"Zuriah," she breathed.
"Mrs..." Tobias asked.
"Baird," she mumbled. "I'm sorry, Mr. Warren. I know it's late and you're likely tired, but Mrs. Worthington told me to come."
"Fix her," Tobias grumbled, falling into his role of a proper husband a little too easily.
"Come," I said. "My nursery isn't filled currently, so Mr. Warren allows me to use it to keep our women well enough to care for their husbands."
"I see." She gave me a knowing look, but did follow as I led her into the small side room.
And she was a mess. Her hair looked like it had been knocked loose, bled in, and wrapped back into something close to a bun. The redness around her eye made it clear she would have a bruise soon, and the sort that covered her entire socket. Her arm was scraped and bleeding, making me think she'd been dragged across the hard floor, but it was the mark on her throat that scared me the most.
"Are you having problems breathing?" I asked.
"No," she assured me. "It's..." She waited until I closed the door, then eased her dress up enough to show me her belly. "He used the rod, Mrs. Warren. A lot."
"Callah," I corrected. "Now, I'm going to touch, it's going to hurt, and then we'll figure out what comes next, okay?"
"Please don't make me go back?" she begged.
I knelt and began prodding her belly, hoping there wouldn't be internal bleeding. "Zuriah, there are two ways to keep from seeing your husband again. First, if he dies. Second, if you die. Neither is a good option, but you can sleep here tonight. I'll have Tobias tell your husband I need to monitor you closely for the next few hours. With the need for children, no one seems to mind that I've been healing us women. I just don't know if staying will make tomorrow easier or harder to deal with."
"I don't care," she said, lifting her bruised face defiantly. "I do not deserve to be punished because his training wasn't enough. His boys died. His hunters were an embarrassment, and I had nothing at all to do with it."
"I know," I soothed. "I do know, but the hunt was bad. The men are ashamed, and they are not strong enough to handle such things."
"That doesn't mean I should have to!" she snapped.
"No, but it means you should learn when to be busy elsewhere, Zuriah. Laundry is always a good option." And I leaned back. "But you will live. Now, let me get you a blanket before my husband retires?"
"Thank you," she breathed. "I'm sorry to be a problem."
"No," I said. "You have just spared me from the marriage bed. My own husband is angry. He lost a friend. Do not apologize for helping me as much as I'm helping you."
It was a lie, but one that served a purpose. We women needed to stop taking it and start thinking one step ahead. Ayla said to think like a woman. She thought that would help us, so I'd make sure it did - and that I wasn't the only one reaping the rewards of her experience.
Thirty-Nine
Drozel
When Zasen told me he was sending me back to Lorsa with the militia, I'd been pissed. However, Rymar had talked to Omden, giving him a little more detail about their plan. So, when I'd thrown myself into bed, ready to rant, Omden had convinced me this was a good idea.
Our girls were at home. If the Moles didn't have a schedule anymore, those women were at risk, and I'd sworn I'd protect Meri. Now, I had another wounded little bird to care for. I just wasn't sure if this one was a bird of prey like my partner. He definitely wasn't a harmless little sparrow like Meri. This one might be more dangerous than I wanted to admit.
But Zasen wanted me to flip the guy. Sylis might know something, he'd told me. Ayla had mentioned he'd kissed Tobias. Combined, I had a few ideas, but my main concern was how Meri would handle this. Then again, Lessa did have that empty room at her place now, and I didn't doubt she'd sting this Mole if he fucked up. Shit, she'd probably enjoy it.
So once the sun rose, I dragged my ass out of bed, ready to make the long trek back - and found a trio of carts being hooked up. The massive horses these people used to plow their fieldswere being hitched, so we wouldn't be traveling fast, but it was still a lot faster than walking.
"Why three carts?" I called as I headed over to check what was going on.
It was Irrik who met me at the rearmost cart. "So, I'm headed back to Lorsa with you. We're taking wounded. You get a free ride as our thanks for helping with them."
I crossed my arms and looked down at the brazen tailless man. "Mhm." There had to be more to it than that.
He grunted, unimpressed with my attitude. "We do have tea, Drozel. You look like you need some."
"I was up late." Saving these people.
