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)
“A good question and one we need to find the answer to.”
“Perhaps we will find it easier than I thought.”
“How so?” he asked.
“She has warned us to stay away. We can’t do that and since we can’t—”
“It will visit us again,” Dar finished. “Unless this was her last warning.”
“Need I remind you that she—not it—is a healer and will bring harm to none?”
“Need I remind you she is born of dark magic and can do us great harm?” he countered.
“She healed Muir’s arm and she did not have to. There is more to her than we know, then anyone knows and I am very eager to meet her.”
“Not without me you won’t,” he ordered sternly.
She smiled softly. “I don’t believe that is a decision left to you.”
He went to argue and held his tongue. Whatever he saw had magical power and as strong and skilled a warrior as he was, he was not powerful enough to fight against magic, especially dark magic. It was the reason such magic was banished to Driochmor. One place Hunters didn’t go.
Elara rested her hand lightly on Dar’s arm. “I truly don’t believe she means to do us harm. She could be on a mission herself and warns us against interfering in it.”
He tried to remain focused, but her light touch stirred his desire for her. A desire that had been growing more intense lately.
“That could raise a whole different problem,” he said, forcing himself to concentrate on the problem at hand. “What if this healer, if she is that, is not aligned with King Dravic?”
“A good reason for us to accomplish our mission and find out what is behind her sudden appearance.”
“The king’s mandate leaves us no choice,” he reminded. “You are an herb-scribe. Is there anything that can be taken to protect against dark magic?”
“Many rely on talismans comprised of certain stones, obsidian and amethyst being the most powerful for protection. Mugwort and nettle ward off evil spirits. Some healers travel with rowan staffs since they are a good defense against witches. But there is one thing that is the best protection when it comes to fighting evil.”
“Tell me,” Dar said eagerly, “and I will see that we have an abundance of it.”
“We are already armed with it… knowledge.”
He glared at her.
She reached up and gently rubbed the lines that had deepened between his eyes. “Knowledge is free to all, but few partake of it. The more you learn, the more you understand, the more likely you are to succeed in whatever task presents itself. The more we learn about this exceptional healer, the more about her will make sense and could help us find her.”
“And what if she proves to be of dark magic?”
“Then we will need to learn what dark magic she possesses so we may counter it.”
“That was tried and failed, and it is the reason all magic was banished to the forbidden land, Driochmor.”
Elara shook her head. “Think of what you say, what most believe. That all magic was banished. Do you truly believe magic could be banished?”
“It was banished,” he insisted.
It was a debate left for another time and one she knew was dangerous to even consider.
“I will get us rowan sticks and Hunters have daggers with obsidian blades. I can gather a few and you will collect those herbs you mentioned. All of that together should offer us good protection against evil.”
“You have a healer here with a garden?” she asked surprised.
“Nay, no healer. We seek out Regina, Gorman’s wife. She has a large garden and knows enough to treat minor ailments. For anything more than that we visit the healer in the nearest Leighfeld village… Swithin.”
“I look forward to meeting her and seeing her garden.”
“See to it first thing in the morn. We cannot linger here. We need to see this mission done.” He went to step away from her, but her hand tightened on his arm.
He glanced down at her hand then up at eyes, seeing uncertainty there.
“You didn’t hesitate,” she said quietly.
His voice came low. “About?”
“When you saw the dark figure,” she said. “You didn’t stop to question what it was. Or why it was there. You reached for it. Why?”
He paused briefly, then as if declaring an edict, said, “You are my responsibility.”
Her brow narrowed in question. “That is a Hunter’s answer. I prefer a husband’s answer.”
“There is no difference.”
“So, you will always be a Hunter not a husband?”
“You play with words, wife,” he cautioned.
“And you played a wanderer quite well, perhaps you can play at being a husband from time to time,” she said with a teasing smile.
“And will you play at being a wife?” He didn’t smile or tease.
That caught her off guard and yet she responded quickly. “I can try, if you will play at being a husband.”
He leaned his face close to hers. “I would… but I don’t know how.”