The coop had been dilapidated so long that the smell of chickens had long since faded.The wood was rotting, walls on the verge of collapse.It was certainly no place to bring a visiting sovereign, but Raleigh fell to the floor without a care.With a grunt he braced himself against the wall, eyes closed, clutching his shoulder whileblood oozed around the bolt between his fingers.It gave me an odd sense of relief to realise it was red.
‘I’ll be fine,’ he said unconvincingly.
‘I didn’t say I was worried.’
‘You didn’t have to.Your emotions are incredibly loud as it is.’
I didn’t know what that meant but resented it all the same.‘We can’t stay long.They’ll find us here.’
‘I can’t sense anyone nearby.We’ll be fine for now.’
‘You couldn’t sense Father before and he was right behind you.’
‘Only because I had a bloody great cross shoved in my face.’Raleigh grunted and clutched his arm tighter.‘Help me get this out.’
I didn’t move.‘We shouldn’t.The only reason you’re not bleeding is because it’s plugging the wound.If we take it out you’ll be in more danger than if we leave it in.’
‘Yes, thank you, Clara.I spent my youth training to lead my father’s army.I think I know field medicine better than you do.’
‘Don’t patronise me.’
‘Don’t patroniseme.’He grunted and tilted his head back against the wall.‘No.I’m sorry, you didn’t deserve that.’
I blinked.Most men wouldn’t have apologised so quickly mid-argument.It hadn’t occurred to me to be offended yet.I was glad he couldn’t see the flush of shame that crept onto my face.I mumbled that it was all right, but really I should have been the one apologising.
‘This bolt is made of silver,’ he explained.‘Every moment it’s in there it’s poisoning my body.’
‘How can you tell?’
‘Because it fucking hurts, Clara!’
‘Right.Right, okay.’I fell to my knees and tried to get a good look at the bolt through the moonlight.The blade had piercedRaleigh’s clothing, but the thick fabric with all its embroidery must have slowed the blade; it hadn’t penetrated too deeply.I hoped it would come out easily enough; the only experience I’d had with extracting bolts or arrows were from animals that were already dead.And, no, Raleigh wasn’t technically alive, but I didn’t want to make him any more dead than he already was.
‘This is going to hurt,’ I warned.
‘Just do it.’
Before either of us could change our minds I grasped the bolt with one hand, pushed against Raleigh’s back with the other and slowly eased the bolt from his wound.Raleigh bit down hard on his sleeve in an attempt not to scream.Then it was out, the bloody bolt glistening in my hand.Raleigh slumped against the wall, his eyes unfocused.
‘I need to bind the wound.Can you take your jacket off?’
With trembling limbs Raleigh did as asked, though I had to help him with his injured arm.His shirt was easy enough to tear through where the bolt had already made a hole.It was hard to see the wound in the dark, but even with my limited vision and more limited medical experience, it was worse than I expected.The swelling had spread down his arm and was reaching for his chest.There was something coating the rim of the wound, a gritty powder mixing with his blood.I dabbed at it as best I could before he winced away.It felt like ash.
‘How is it?’he said through clenched teeth.
‘Not good,’ I admitted.I tied the torn sleeve as tightly as I dared, trying not to pay attention to the noises Raleigh was making.I gave him a moment to catch his breath, or whatever it was he did with his lungs, then helped him to his feet.‘Will you be all right?’
He rolled his shoulder, testing the mobility.‘It’ll heal once I’ve fed.’
My pulse suddenly felt thick in my throat.I became aware of every vulnerable artery pulsing in my body.How easily they could be slashed open.Bittenopen.
How much would Raleigh need to heal?And how much could I afford to lose?The last thing I wanted was Raleigh losing control of his sanity and bleeding me dry to replace what he had lost.
‘I can’t offer much,’ I said quietly, ‘but … if you promise to stop …’
‘Absolutely not.’Raleigh’s eyes snapped wide open, his horror plain.‘I can manage until we return.’
‘But you said—’
