Chapter 78 The Druid’s House
I dropped to Ray’s side—he had fainted. A blessing, I thought, because burns were painful and he looked roughed up.
“Ray—can you help him?” I wasn’t sure what to do. The part of me that was an Elf knew that I had to do something, that some chants might help, but the part of me who had just escaped a high-level necromancer and who had helped kill a ruthless dictator-ess was too shaken to think straight.
Otsiano knelt down and gently picked up Ray, cradling him in his arms. “Come,” he said.
We followed him out of the clearing we were in onto a side path. As we wound through the forest, a gentle energy began to swaddle us, cushioning the overwhelm. I found that I was breathing slowly, that some of the worst knots in my back had given way, and now I was just exhausted.
“Where are we going?” Reggie asked.
“I have a friend near here. She’s a healer. She can help your companion,” Otsiano said.
“I hope she’s not too far,” Thornhold muttered. “I’m exhausted, and if I’m tired, the rest of you must be near dropping.”
Brynn nodded. “Count me in on that,” she said.
“We aren’t far,” Otsiano said. Even as he spoke, we entered another clearing.
In this clearing there was a cottage—reminding me very much of cottage-core.
A blonde woman was in front, leaning over a large tub hanging over a fire.
She was stirring something, and my first thought was food, but as we drew closer, I saw that she was washing clothes.
She stood when she heard us enter her yard.
“Well, a sight for aching eyes. Otsiano, what brings you my—” She stopped when she saw Ray.
Then, in a fraction of a second, her demeanor changed.
“Bring him in,” she said, hurrying to the cottage door, where she held it open.
“Put him on the table so I can get a good look at him.”
Otsiano carried Ray inside, and we followed.
“I’m Youama,” she said to us as she leaned over Ray. “I’m a druid.” Then, glancing at us, she added, “Sit and rest while I attend to your friend. Otsiano, there’s food in the pantry. Get them something to eat.”
Otsiano nodded and headed toward a closed door.
I wanted to go over to Youama, to watch what she was doing, but I trusted Otsiano and I didn’t want to interfere.
Feeling antsy, I headed toward the door.
Thornhold joined me, and we stepped outside.
Youama had a bench next to her house, so we sat there, breathing in the warm fragrance of summer.
“Well, the key’s gone,” Thornhold said.
“Yeah…and so is Devastey. But it’s not over. Zaran’s still alive, and he knows who we are,” I said. “He’ll be back for revenge.”
“It won’t be right away,” Thornhold said. “We got our licks in, and he’ll have to rethink his strategy. He doesn’t know we’re lower level, and we killed Devastey. He’ll be taking time to think and to plot.”
I worried my lip. “Do we go back to the Dark Woodland? Are we risking Liesel’s life if we do? Zaran will be after us. Or do we go on the road, find a hidden place to stay?”
“Hmm,” Thornhold said. “I think we go back. No matter where we go, we’re going to be in some sort of danger.
Liesel’s not immune from danger back home…
I guess what stands for home to us. Abarria is filled with it—that’s why we came here in the first place.
To experience a thrill without the chance of getting actually hurt. But now…now the thrill is real.”
I thought about what he said. Thornhold was right. Danger lurked around every corner here. And at least we’d be near a friend. The Dark Woodland was pretty tame compared to some of the things we’d seen, though we had met Zaran there.
“We’ll go back to Liesel. We need a rest, and I want to see Star.” The thought of seeing my Frazzle Cat again lifted my spirits. “Ray will be okay, right?”
Thornhold started to nod, then shrugged. “I wish I could just say yes and know that was true. I think so, though he did look hurt. But I don’t think he was dying. I’m afraid he might be scarred, though, from the burns. And we have to hope infection doesn’t set in.”
“Youama’s a druid; they have healing powers. If Otsiano brought Ray to her, I’m hoping that she’ll be able to help him.” I leaned my elbows on my knees. “I thought I’d be more relieved once the key was gone. But…I’m not.”
“Do you think you were subconsciously projecting the hope that once the key was gone, everything would go back to normal?” Thornhold reached over and patted my hand.
I grimaced. “I suppose. It seems like something my subconscious would do. I guess it’s like housework. You finish cleaning and scrubbing, and doing laundry, and then you realize in a few days you’re going to have to do it all again. That the house won’t magically stay clean.”
At that moment, Brynn peeked out. “Come look at Ray,” she said, a smile on her face.
“Is he—” I jumped up and followed her in, Thornhold right behind me.
As we entered the house, we saw Ray propped up on pillows. He still looked worse for wear, but he was awake, and his burns were covered with some sort of leaves. His eyes were a little glassy, but he was conscious.
“Ray! How are you?” I stood next to Reggie, and Brynn and Thornhold stood on the other side. I let out a long breath, realizing how scared I’d been.
“I’ve been better, but whatever the healer did, it took away the pain. I’m not gonna try to get up, though.” His voice was weak, but he looked so much better than he had when we arrived that I felt confident he’d recover fully.
“We did it. The key’s gone. Devastey’s dead. And Zaran…well…he’s out there somewhere,” I said. “We’re going to go home—to Liesel’s.”
“I’m looking forward to that. And thank heavens that key is off your neck. From now on, no putting on strange jewelry until we figure out what it is and what it does. That goes for all of us.” Ray laughed weakly, but it was still a laugh.
“He needs to rest,” Youama said. She led us over to the counter where platters of bread and cheese, fruit and hard-boiled eggs awaited. “There’s soup in the cauldron on the woodstove,” she said. “Help yourselves. Rest and replenish. After that, you can wash up and then get some sleep.”
Otsiano smiled at her. “Thank you, Youama.”
“Anything for the Lord of the Crystal Forest,” she said. “Is Master Ashelainn outside?”
Otsiano nodded, picking up a slice of the pillowy-soft bread. “Yes, go and speak with him. I’ll stay here with Ray and the others.”
As we settled in with our food, Ray slumbering gently—still cushioned on the table—I thought that finally we could rest. Zaran was out there, yes, but he wouldn’t find us here.