Chapter Two Garrick
Chapter Two
Garrick
I caught the woman before she could slump to the ground. Her magic painted the air around her in shades of blue, but she’d
fought a chagri with a dagger. And she hadn’t healed herself or even tried to defend against my magic.
If the villages were now sending untrained mages into the forest, then my job would become infinitely harder.
I’d gotten here in time to prevent the chagri from stealing her power, but I could feel more of Feylan’s creatures creeping
closer. My hands clenched as I fought the urge to stay and fight, to tear their blight from this world.
But I’d already expended too much magic, and it would require even more to return home and heal the woman’s poisoned wounds.
Grim padded out of the shadows with a questioning chuff, and I waved him closer as I carefully returned her sword and dagger
to their sheaths. The woman had mistakenly called him a wolf, but jurhihoigli weren’t exactly common here.
I tucked her more firmly against my chest, surprised by how light she felt in my arms even with her weapons and pack. A glance
proved that while her magic was strong, her face was gaunt. The winters were getting worse as the world fell out of balance,
and despite her magic, this woman had not escaped the effects.
Grim growled a warning. The nearest creature would arrive in a matter of minutes, and there were other, deadlier things lurking
in the woods as well. Taking an injured mage through the ether was a risk, but Feylan’s minions were a greater one.
I gathered my magic, Grim at my side. The bedrock deep under my boots thrummed in welcome, and my home glowed in the far distance. I stepped forward with a rush of power and nearly stumbled into a dusty bed.
I swayed as the room slowly spun. Grim leaned against me, a solid support that I should not have needed. Fury drove away the
last of my weakness. Stepping through the ether had once been as easy as breathing, but Feylan had stolen that, too.
The woman groaned in pain, and I loosened my grip. Her brow was furrowed, but she’d made the trip without any additional damage.
It remained to be seen whether that was boon or bane.
I healed her shoulder and drove the poison from her blood. I was not a natural healer, so it required a vast amount of magic,
and by the time I was done, the room was spinning once more.
I gritted my teeth and used another precious drop of power to clean the bedding, then I stripped off her pack and unbelted
the weapons from her side. After a moment, I also removed her shoes.
Once, this would’ve been someone else’s job.
I shook off bitter memories and stored her things in the wardrobe. It was enchanted to provide clothing that suited the wearer,
and dresses and tunics already hung neatly inside.
Curiosity pricked me, and almost against my will, I remembered her wide, wondering gaze on my face. She’d looked at me without
fear, like I truly was as pretty as she’d claimed.
Then she’d tried to protect me from the forest, as if I didn’t know the dangers.
As if I weren’t one of said dangers.
A delicate beauty lurked under her gaunt features, but she’d faced the chagri, Grim, and even me with bold courage. If she
was Feylan’s, then he was getting better at picking his weapons—and more careless with their safety.
I closed the wardrobe door with more force than strictly necessary. It was time for me to leave.