CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The soft, steady rhythm of the mortar against stone filled the small healer’s chamber, grounding in its familiarity.
That same morning, Elaina leaned slightly over the worktable, her sleeves pushed up just enough to keep them from interfering, her fingers guiding the pestle with practiced ease. The calming scent of crushed lavender and chamomile rose gently into the air, settling around her like a safety net. For the first time since the morning, her thoughts quieted.
Across from her, Catriona sat with a small bundle of dried herbs spread before her, carefully separating stems from leaves with far more concentration than the task required.
“Ye’re being too gentle with it,” Elaina said without looking up, a faint hint of amusement threading through her voice.
Catriona glanced at her, feigning offense. “I am being precise.”
Elaina’s lips curved slightly. “Ye’re treating it as though it might feel pain.”
“Well,” Catriona replied, lifting a brow, “how am I tae ken it daesnae?”
That earned a soft huff of laughter from Elaina.
“It is a plant, Catriona.”
“Aye,” she said, completely unconvinced. “And yet, I suspect ye would defend it if I were too rough with it.”
Elaina shook her head lightly, though the warmth of the moment lingered.
“I would defend the remedy,” she corrected. “Nae the plant.”
“Mhm,” Catriona hummed, as though considering that. “I’m nae certain I believe ye.”
Elaina glanced up at her then, grey eyes meeting green.
“Ye will, once ye see the difference between a well-prepared remedy and one that has been handled…delicately.”
Catriona laughed softly, the sound filling the small space more easily than anything else had that day.
“Very well,” she conceded, though her hands still moved with the same exaggerated care. “I will trust yer expertise.”
“I should hope ye already dae,” Elaina said, returning her attention to the mortar.
“Of course I dae,” Catriona replied easily. “Else I wouldnae be sitting here pretending tae ken what I’m daein’.”
That drew another quiet smile from Elaina. The simplicity of the work, the conversation and the absence of urgency felt almost unreal after everything that had happened. The chaos of the market, the fear that had followed her, the weight of what she had nearly done that morning… all of it seemed to soften here, if only a little.
“Pass me the yarrow,” Elaina said, extending her hand without looking.
Catriona placed it into her palm without hesitation.
“There,” she said. “See? I am useful.”
The two girls smiled at each other brightly, feeling comfortable in each other’s presence. As they continued working, silence settled around them gently, woven with the soft sounds of their work and the muted rustle of herbs.
“We should gather more of this before the season turns,” Catriona said lightly, lifting a small bundle between her fingers.“When we go next time, we’ll have tae venture further beyond the hills. There are patches there that have nae been touched yet.”
Elaina’s hand stilled, just briefly. She said nothing.
Catriona continued, unaware or perhaps simply unconcerned with the shift.
“And there is another village nae far from there,” she added, sorting another bundle. “I’ve heard they’ve had trouble finding someone tae tend tae their sick. We could go there first, when we start going out.”
When we.
