She’s an odd one for sure.
Hector occasionally meets with her in the evenings. But she has left me alone, and I’m grateful she hasn’t tried to force me to conjure Bloodstone magic, though I’m not sure why. Maybe she and Hector are waiting until we reach the cave.
Mildred pats her lap as if beckoning an animal or a child to her.
Strange.
I shift enough to stare at the tent the wet nurse disappeared into. Caring for Edvard makes me want a baby. Which is completely and utterly foolish. I shouldn’t think about it, yet I do.
The longer the wet nurse is gone, the more I worry about Edvard. Is he all right with her? Does he miss his mother? Of course, he misses his mother.
I dig my heels into the soft dirt and sigh.
Everly sits next to me and gives me a sideways glance. “Edvard is fine, Sol.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know the woman. She’s kind and caring. She will not harm him.”
A cool wind whips at my clothes and lashes my hair against my cheeks. I shiver and wrap my arms around my body. Hector fetches a blanket from the nearby wagon and moves to place it over me. I say thank you and tuck it close.
A knowing smile pulls at Everly’s mouth as she watches us. Hector grabs a log and sets it next to me.
“What are we talking about?” he asks as he sits.
Everly plays with a dead blade of grass, twirling it between her fingers as she speaks. “I was reassuring Sol that Edvard will be all right. Nahlia will care for him.”
“Of course she will. She has four children of her own,” Hector says. “She knows how to take care of babies.”
Four?
I cannot even imagine.
Nahlia returns a short while later and hands Edvard to me. Happiness sweeps over me as I bring the baby close. He gazes up at me with wide blue eyes and smiles. My heart warms in a way it hasn’t for weeks.
Does Praxis notice how well his son is doing? I glance at Praxis, who sits frozen on a rock, his eyes void of emotion, his mouth thin.
He’s not ready to hold his son. Hopefully, he will be soon.
I show the baby to Hector. “Isn’t he precious?”
Hector stares down at the little survivor, who promptly stuffs his first three fingers in his mouth. The moment is shattered when Hero returns to the camp.
The Carnelian dismounts and speaks in a rush. “I found the Malachites.”
“Where?” Hector stands and tightens his fingers around the hilt of his sword.
Hero swipes sweat from his forehead. “About half a day’s ride.”
“Then we will travel through the rest of the day and be prepared to attack come morning,” Hector says, his voice sharp.
Luc moves to stand next to Hector. “What about the women?”
“I’m going.” Until that moment, I didn’t even know I wished to go.
There’s something about the injustice done to those in Tarra that brings out the fighter in me, the one willing to destroy everything in my path to avenge those who fell. The people in Tarra didn’t deserve what the Malachites did to them. The children especially didn’t deserve such cruelty.
Determination fortifies Everly’s words as she stands next to me and speaks. “I’m going too.”
