She grimaced at the horrible memories, though she would not take them back.Those unborn siblings guided her in the Void, their presence a quiet solace.
“Me too,” Fael said, his hand lingering on her shoulder, a steady reassurance.“My mother and father didn’t love each other.They married because my father wanted her.After she had me, they separated.I stayed with her until my tenth birthday, when my power emerged.”
His gaze unfocused as he spoke.“He came for me then, and I never saw her again.She died while I trained with my father.”
Ren’wyn hesitated, then asked, “Where did you train?I’ve seen other berserkers train in similar ways.Did you have a Master?”
Fael nodded.“I did.My Master was exacting.I have both good and bad memories of those years, but I owe him for everything he taught me.Berserker power is brutal and violent.Poorly trained berserkers are dangerous, to others and themselves.I’m grateful I wasn’t one ofthem.”
Ren’wyn exhaled deeply, the sound of distant nighthawks and the gurgling Mere easing her tension.His words conjured memories of the Spyre catacombs, filled with the screams of broken berserkers.Fire had sometimes licked under their doorframes, a reminder of the madness that often claimed them before death.
The sharpness of her dream dissolved.Fael crossed back to his side of the campsite, leaving her to settle.
“Thank you,” she whispered into the quiet, lying down oncemore.
It reminded her of the worst nights at Spyre, lying across from Peria in their dorm, tethered to reality by her friend’s quiet empathy.She relaxed with the thought of her beautiful friend.
A faint shimmer of power pulsed between her and Fael—a gentle reply.It calmed her further until she drifted into sleep withoutfear.
Ren’wyn managed a full mile on her own the next day, walking gingerly.The poultice had worked, reducing the swelling and easing the pain.Fael declared her well enough to remove the splint.
He unwrapped the linen deftly, pulling the sturdy sticks free before rewrapping her ankle snugly.His soft, careful touch was a stark contrast to the brutal strength he had displayed in his morning exercises.
Where did he learn field surgery?she wondered.His practiced ease suggested extensive experience or thorough training.
Later, she caught her reflection in the Mere and noticed the bruises on her face had deepened in color, and the cut on her cheek had scabbed over.She assumed the bruises along her abdomen looked similarly, though she hadn’t checked during her brief moments of privacy.
They stopped for lunch along the Mere, as they had the day before.Ren’wyn soaked her ankle in the cool water while Fael removed his boots, cooling his own feet in the stream.
When he gave her the same meal—hard roll, dried pork, and water—she gave him a small smile.He returned it, his toes playfully splashing near curious trout that swam by.
As they ate, she spotted willow, boneset, and green amaranth nearby.She scooted closer to gather the plants, carefully plucking leaves for storage.
“Where did you learn to do that?”Fael asked, watching her with interest.“And what are you gathering?”
She smiled at his curiosity, pleased to share one of her favorite things with someone.Touching each plant as she explained:
“This is willow bark.It can be powdered, boiled, or poulticed for pain and fever.It tastes bitter as hell in tea, so I prefer to use it in wraps, though that’s less effective.
“This one with the white flowers is boneset.The leaves reduce inflammation when pressed and spread onto injuries, but also work well in tea, especially during flu outbreaks.
“Green amaranth has these green, bushy flowers.I use it to make tea during my period.I learned how to identify and use wild plants at school, where I also studied magic.”
Curiosity lit his face.“There’s a school for magical instruction?I thought the empire destroyed themall.”
“They did,” she replied.“The school I attended focused on ‘acceptable’ studies but secretly taught us about our magic.My father allowed me to attend because Erst was studying in the Capital.My mother convinced him by reminding him how useless I was on the estate when I wasn’t impressing my future husband.”
She kept her voice light, but Fael’s expression darkened.Sensing her discomfort, he drew his feet from the water and shook themdry.
“So, those classes included herbalism?”he asked.
“Yes,” Ren’wyn replied, pulling her unwrapped foot from the water and setting it on the bank.“I have a natural affinity with plants, which surprised my Masters.I love it.”
Fael leaned back slightly, watching the leaves flutter in the canopy.
“I never attended school for my power.I had private tutors for formal education and for magic—my father’s idea.He wanted my identity hidden.His plan was for me to learn to be brutal and efficient so I could one day command the imperialarmy.”
Ren’wyn’s eyes widened.“Your father must have really believed in your power, and your ability to hidetoo.”
