When Erril left, Lannahi gathered her courage and looked at Ashared. She would have preferred not to have to thank him, but what he’d done for her couldn’t be repaid with a simple favor. In this case, acknowledging the debt was more honorable than tactful silence.
“Thank you.”
She would have preferred to wear a gown instead of a blanket, and have the hair flowing in waves to her hips instead of a short tousled hairstyle and smooth skin instead of a bump on her forehead, but Ashared’s eyes didn’t seem to notice any difference.
“Rest,” he said softly.
When she started sliding the blanket off her shoulders, he helped her take it off and put it aside. When she fell asleep, he watched over her. When she awoke from a nightmare of icy water flooding her lungs, crying and shivering from the cold, he embraced her, letting her burrow her back into his chest.
“Y-you don’t hate m-me.”
It was supposed to be a question, but through the chattering of her teeth and her faltering hoarse voice, her words sounded like a statement. She felt embarrassed, but it was too cold for her to move away from him and the warmth he was giving her.
“No, Lannahi,” Ashared said. “I don’t hate you.”
***
The next few hours interflowed into a river of memories and nightmares.
Erril’s voice enchanting the sleigh. The gray sky and frosty gust on her cheek. Strong arms around her body.
Soft bedding. Souhi’s voice.
“We appreciate your help, capit— Ashared. We will take care of her now.”
A gentle hand holding her head. A bitter fluid in her mouth.
“How long will it take before she recovers?”
“Hopefully soon.”
“Let me know if I can help.”
Silence.
“You’ve done enough,” Souhi said in a gentler tone. “I know where to find you.”
Warmth.
“The Guide will open the Trail to Blacktower in a few hours,” Esau said somewhere in the distance. “I’m guessing, Blann, that your potions won’t get her back on her feet in such a short time?”
“The fever should completely subside by tomorrow,” the flowerspeaker replied. “But the cough might last three days.”
“I’ll send a letter via the Post Trail,” Souhi said after a long moment. “I’ll dismiss the Guide.”
“That would attract the attention of Arbiters,” Esau noted.
“The landshapers could do with the attention of Arbiters,” Dallal said. “And if any of them visit the shapeshifter settlement in the process, all the better. Amaruk will regret not keeping his bitch on a shorter leash.”
“What if they appear the moment when Lannahi decides to take revenge on them?”
“They won’t stop her. The Rules are on her side.”
Cold. Ice cracking underfoot. Ice burning her skin. Ice stabbing her body.
Lizaar’s hands tightening the collar around her neck. Gannar’s scissors piercing her lungs. Ashkii’s fangs tearing into her flesh.
Bitter taste on the tongue. Sweet smell. Sweet voice.
