Chapter 12
After a few days of practice, I’d gotten to the point using clear magic where I could keep up a steady pace for a few hours, on and off, and no longer pass out. Satisfied with this progress, I decided to pay Noro a visit to try and heal his wing.
“That’s a good idea,” Colton said when I’d told them where I was going. “Do you want us to come, too?”
I paused. “There’s something I want to test. When I healed Eric, you and Ramsay were there, and when I’ve been practicing you guys haven’t been too far away. Part of me wonders if it only works when all three of you are around.”
“Huh,” Ramsay said. “I never thought about it like that.”
“I don’t know,” Colton replied, shrugging. “The book didn’t mention it.”
I nodded. “This will be a good way for me to find out, I guess. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll come back to get you. It’s the least we can do for Noro to try and heal him.”
Eric stayed behind, but insisted Crystal go with me to the shore. Colton also remained at home to keep reading through the book. Ramsay tagged along with us, saying that staying at Eric’s place all the time was making him stir-crazy.
The three of us made good time to the lake, and when we reached the shore Crystal prepared the canoe.
“Do you think it’ll work?” I asked Ramsay. “Healing Noro’s wing, I mean?”
“Sure.” He smiled. “You healed Eric, right? This is just like that, but bigger and with more feathers.”
“Making feathers grow back seems different than healing a simple flesh wound, though,” I said, suddenly feeling doubtful. What if I couldn’t do it and disappointed Noro?
Ramsay’s hand patted my back. “Even if you can’t totally fix it, you’ll probably make it feel better anyway with your glowing healing magic. Besides, I think he’ll appreciate the effort no matter what.”
“I hope so.” I sighed, still feeling guilty for what happened to him, even though it wasn’t technically my fault. “What are you going to do while I’m on the island?”
Ramsay stretched with a groan of pleasure. “Me? I’m gonna get a good run in. Wolf form, full speed.” He cracked his neck. “Sitting around all day at Eric’s fancy house is makin’ me restless.”
I nodded. Ramsay was wild and free, more attuned with his wolf side than the others. “Okay. Have fun.”
“Will do.” He leaned in to kiss me, lazy but passionate.
“We’re ready to go,” Crystal announced.
She and I hopped into the canoe while Ramsay pushed it into the water. When the boat glided across the surface, he waved us off, then shifted fluidly into his wolf form and sped off into the pines.
As we rowed, Crystal set her sights to the sky with a slightly furrowed brow, as if warily looking out for danger. She was ever-vigilant, as usual. I remembered what Eric had told me--how she had been there when his parents were killed, and carried the burden of breaking the news to him.
Then I recalled the first time Eric left me alone with Crystal to patrol the border. She’d asked me if I knew why Eric was the leader of the pack at such a young age. When I’d said no, she said it was best if he told me himself.
I watched Crystal rowing, strong and vigilant.
“Eric told me,” I said suddenly.
She didn’t pause. “Sorry?”
“About his parents. What happened to them.”
Crystal missed a beat, then dipped the oar into the water. “Ah. I see.” She glanced over her shoulder at me with a smile. “He must love and trust you dearly, then.”
I returned the gesture. “I love him, too.”
“I’m glad.” She let out a sigh. “After his parents died, I was worried he’d be alone for the rest of his life. It was hard on him, Matheson. Almost unbearable.” She let the canoe move with its own momentum for a moment. “There were times I was worried he couldn’t do it. Lead the pack. He was so young, and in so much pain. But he pushed through it and emerged stronger than before.”
I ached for Eric. I couldn’t imagine going through what happened to him.
“He’s changed, you know,” Crystal said. “Since you arrived here.”
