“Jamie?” When no one answered or came to the door, she called out louder, “Rabbie? Are ye in there? How are they?”
Still no reply. Her frustration building, she pounded on the door. “Somebody answer me!”
Suddenly, the door opened, if only a crack. Rabbie’s brown eye peered out at her, most of his face still hidden behind the door’s oaken shield. “Go on with ye, Aftyn. They’re sleeping.”
“I heard someone moving around. I thought I heard voices.” That was an exaggeration. She’d heard no one speaking, but if someone had been talking, Rabbie wouldn’t know she hadn’t heard them.
“Ye’re imagining things. Jamie is resting. The father is, too.”
“How is Jamie? I want to help.”
“Ye canna. Truly, lass. This is beyond yer skill.”
Rabbie’s words, though spoken in a kind tone, stung. She sniffed and stepped back a pace. “How is my skill ever to improve if I am no’ given the chance to learn and to practice?”
“Some other time, Aftyn. I’m sorry, truly. I ken how important that is to ye. But ye canna.” He closed the door.
He had no idea how importantJamiewas to her. Aghast, Aftyn pounded on it again. Rabbie opened it quickly. “Aftyn… wheesht!” he hissed.
“Nay, ye canna shut me out this way. This is my home, nay yers. ’Tis my responsibility to aid them. I saw Jamie carried in. He’s hurt.”
“Nay, lass. He’s exhausted. There is nought for ye to do,” Rabbie repeated. “Now dinna bang on the door again or ye’ll wake him. He must rest.” With that, he closed the door again.
Aftyn fought the urge to kick it. She’d only break a toe, and accomplish nothing. Instead, she crossed her arms and fought back angry tears. Rabbie was right. She’d seen the exhaustion on Jamie’s face.
She whirled and stalked back down the hall to the larger room where Neve remained, tending the other injured. Neve saw the expression on her face and held a finger up to her mouth, then dipped her chin and turned her head to regard the men sleeping on rough pallets. Her message was clear. No matter what had Aftyn raging, she was not to disturb the men they cared for.
Aftyn huffed out a breath and nodded, then canted her head for Neve to join her out in the hall. Neve nodded and stood. Only then did Aftyn note that she’d been sitting by the same acolyte Aftyn had seen her talking to by the burn.
Neve didn’t waste any words once they were in the hall, but went right to the point. “What’s got ye so fashed?”
Aftyn clenched her fists, then forced herself to open them. “Rabbie willna let me in the chamber where Jamie and the burned man rest. I want to do something to help them, but Rabbie said this was beyond my skill.”
Neve gasped. “Ach, Aftyn. ’Twas unkind of him.”
“If I could, I would break down the door,” Aftyn complained. “But I cannae.” She turned and put her back to the wall. “I feel so useless.”
“Nay, ye are never that.” Neve reached for her and wrapped her in a hug. “But ye ken fine that neither of us is ready to deal with that man’s injuries. If Jamie can help him, then ye must let him.”
Aftyn knew Jamie would take good care of the injured man. She only wanted—no, needed—to help Jamie. She patted Neve’s back and stepped away. “I ken it. But I dinna like it.”
Neve peered into the room. “Come with me and meet Hamish.”
“The lad ye were talking to after the fire?”
“Aye. He hails from Crieff.”
“He’s here by himself?”
“Nay. He studies to be an ordained healer, something like us, not quite a priest. The kirk supports infirmaries in abbeys across Scotland. A trained healer is due in a few weeks, and Hamish came to help the abbey make ready for him.”
Aftyn froze. Another healer, experienced, soon only a mile away from the keep? He could be exactly whom she needed to continue her training after Jamie left, or his presence could convince her father the clan no longer needed her. All her insecurities, her anxiety, flared anew in her belly. Stop being selfish, she chided to herself. The man could have helped here.
“Too bad he didn’t arrive early. Yesterday would have been helpful. How much of healing does Hamish ken?”
“A fair amount, and says now that he’s met me, he might change his mind about taking vows. He could help us.”
“Neve! Nay. Ye canna make him stray from his path.”
