In a rare occurrence, Cardamine runs out of words. He doesn’t know what to say. Clothes rustle as if Bastion has moved to comfort him.
“She’s going to be okay,” Bash says quietly.
“Is she?”
“The court physician told me that he sent two apprentices out looking for more yarrow this morning. That should help clot the blood around the wound.”
“But what if they’re too late?” Card’s voice barely reaches my ears. “Fliss and I never smoothed things over between us. I’d been sulking for a whole week. It’s so stupid now.Iwas so stupid.”
“Then when she wakes up, you can tell her what an idiot you are,” Bash says, a smile in his tone. “You’ve been under a lot of pressure, my love. Feeling overwhelmed is not a crime.”
“But it’sFliss.If I’d have told her how insecure I’ve been feeling lately, she would have listened. I’ve been so out of my depth with all this formality, and she makes me feel…normal. Myself. I know it’s expected of royalty to have a big ceremony, so I want—Ineedher with us at the wedding. It’s in twelve days! Shehasto get better before then.”
“I’d marry you with rings made of parchment, dearest.”
“Iknow.I know that.”
“I should have been helping you more. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.”
“No, the council needs you at those meetings. Your dad needs you. And your ideas are what the kingdom needs too. I just—” Card growls in frustration. “I don’t understand why she suddenly became so distant. It can’t just be the wedding stuff, right? I hate not knowing things.”
“People aren’t as easy to learn as a language,” Bastion says, then tuts like he’s hesitating. “Merit told me he remembers hearing her voice that day. Shewason the coastal road where he was found, which means she knows more about it than she let on.”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t know. But Merit heard her, his leg was healed, and then Nettle finds her fleeing the scene covered in blood. She said she wasn’t threatened, but…”
It’s Card’s turn to consider his words.
“Has he said anything?” he asks. From the venom in his voice, I know that the “he” in question is not Merit.
Bash shifts.
“Not a word,” he grits out. “I should haveknownsomething like this would happen. This is my fault, and when Fliss wakes up, I’ll apologize to her too. I shouldn’t have let anyone be put in danger because of him. This has gone on for too long.”
“Do you still want to…?” Card trails off.
Bastion doesn’t answer for a long time. I catch the smell of his soap as he leans closer.
“That depends,” he says, colder than the damp towel he presses to my forehead. “What happens to him is in Fliss’s hands. If she doesn’t make it, then neither does he.”
Chapter Eighteen
I come to in a room of twilight darkness and melted candles that cast ghostly shadows along the ceiling. The moonlight streams in through the balcony window, and for the first time in however long it’s been, I open my eyes and turn my head. On the wooden bedside table, there’s half a stopper of poppy extract. The physician must have forgotten to give me the full dose today. Whenever today is.
I’m feeble and shaky as I use a hand to peel back the blanket covering me and lift the long shirt I’ve been dressed in. I hold in my shock, knowing it would hurt to gasp. Across my stomach is a tight wrap of cotton bandages. With a fingertip, I gingerly press the wounded area, and the sharp twinge forces a hiss out of me. Even in the dull light, it’s easy to see that the layered bandages won’t stop the flood of red that’s oozing through. Didn’t I overhear someone going for more yarrow to stop the bleeding? When was that? Ruth has yarrow. I helped her with it the other day. Day. Week. Whenever.
Oh my gods, Ruth.
Will.
They’re going to kill him if I don’t survive.
I attempt to sit and feel weaker than I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to move, how to connect thoughts to my limbs, like my muscles are retired veterans, lost to the fight. I just about manage to get my legs over the side of the bed and sit there for a while to collect my strength.
I refuse to believe I’ll die here. If the castle physicians have run out of supplies, then I’ll go somewhere else. Somewhere safe with a healer I can trust. I’ve seen Ruth’s workshop and know she has the skill. I recall Will fixing my ankle and sayingDon’t come running to me if you need surgery.I need Ruth for that. And I’d be protected from questions by the magical barriers. Yes, the cottage is the right move. But how? I certainly can’t walk. I have no way to contact Ruth, and I don’t know if Mum can get past the wards.
Or…Perhaps it’s the lingering medicine that gives me such an outlandish idea. Perhaps it’s my belief that he didn’t drive that sword into me on purpose. Without a doubt, I know that Will is the only one who can get me to Ruth in time.
