Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Adira’s knees buckled. She would have collapsed if the king hadn’t held her upright, his grip solid around her waist.
Elara’s heart slammed painfully against her ribs, and she went limp against her husband, sickened by such cruelty.
The king glared at Feena, who trembled against Muir’s firm hold, and he commanded, “Heal her.”
Chapter Fifteen
Blood, Silence,
And The King’s Demand
* * *
Blood splattered the polished stone floor, thin, bright streaks that made Elara’s stomach tighten. Adira trembled violently, her face pale, her lips parted though no sound escaped her silent cry.
Feena’s gasp tore through the hall. “My king, please—”
The king nodded to Muir to release the old woman and she hurried toward Adira as soon as Muir’s hands fell away from her.
With an arm around Adira’s slim waist, the king lifted her slim body enough so that her feet barely skimmed the stone floor as he took her to a nearby table and placed her on a bench.
“Get busy, old woman,” he ordered when Feena dropped down beside Adira.
“Water! Cloth! Quickly!” Feena shouted, her old hands shaking as she patted Adira’s shoulder gently to comfort her.
Adira lifted her head that hung far too low and turned frightened and tearful eyes on the old woman.
Feena smiled, softly, and patted her chest to let the lass know she was there for her and all was good.
Two servants rushed forward, one with a basin and another with a pitcher of water and filled the basin.
Feena didn’t waste a minute. She dipped the cloth and proceeded to cleanse the wound as gently as she could so she could determine its severity. Water streaked red as it washed down Adira’s trembling arm.
Dar lowered his head to whisper in Elara’s ear, “Stay as you are. The king will allow the old woman no help.”
Elara forced herself to remain rooted where she stood, her heart pounding, her husband’s warning confirming what she knew herself. However, that did not stop her from feeling helpless and angry over Adira’s useless suffering.
Even though Adira could not hear her words, Feena spoke to her softly, making sure she kept her arm pressed against Adira’s. “Easy, lass… easy. I’m here.”
The fright in Adira’s eyes faded some and she smiled weakly at Feena.
A heavy hand hit the end of the table, startling Feena and causing fright to return to Adira’s eyes.
“How is it the mute understands you?” the king demanded.
“Adira. Her name is Adira,” Feena said.
“Answer me?” the king demanded impatiently.
“Touch,” Feena said and quickly explained, seeing the king’s eyes turn stormy. “With my arm pressed against hers, she feels the calm of my words and knows she has nothing to worry about, that I will help her. The vibration of the table when you pounded it and how it startled me alerted her to your anger. Without the sense of touch, vibration, whatever it is she can feel, and expression, what she can see, Adira lives completely unaware of what is going on.” She bobbed her head. “Please, my king, I must see to her wound.”
“Hurry then and be done with it,” the king said with a dismissive wave, but remained by the table watching her work.
Feena quickly slipped her healing pouch off her belt and hurried to gather what herbs she had with her: golden rod, comfrey, and crushed lady’s mantle. Her fingers trembled as she mixed them with a bit of honey from the crock on the table. She pressed the salve into the wound with practiced care, knowing that with proper care the wound would heal with time.
Finally, she bound it tightly with a clean linen cloth, pressing her palm gently over the bandage. “That is all I can do for now. The wound needs time to heal.”
The king’s brow knitted tightly as a single word spilled from his lips. “Time?”
Muir stepped forward, eager to offer his knowledge. He lifted his bandaged arm. “My wound healed overnight, my king. Not in an instant. Feena did the same for me, and I woke nearly mended.”
The king’s ice-blue gaze slid to Muir. “Overnight, you say?”
“Aye, my king,” Muir said quickly, his voice nearly tripping over itself.
The king looked down at Adira, now clutched protectively in Feena’s arms. His gaze drifted between the two in cold calculation.
Then, as if reaching a conclusion, he spoke. “Adira will not leave my sight tonight. She is to be taken to my chambers where she will remain with me alone.”
Feena’s head jerked up, her face losing all color. “My king… she is frightened…”
“I will send for you, if need be,” the king said, his tone brooking no argument. “In the morn, I will summon you to remove the bandage and I will see for myself how the lass has healed.”
A tremor slipped through Feena’s hands as she gathered Adira close again, fighting to remain calm and not frighten Adira more than she already was.