“They were bad men,” she said, swallowing down the guilt that crept up from her heart. “Did you not see the brands on their necks? Besides, I had to stop them from hurting more unicorns. This was the only way I could do so on my own.”
Lex scoffed but said nothing more.
“Show me your arm.” When he still refused to move, she added, “You’ll have a much easier time riding if you don’t bleed to death.”
“I wrapped it well,” Teryn said.
She turned her scowl to him. “You bandaged his wound with your filthy shirt. Did it never cross your mind to use a clean one?”
“Did it ever cross yours that perhaps we don’t have any? We’ve been traveling for—”
“Then I assume you were planning to eventually stop, boil fresh strips of cloth, disinfect the wound, and pack it with a poultice. And that’s only if he doesn’t also need sutures.”
Teryn said nothing, only held her gaze, jaw set. Finally, he relented. “Just let her see it.”
Lex eyed her through slitted lids several moments before he too seemed to relent. With a roll of his eyes, Lex extended his arm. Cora stepped close and knew at once it was bad. The bandages were already soaked through over what appeared to be three gouges. She opened her senses to him and discovered just how much pain he was hiding. His arm radiated with the severity of his wound. She couldfeelit darkening her senses, could almost see it in her mind’s eye as she took his arm with gentle fingers. Peeling back a corner of the bandage, she caught a glimpse at part of the wound. It only confirmed what she’d already felt. “Is that from…”
“The monster kicked me out of the way with its hind leg,” Lex said stiffly.
Again, Cora debated turning her back and leaving them to their own fates, but she could feel Valorre’s reproach from here. When did he get so softhearted? She let go of Lex’s hand and released a sigh. “The wound needs sutures and a poultice. Come.” She turned and waved for the men to follow. “Gather your horses. I’ll help you.”
“I don’t want your help.” Lex’s tone was laced with venom.
Cora threw a look over her shoulder. “Do either of you know how to stitch a wound? Disinfect it? Do you know which herbs will relieve pain and calm inflammation? Which ones will stave off infection?”
Teryn and Lex exchanged a glance. Of course they didn’t. According to Teryn, both men were princes. Royals had no need to learn first aid. The Forest People, however, were well versed in healing, even those whose Art didn’t specialize in the craft.
“Have you any particular fondness for that arm?” she asked.
Lex huffed. “Of course I do. What kind of question—”
“Unless you want it amputated after infection sets in, come with me.” She left the camp and didn’t wait to see if they’d follow.
25
“I’m not drinking that,” Lex said, scowling at the clay cup Cora handed him.
Teryn watched their icy standoff with a mixture of amusement and trepidation. They were seated around a modest fire in the middle of a secluded clearing by a stream. He was pretty sure it was the same stream he’d met the woman at the day before, and—from the way Cora brought out cups, flasks, and pots from behind a bush—he assumed it was where she’d made camp for the last several days. They’d trusted her enough to follow her away from the scene of the bloodbath and obeyed her instructions to start a fire, boil water, and soak fresh strips of linen torn from yet another of Teryn’s shirts. She’d told them her name, briefly introduced them to her unicorn companion—much to Lex’s awe and incomprehensible stammering—but that was to the extent that they knew her. Well, that and the fact that she’d poisoned nearly an entire hunting party. Teryn couldn’t blame Lex for his trepidation.
“It will help calm your nerves and ease your pain,” Cora said.
“Yes, being dead certainly puts an end to nerves and pain. No, thank you.”
Cora rolled her eyes. “It’s not poison. It’s tea. Lavender, chamomile, and willow bark.”
Lex gave Teryn a pointed look, drawing Cora’s attention to him as well.
Teryn sighed. “Surely you understand why we wouldn’t want to drink anything you offer.”
She pursed her lips and held his gaze. He only shrugged. “Fine,” she said, setting down the cup and taking Lex’s arm. “Suffer through the pain if that is your wish.”
Lex blanched a little but made no further argument.
“Are the bandages dry yet?” she asked Teryn.
He ran his fingers over a corner of one of the strips of cloth she’d asked him to dry by the fire. “Yes.”
“Bring them here.”
