Taking a quick moment to practice my wind power, which was stronger now, thanks to Askel’s coaching, I ducked out the door and made my way to the door Leif had used to take me to the lake. The field beyond was dark; the only light was that of the glow bugs, which were just beginning to wake up for their nightly task of jumping from grass blade to grass blade.
The moons would rise soon, and by then it would be too late.
Taking in a deep breath, I screamed.
Then, I spun and ran back toward my room, crossing the path of the guard who stood in front of Collum’s room. As I drew closer, I could see the apprehension on his features.
“Help! There’s . . . there’s . . . I saw . . . a man . . . weapon!” It was nothing more than words between my heaving breaths, but it did the trick. The guard dipped his chin, running past me and out the door I had just come through.
Proud of myself, I pushed the door to my cousin’s room open.
The image that met my eyes ripped the air from my lungs.
CHAPTER 37
The Collum lying on the bed was not my cousin.
Well, it was, but she looked nothing like how I had left her the season before.
Gone was her luscious skin and rosy cheeks, and though she had always been on the thinner side, it now appeared as she hadn’t eaten in a fortnight. Sweat beaded on her forehead as I cautiously stepped toward the bed.
I placed my hand on her forehead only to immediately draw it back when I felt the fire burning there.
“Astrid?” Her eyelids moved, but didn’t open, her voice hoarse.
“It’s Runa,” I whispered, moving my hands over her body, trying to discern the cause of whatever was ailing her. I’d never wished to have healing powers more.
If a book with those powers even existed.
“Runa? Is Milo here too?”
I shook my head before realizing her eyes were still closed. “No, you’re in Malheim, do you remember being transferred here?”
“Malheim?” Her forehead creased. “I’ll be up in a moment to read.”
She was delirious. Which was no surprise based on what I felt on her forehead. I was no healer, but I did know a few potions which could break a fever. I began mentally running through them, trying to remember if I had seen the ingredients I would need when Leif and I had visited the lake.
“I’ll be better soon.” The whisper was low and didn’t sound much like the cousin who used to come up with any excuse to ask me to bake her a pie. “As soon as Hansen takes me to the king.”
The title struck me. “You’re going to the king?”
“Yes, it’s why I’m here.”
It was surprising to hear the clarity in these words when she had appeared delirious not a moment before. I touched her forehead again. It was still entirely too warm for me to believe the words falling from her lips.
“I’m going to make you a potion,” I assured her, my heart twisting in my chest at the realization that even with my skills, it could prove futile.
“Always the chemist.” Her lips twisted, but before I could reply, they parted, a heavy breath passing through. She had fallen asleep instantly.
Knowing I couldn’t linger here, I scoured the room. While I’d had a plan to get in here, I hadn’t thought I would stay much longer than to tell her I was here too, and hadn’t exactly figured a way to sneak out.
Finally, I decided that just walking out of the room, acting like I belonged there, would have to do.
Pushing open the door, I slipped past the guard, avoiding his gaze as I closed the door and made my way toward where I had drawn him deceptively before.
“Miss?”
I stopped in my tracks, fear rolling in my gut. I turned. “Yes, sir?”
