Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the flames made one last sparking gasp of surrender and smoldered out.
With an exhausted sigh, he released her and rocked back on his heels.
She rose to her elbows, staring at him in wonder.
His heart still pounded.Panic continued to race through his veins.His body shuddered with residual fear.
Behind him, her father sobbed, “Carenza!Dear God, what hap—”
He cut himself off with a gasp when he saw the ragged edges of her leine, curled and blackened by fire, and the wisp of smoke rising from her scorched arisaid.
“I’m all right, Da.Just a bit singed.”Her grateful gaze settled on Hew.“Ye saved my…” Then she lowered her eyes.They widened in horror.
Hew followed her gaze.Below his shoulders, the sleeves of his leine were burned away.The flesh of his exposed arms, from shoulder to wrist, was bright red.The palm of his right hand was blistered.
“Ye’re hurt!”she said.
He didn’t want her to fret.“It looks worse than ’tis.”It wasn’t a lie.Not really.He could see there was damage.But at the moment, there such an intense current of residual terror flooding his body, he could feel no pain.
The laird crouched beside him with a worried frown.Then he turned and bellowed out over his shoulder, “Peris!”
Was the laird calling his physician on Hew’s behalf?Or for his own injuries?After all, Hew had walloped Dunlop with all the force of a battering ram in his effort to snatch Carenza from the blaze.
“Here,” the laird said when the physician arrived.“He’s been badly burned.Take him to my chamber.”
Hew scowled.Surely he wasn’t badly burned.Just a bit seared.He needed no special treatment.He was a battle-seasoned knight.The warriors of Rivenloch shrugged off injuries like a duck shedding water.
“That won’t be necessary, my laird,” he muttered.
The laird ignored him, adding, “Quickly, Peris.”
Carenza sat up and pressed a hand to her breast.“I pray ye do as he says,” she begged him.Her lips trembled.Her pale brow was etched with care.Her wide eyes were wet and full of fear.
Her urgent entreaty softened his frown.Melted his pride.How could he argue with an angel?
He gave her a reluctant nod.
And now that the excitement was over, now that the fire was out and Carenza was safe, Hew’s pulse could calm at last.
Carenza’s brow creased again as she perused his injuries.“They must be terribly painful.”
“I’ve had worse,” he said, giving her a wink.
This time itwasa lie.Now that the danger was past and the tension flushed from his muscles, the pain seeped into his blood like swift poison.
He was accompanied to the castle by the three of them—the physician, the laird, and Lady Carenza.
By the time they reached the keep, Hew’s arms felt as if they were engulfed in liquid flame.
By the time they entered the laird’s chamber, he had to clench his jaw against the pain.
And by the time he sank down onto the laird’s pallet, sweat began to pop from his brow, chilling his fevered skin and making him shiver uncontrollably.
The physician performed with clean, quick efficiency.His manner was completely at odds with the nervousness he’d displayed when Hew had first questioned him.He opened his leather satchel, pulling forth vials with calm, collected expertise.
“I’ll need a bucket o’ cool water,” he said to the laird.“Butter.Honey.And a cup o’ wine.”
“Ye can have the bottle o’ Bordeaux on the table,” the laird said.He turned to Carenza before he left the chamber.“Stay with him?”
