“For yer health, and askin’ for guidance in what tae do.”
He drew my hand up and pressed his lips to my fingers. His eyes cast down, he held this simple kiss for a long time. Then he lowered my hand, patted the back of it, and let go.
I ran my fingers down the side of his face, his eyes met mine. “That was really... nice.”
I asked, “When you left... before... where did you go?”
“I daena want tae scare ye, but there are men here askin’ on us.”
“Oh...” I added, “That sucks... I can’t leave.”
“I ken. But nae one in the inn will disclose that we are here, we are safe for a time.”
“By ‘time’ do you mean days or hours?”
He shook his head. “I canna tell. Dost ye feel as if ye are growing stronger?”
“Not really.” My chin trembled. “I’m scared.”
“If ye were home, would yer physicians be able tae cure ye?”
I nodded.
He put his head down on my arm. Bent over my bed. He drew in a long breath and then exhaled and kept his head there, murmuring a prayer.
I ran my fingers through his hair, watching his cheek, the side of his beard, as he begged God for help.
Finally he raised his head. “Dost ye need somethin’ tae drink?”
I nodded.
He held the mug with shaking hands.
I sipped, just a bit, begging my stomach to just take it and not argue. I lay back and shut my eyes, concentrating, but then I had to scramble past Torin to purge into the bowl once more.
He watched me sadly. Then he straightened the bedclothes. From my periphery I saw Dude batting something around on the bed, playfully.
Torin snatched the vessel away. “Nae, cat, ye canna play with it.” He looked down at it. “…the vessel… it feels as if tis alive!” He tossed it onto the bed.
I was on my hands and knees over the bowl. “It is?”
“Aye. Tis. Ye ready tae go home?”
I nodded. “Yes, please. I really need to.”
I hadto get back on the bed while Torin paced the room excitedly, arranging our escape.
He wished we could leave at nightfall, but was too worried to wait. Our horses would be brought to the back door. The stable boy, the inn keeper, and Madame Agnes would create a diversion.
“Are the markings right?”
He nodded. “Aye, I hae checked them three times.”
He knelt down. “Can ye sit up, mo leannan?”
I pulled myself upright, and he wrapped the plaid around my shoulders like a shawl, covering the top of my chemise.
I swayed. “My shoes?”
