She tossed him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to have done that. My friend here doesn’t exactly know how to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Orelia added a dash of cinnamon, stirring the tea as she made her way back to the bed. “I added some honey and cinnamon. I find it helps the throat and warms the belly the best.” She offered the man a smile as his shaky, wrinkled hands took the horn from her.
“That’s very kind of you, miss.” Devlin took a long sip, then leaned his head back against the feather pillows and sighed. “Now, what is it I can do for the two of you? Though I’ll think you’ll find I’m not in the best of shape to do much, even if it is something as small as helping this little berr frog you brought.” He looked at Bute, who watched the druid with bright eyes that Orelia could swear were curious.
Vade stood at the foot of the bed. “We need a binding spell reversed.”
The druid took a sip from his steaming cup. “A wizard couldn’t do this for you?”
Orelia sat on the edge of the bed. “It was a binding spell I was trying to use on my garden to get it to grow. I’m a witch, and I thought by combining my natural healing with the spell it would work, but I accidentally bound myself to him instead.”
Devlin set the horn down. “Explain to me exactly how it happened.”
Vade took over the conversation. “She hit me in the chest with some pink light and it absorbed into me. Now when one of us strays too far from the other, it feels like being torn apart inside.”
“Hmm,” the druid mumbled, fiddling with the many rings adorning his fingers. Colorful gemstones filled the settings, gleaming in the midday light coming through the windows.
“You better have more than ‘hmm’ for me,” Vade said.
Orelia cut him a look.
He shrugged.
“Excuse him. I’d like to offer an explanation as to why he is the way he is, but the fact is he’s just rude.”
Vade glared at her while the druid chuckled. “The fae are a straightforward, no-nonsense bunch. I’m used to it.” Devlin gestured at Orelia. “Though, you could try being kinder like this lovely woman here.”
The fae huffed, crossing his arms.
“Can you help us? We have coin,” she offered.
“Coin is not my concern, miss. Unfortunately, I am too weak to perform such reversals. I can barely do much these days, as age has finally caught up to me.”
Vade looked like he was about to lose it. “Are you serious?”
“Quite, my boy.” Devlin grabbed his horn and took another sip of tea.
Vade began pacing. “This is fucking unbelievable . . .”
“Is there another druid here who could do it?” Orelia asked. Surely in the Druidic Temple there were plenty of others who could help them.
Devlin put a cold hand on hers. “Dorsey is a place for young druids to study, and there is not one here that I would trust with such delicate dealings. A spell not intended for lives must be handled with mastered hands.”
“So what the fuck do we do?”
“Vade,” she snapped.
“What? We traveled all this way just to hit a dead end. I have a right to be pissed.”
Orelia pushed her rising anger down and spoke kindly to the druid. “Is there anyone who can help us?”
“There is. But not someone who lives here. Gretern is the Archdruid, and one of the finest I have ever known. You will find her at her keep on the outskirts of Axelton. She trains the top druids from the school here and can reverse the spell for you.” Devlin coughed abruptly.
Orelia quickly pulled a cloth from her pocket and handed it to him. He covered his mouth with it, hacking sounds coming from deep within his throat. When he pulled the cloth away, it was splotched with blood.
“What illness do you have?” she asked. “I don’t mean to pry, but maybe I could help.”
Devlin leaned back against the pillows, breathing heavily. “Your healing will not work on me, young witch. My ailments are from the passage of time.” He coughed again. “It is an honor to die havinglived such a life as the one I have been blessed with, so I shall welcome death willingly.”
