I sat down and ate as I admired it, trying to curb my enthusiasm because an integral part was still missing—the string. Not just any type of string could be used, not unless it had that taut tension and stretch that bounced right back. I’d have to searchthrough all the vegetation this land had to offer in search of a fiber that would work.
Morco arrived at the Gathering moments later, dressed in a dark long-sleeved shirt and trousers, his hair as dark as the distant night, his eyes harsh and unforgiving. Instead of heading to the cook to get his stew, he searched the tables until he found me.
A flush moved up my neck every time I saw him. With every passing day, it got worse, an unmistakable gnawing in my stomach that burned white-hot. I’d seen boys who gave my heart flutters, but this was…a lot more intense. Its strength was nearly painful, and sometimes it burned so hot, I just wanted it to stop.
He crossed the sea of tables and drew close, but once I could see the details of his face, I knew something was off. The color of his skin was paler than usual, his eyes more irritable, like he was already in a bad mood even though he must have just woken up.
He took a seat at the table, and that was when I noticed the sheen of sweat on his forehead. It was subtle, something no one else would have noticed, but I studied his features so much I would notice if a single hair were out of place.
He looked like he’d been struck with a harsh cold, except his nose wasn’t red and runny, and he didn’t have a cough. But he looked sick, so sick it seemed to take all his effort just to come here.
“You’re ill.” My hand instinctively went to his on the table, not caring if I caught whatever had stricken such a strong man.
His eyes dropped to my touch. His fingers were lifeless at first, but then they moved deeper into my palm until they wrapped around my thumb and wrist. His breaths were shallower thanthey normally were, visibly strained, like he carried mountains on his heavy shoulders.
He stayed that way for a while, just looking at our joined hands. Then he pulled away, withdrew his warm fingers from mine, and reached for his sleeve before he pushed it up to his elbow.
I gasped.
The wound had festered, turning a deep yellow with fibered webbing over the surface, dried pus in place where it had oozed then solidified. The infection was advanced, covering the bite completely.
“Oh fuck.”
He pulled the sleeve down again, his skin tinted red from the sickness that had now traveled to the rest of his body. It must have weakened him considerably if he wasn’t too proud enough to hide it. That meant he felt a million times worse than he looked—and he looked bad.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“What difference would it have made?”
“Do you have medicine?” I already knew the answer to that, because he would have used it if he did. He wouldn’t have waited until he was on death’s doorstep before addressing it.
“We used to…but not anymore.”
“Morco, if we don’t stop this now, it’ll kill you.”
He wouldn’t look at me. Didn’t react to the harsh thing I’d just said. “It’s done.”
I reflected on the last few days, searching for the signs that I’d missed of his illness and finding nothing. Except the fact that he hadn’t wanted to accompany us back to the forest, but he’d gone because I’d asked. “I’m sorry I asked you to come with us.”
His eyes remained elsewhere. “I don’t believe in nonsense, but I believe you came here for a reason.” It took time for his eyes to find mine, and when they did, they had a surge of strength. “I believe you’re what we’ve been waiting for all this time.”
“Morco, I just know a bit about gardening?—”
“You’re far more capable than you realize. Remember that.”
“Please don’t talk like this.”
“Caius will lead in my stead, and I need you to help him.”
“No.” I shook my head, on the verge of tears. “Please, stop.”
“Finish the bow. Find the poison. Avenge my people.”
“I will find medicine for you.”
“We both know I don’t have time for that.”
“Then why didn’t you say something before?” My voice echoed around the Gathering and others turned to look at me, but I focused on Morco.
