Leilani takes my hand, my good hand, squeezes it tightly. ‘You’re the only one who understands.’
A look passes between us. It speaks to her mother, to the secret of the Sister-Stones, to snatches of childhood spent under the same roof. To all we’ve shared which, in this moment, is so much greater than the sum of what keeps us apart.
I want to say it. The words I haven’t spoken, the thoughts crystallising since Galtair. The chance we have to forge a new future for Estelia together, how much I admire her, this version of her I’ve come to know since disentangling myself from her father’s vicious web of lies. My gaze drops to her lips, I swallow, but the moment passes.
She lets go of my hand, turns her attention to the Clanschief who’s back at his usual post by the window, spooning the restorative broth Tansy prepared down his throat. I’ll seize this moment to speak to the healer. Easing myself from the bed, I move to where she’s crushing roots for the salve for my arm.
‘This will be ready in an hour or so. I’ll change your dressing then,’ she says, not looking up from her work.
‘I’m not here for me,’ I whisper.
At this, her gaze flicks up, pestle suspended above the pungent paste.
‘It’s Leilani. Could you mix her a sedative? She’s barely sleeping and…’
I glance over at her. She’s where I left her, eyes still fixed on Blayze. I follow her gaze. Maris is trying to help him eat, but he swats her hand away, earning himself a dagger-stare from Delphine. Blayze mumbles something, huddles closer to the wall. Serafine stands guard at his feet like a stony-eyed watchdog as Blayze resumes his stubborn efforts to feed himself.
‘Has she asked for a tonic?’ Tansy says, lowering her voice.
‘It’s important she remains calm and—’
‘I’ll speak to her. If it’s something she wants, of course I’ll prepare something for her.’
I step closer to Tansy, dip my head. ‘We should give her something whether she wants it or not. Look at her – she’s losing weight, she’s…’
The healer gives me a piercing stare. ‘What’s really going on, Astrophel? Is this about what Orthriel said after the avalanche?’
I swallow.
‘She’s not in danger. Not yet. You’re worrying unnecessarily. Focus on letting that arm heal so we can get up this mountain. I’m watching out for the Princess.’
I nod, but my throat tightens.
Tansy doesn’t know about the last warning – the one Orthriel saved for me alone. She has no idea of the stakes.
A sharp clattering echoes from the lower level of the cabin. Maris is collecting up the dirty broth-bowls, stacking them violently and muttering to herself. Delphine slinks to her side, tucks an arm around her waist, whispers something in her ear. But Maris wrestles from her grip, sending the bowls tumbling.
‘I’m going for some air,’ she says, her voice strained, as if she’s fighting back tears. She looks over at Blayze again, but he’s staring into the dregs of his broth as the cabin door slams behind her.
Leilani rises, eyes darting to the window for perhaps the hundredth time since dawnrise.
‘I don’t want Maris out there alone.’
What is it she fears? Not the Arx Magnum’s guards, surely. They couldn’t follow us. Not this high. The frostfangs? The dull burn of my mending wound itches. I shouldn’t like to meet them again either.
‘She doesn’t want my company,’ Delphine says, hair spoiling green as she darts another hate-filled glare in Blayze’s direction and busies herself with collecting the fallen bowls.
‘I’ll fetch her back,’ I say, starting after her.
Leilani smiles at me. A crooked, fragile thing. My chest tightens, and for once it’s not because of the tainted mountain air.
It’s a true smile. The same I glimpsed that night I brought her mooncakes for Thawtide, before things soured between us like spoilt milk.
She’s still in there.
Maybe Tansy is right and I’m worrying for nothing. Orthriel’s warnings might all be for naught.
I cling to that thought, let it warm my bones, as I step into the chill.
