Chapter 4 #2
And yet, when blood dripped from her hoof onto my hand, a white shimmering glowing drop, I realized she was not infallible. A rusty nail was buried in her hoof, and I would need to extract it.
“Och, you poor thing. I’m going to do my best to pull this nail out.
But I need to grab a tool. It’s likely going to hurt.
” I looked up at her, but she only dipped her head again, seeming to understand my words.
Leaning back, I dug in my pack until I found my Leatherman multi-tool that I carried just in case I ever needed it.
It wasn’t the best tool for the job, but it had a small set of pliers that might do well enough, with the added bonus of my own power.
Working quickly, I popped the pliers out and then returned to the hoof.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. This nail has lodged itself in your hoof.
I’m going to use my pliers to extract it in one smooth motion, but I’ll also use my power to help.
Hopefully the combination of both will work.
If not, I’ll go get the right tools and come back to you.
But let’s just try this first and see how it goes.
Um, please, you know, try not to kick me or anything if it hurts too much.
I am just trying to help.” The last thing I needed was to take a magickal hoof to the face.
Bracing her leg against my knee, I took a deep breath and called upon my own magick.
I often envisioned it as this ball of power inside me, a flower bud still closed, and when I needed it, the magick would unfurl and open the petals.
But when I was connected to her? Something astounding happened.
Everything bloomed inside me. I was Faelan of the Flowers, protector of animals, healer connected to Earth’s natural energies.
Power positively flowed through my body, and with just one good tug and my healing abilities immediately stopping the flow of blood, the sweet unicorn was free from pain.
I scrambled backward, detaching myself from her, knowing to linger in her power for too long would be too much even for me.
Plus, I suspected it would also be considered rude.
She’d given me a great gift by allowing me to heal her, let alone touch her, and overstaying my welcome by her side would be a significant faux pax.
I wasn’t entirely sure of the protocol, but I knew that I didn’t want to break any rules when it came to interacting with a unicorn.
Shaking, I held out my hand to the unicorn so she could see the nail I’d pulled from her, the tip coated in that shimmering white blood.
“Should be right as rain now.” The unicorn dipped her head, blowing out a happy-sounding breath, and surprised me by lightly touching my hand with her horn.
Happiness flooded me, as pure as a puppy’s joyful bark, and then she angled her head toward the forest. Bobbing it twice, she stamped a hoof, and I followed her line of sight.
Something shifted in the shadows.
With a soft whish of air, the unicorn disappeared silently into the forest, heading the other way from where she’d drawn my attention.
Gloam stood. His body was tense, his tail straight.
“Is someone there?” I whispered, curling my hand around the nail and tucking it in my pocket. The nail was now highly magicked, and I would keep it with me as a protective charm.
“Aye.”
Straining my eyes, I held my breath and waited.
The breeze picked up, shifting the branches, and for a moment I caught a glimpse of golden eyes and shaggy fur.
For one, laughable second, I could have sworn I’d seen a wolf.
But wolves hadn’t been in Scotland for ages now.
“A husky,” I said out loud, letting my breath out slowly. “Someone must have lost their dog.”
The wind picked up, howling across the loch, and whipping through the trees. I blinked, and the dog was gone.
“Hey, come back,” I called, making kissing noises, just to see if I could help the lost dog. “Do you need help?”
“We should go.”
Gloam didn’t have to tell me twice. Everything about this moment had been fantastical, and as the first drop of rain hit my head, I realized I was about to get doused.
A storm must have rolled in while I was healing the unicorn, and now I’d need to traipse back home in the wet and cold, if I wanted to make it in time for dinner at the castle.
Dinner at the castle.
Shaking my head at my thoughts, I pulled my rain jacket from my pack and bent my head against the increasing pressure of the wind.
Following Gloam, I trailed my hand along the stone wall, when the clouds opened up and let loose a nasty barrage of rain.
Stumbling, I raced after Gloam down the hill, but the conditions quickly worsened and I could barely see in front of my face.
“Go on!” Gloam looked behind him at my shout. “Get cover. I can’t run as fast as you. It’s too slippery.”
I’d just have to stumble my way carefully down the hill, holding on to the wall for safety. Oh well, it was just rain. Icy cold and coming down impossibly fast, but still, I wouldn’t melt.
Lightning flashed, thunder cracking the air quickly after it.
“Bloody hell.”
So much for a peaceful day off. I inched my way along the wall, feeling with each step, not wanting to take a tumble and twist my ankle. My energy was already somewhat sapped from a day of hiking, I was a touch jittery from healing the unicorn, and nerves were making me uncertain in my steps.
“Hey!”
I lifted my head to see a man in a black rain jacket, the hood pulled over his head and shadowing his face, standing at a gate in the wall.
“Come on then, I have a wee dry space to ride out the rain!” The man beckoned to me, and only as I drew closer did I see who it was.
My heart sank.
Dr. Luch Carmichael.
I didn’t know if I was safer just toughing out the storm, but when Gloam streaked inside the gate that Luch held open, I figured it was safe.
He wouldn’t lead me astray. Or at least I hoped he wouldn’t.
Swallowing my nerves, I stumbled the rest of the way through the pounding rain to where he stood, holding the gate open, staring after Gloam in astonishment.
“Nice day for a walk, isn’t it?” Luch asked, amusement dancing in his eyes. Good God, the man’s handsome. I’d tried to avoid noticing when I’d treated his pup, but close up like this? He left me a little breathless. Or that could be from the excitement of helping the unicorn. I grinned.
“Och, aye. Bloody brilliant.”