
“I’ll have everything sent up. Two knocks for the food, and three when the clothes are here,” Josef says.
“I cannot thank you enough.” I bow my head. “If no one answers, leave it just inside the door. But only you are allowed to enter with your master key. No one else, please.”
“Of course.” Josef nods.
When I return to the room, I immediately fall into the empty bed. After the attack and needing to get Mikael here, I need the sleep this bed promises.