Page 37 of Wraithwound

When she finally made it out to the porch, she found Ada and Eduard sitting at the gardening table and holding hands. A fresh plate of food sat on the table opposite them. She felt the lump of emotion return and did her best to swallow it down. The shame she’d felt during the Healers’ meeting resurfaced as she remembered a time when she’d wondered out loud whether spending time taking care of the elderly was worthwhile.

Lena sat and realized for the first time in days, she felt hungry. She ate the vegetable sandwich they’d made, savoring the roasted winter squash, browned onions, and tangy cheese. She caught a glimpse of how Eduard caressed Ada’s hand as she ate. They all sat in a familiar silence for a while, watching as storm clouds gathered on the horizon. A cool breeze snaked through the garden, dispelling the tangle of floral scents when Ada finally spoke.

“How did it happen?” she asked.

“They came when we were out in the fields for Neema’s funeral,” she replied.

“I’m so sorry,” Ada said.

Lena looked away, hoping to keep her grief at bay.

“And Henry?”

Lena chewed on her lip, tears pricking her eyes.

“No,” was all she managed.

A somber mood filled the space, the wind and the plants going still.

“How many nights ago?” Eduard asked.

“Thirteen, I think . . . No, maybe fourteen.” She shook her head and braced herself as she added, “And I have a wraithwound.”

“We know,” Ada said gently. “It’s all right.”

Lena released a long breath. “I went to see Jessa and Ahgrie. She’s been collaborating with Orvain and discovered he and his men are in search of a plant. Ahgrie thought you might know what it was.”

Ada’s brow crinkled, but then she nodded and stood, slowly walking to one of the posts that held up the roof of the porch. Wrapped around the sturdy log was a delicate vine. Up towards the top, concealed in shadow, Lena could barely make out two, black buds hanging from the cord-like vine. Ada held her hand up, gesturing to the buds.

“The Bud of Brielle,” Eduard said in a reverent tone.

Lena’s eyes grew wide.

“We’ve been growing the vine for many years, and yet, it has only produced buds one other time. It’s very rare,” Ada said. “That’s why we asked how many nights ago you were attacked. If it’s been longer than three days since the initial attack, or if the infection has been augmented by taking a soul it won’t work⁠—”

“—it will kill you,” Eduard finished for her.

The world seemed to fall away around her. She’d known better than to hope, to think there might be a way to save Henry. Lena wiped at her face with the palms of her hands, settling into the knowledge that any hope Henry might have resided within her and in her ability to push on. She would have to go to The Whispers. But it would be foolish to proceed without a backup plan in case the wraith took over.

“Is it okay if I take one with me?” Lena asked, Benneck’s words echoing in her mind.

Ada and Eduard looked at each other, some unspoken message passing between them.

“Let me tell you about it,” Ada said, motioning for Lena to join her.

The bud was small enough to fit in the palm of Lena’s hand, and the delicate petals glimmered oddly in the dim light of the stormy sky. Even hidden in shadow, the bud clearly had something otherworldly about it.

“The Bud of Brielle comes from a different planet with a climate much different than ours. It seems like the primary difference, and why it doesn’t flourish here as it does there, is the light of the sun, but we can’t be certain. Eduard had the seeds with him when he came here, long ago,” she said.

“Where did he come from?” Lena asked, the shock working to mute the blow of having learned it could not save her or Henry.

“From a world called SecaTerr. Eduard doesn’t remember much about how he ended up in Eteris, but he was captured soon after by the King’s men. He and several others were tortured for knowledge about his world and his people.”

Simultaneously stunned and horrified, Lena held a hand up to her chest but put it back down when she remembered her wraithwound. Eduard had always been very private about his past; the only thing she knew about him was that he’d been some type of soldier.

“How did you escape?” Lena asked.

“Ada broke me out,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze.