The wound on my left shoulder that was cauterized by the forge-fire is a twisted mess of burned skin. But the series of cuts down my torso are awful to behold. I take one look and then stare at the ceiling. Better not to dwell on them.
“You’re lucky Dusana has an overinflated opinion of her own skills,” Gliss says as she examines my injuries and sets to work. “She missed all the parts of your body that could have done you real harm.”
“Is she still alive?” I ask.
“Her family will have found a way to take her to other healers. So, yes, undoubtedly. But she’ll be punished for disobeying the Queen’s orders.”
While Gliss works, my mind drifts, but not to the point that I’m oblivious to how her power seems to grow weaker as the minutes extend. Or the fact that she seems determined to attend to the cauterized wound too.
“You’re exhausted,” I murmur, eyeing the increasing tension around her eyes and mouth, even though I’m grateful for the effect her power is having on all my wounds. I may end up with very few scars after all. “I’m surprised you didn’t object to the task of healing me.”
In fact, I’m surprised that she dismissed the warrior fae to stay here with me alone.
“I’m less exhausted than you,” she replies. “You should have passed out hours ago.”
I allow my head to sink more deeply into the pillow. “I’m a Blacksmith. I’m stronger than a fae.”
It’s a statement of fact based on my fight with them and thankfully, Gliss doesn’t seem to take it as an insult.
“It’s why defeating Milena has been so difficult.” As soon as she speaks, she freezes, her gaze flashing to me. A grimace forms on her lips.
“Do you regret speaking so plainly?” I ask. “It’s obvious she’s your enemy or your Queen wouldn’t want her dead.”
Gliss resumes her work. “That may be so, but Milena Ironmeld wasn’t the first Blacksmith my people learned to fear.”
My eyebrows rise. “Oh?”
“No,” she says. “It was her brother, Malak Ironmeld, who caused my people to hate yours.”
Chapter19
Astrange sort of disappointment blossoms within me.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Malak left hatred in his wake.
But once again, he is the lynchpin that pulls together the threads of my life. Without him, the fae might have considered me a friend and welcomed me without fear or reservation.
“What happened?” I ask, fighting the bitterness rising into my throat.
“I only know what I’ve heard,” she says. “Years ago, Malak was part of a delegation sent to form an alliance with the fae. Instead, he assassinated our former Queen.”
Once again, it seems Malak brought death with him.
“Queen Karasi rose to power after that,” Gliss continues. “She has never let us forget our hatred of Blacksmiths.”
“Why wouldshehate him?” I ask wryly. “He’s the reason she became Queen, no?”
Gliss peers at me, her eyebrows raised. “That’s a very cynical way of looking at things.”
“Are you telling me fae are immune to political intrigue?”
She gives a cold laugh. “Oh, far from it. Our Queen is the finest of manipulators.”
She quickly presses her lips together and glances at the closed door, as if she’s afraid someone may have heard her.
I picture the length of the corridor outside this room.
“Unless they disobeyed your orders, I doubt they can eavesdrop from the end of that very long hallway,” I murmur, fighting to stay awake now that my pain has lessened.
