And she made a face, telling me her answer before her words confirmed it. "No, but he was big. I was busy so didn't get a good look."
So maybe I wasn't as careful with my work as I should've been. It was possible I didn't clean all the animal bites the way I could've. Still, the line of bodies needing attention eventually ended. The girls were sent to clean up first. Now that I was a wife, I got to stick around and help clean up the mess all these men had just made.
"Mrs. Warren?" The sound of Mrs. Worthington's voice made me turn.
"Yes?"
"You did more than your share tonight." And she moved closer, lowering her voice. "I've heard what you've been doing for the other wives. Take some more supplies for them and go. We'll cite them as used by the men, and I think we all know some women will need you by morning."
"Thank you," I breathed. "I'm just trying to do the Lord's bidding."
"Aren't we all," she agreed, but she sounded exhausted in a way that had nothing to do with how long we'd been working.
I couldn't turn down her offer, even if I wanted to rush back and check on Tobias. I was running low on a few things - mostly suture. So, filling my pockets with as much as I could hold, I double-checked to make sure the wives in here didn't need help mopping, and then left.
The walk back to my suite felt like it was never-ending. With each step, I kept trying to imagine what I'd do if he wasn't there. Would someone tell me he'd been killed, or would I need to figure it out on my own? And if he had, then what?
I'd have ninety days, that was what. Ninety days alone, without his comforting presence. Three months of being watched to make sure my monthly flowering hadn't stopped, and then I'd be married again. This time to someone who might not approve of my healing, let alone my desire to not be touched!
Eventually, I did reach my room. Turning the knob to the door, I pushed it wide, but couldn't quite make myself step in. I listened, hoping for some shuffling or movement. I'd even take filthy clothes strewn across the floor - but there was nothing.
Then a hand landed on my back. A squeak of fright burst forth as I spun to face the toucher - and I'd never been so happy in all my life. Before me, wet and clean, my husband stood - and he was fine. Completely fine!
"I didn't know if you'd returned," I admitted.
"Inside, woman," he grumbled, pressing me the rest of the way into our suite, then securing the door behind us.
But he didn't tell me it was okay. He didn't laugh because I'd clearly been worried. Tobias simply crossed the room to the chair he preferred, then dropped into it hard.
"What?" I begged. "What happened?"
"I had to tell Gideon that Sylis is dead." He shoved a hand across his mouth. "You'll need to let Felicity know. I'm not sure if someone will tell her before then, but I made sure Gideon heard that I'd seen him cut down myself - by the Wyvern."
"What?" No, no, no. That couldn't be right! "They're supposed to help!"
"Callah..."
"He's your friend!" I insisted, turning to pace the room.
And he grumbled under his breath. "Callah! Stop! Listen to me before you fret, okay?"
I stopped hard, shocked at his tone. "I'm sorry."
"That's what we have to say," he told me. "I talk in my sleep, or ranted about it, or something. That's how you know the Wyvern got him, okay?"
"Wait, what?"
He tipped his head at my chair. "Sit. I have a lot to tell you, and we're both tired enough that I don't want to forget anything."
"Okay," I said, but I sat lightly, braced for the worst. "Are there more women in quarantine?"
"Not this time." And he laughed once. "The wild men were ready for us. Reapers, they're called in their language - because they aren't wild, Callah. They're farmers."
"Farmers? Like Ayla wanted to be?"
"Yeah, but Ayla's a lot more than a farmer now." With another grunt, he waved that off. "In order. The Reapers were ready for us. They had their dogs - so many dogs! Sylis and I tried to go around to the side, hoping we could avoid killing anyone, and I wanted to get close enough to their town to leave your letter, but we didn't make it. A wild man caught us. I tried to tell him I was there for Ayla, but he didn't care that I had my hands up. He tried to stab me, and Sylis jumped in the way."
"No..." I breathed.
