Page 65 of Wraithwound

Lena nodded, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. As if sensing her struggle, he lifted her once more and carried her over to where she’d initially fallen asleep and replaced the covers. Lena summoned her strength to offer him her wrists.

“No,” he said, “sleep, I’ll stay on watch.” He said it as if they were back on the plains, but she knew what he meant. In here, she, the wraith, was the predator he’d keep an eye out for.

Lena let her eyes close, but a question formed in her mind. If she didn’t ask him now, she’d never learn the answer.

“You didn’t tell me why you left, why you joined the soulbounds,” she said in a whisper.

“You leave to save them. It’s service for a service,” he said after a pause.

Thinking she must have misheard him she asked, “To save them?”

“My niece, Kiara, she’s sick. My service keeps her alive,” he said.

Oh.

“We do what we must for those we love,” Cross said, something like sadness in his tone.

She knew that truth well. So well, in fact, it was slowly consuming her. Lena had briefly considered seeking out the sorcerer but knew she’d never find him before she turned. She opened her mouth to ask him about the crystals embedded into his back, but it didn’t seem like the right time.

“Thank you for keeping your promise,” she said instead.

“Sleep, Lena.”

So she did, letting his voice guide her to the abyss.

Chapter

Forty-Three

The next morning, Lena was pleased to learn the aches in her muscles had been reduced to mild soreness, although her cuts still stung when she moved. As she dressed, Cross set about packing his belongings. Struggling to find a tie to secure her braid, she dumped over her pack. She found a piece of leather tangled with Henry’s medallion and shook it free to secure her hair. Cross had told her that if they limited breaks, they could reach The Whispers in two to three days.

“Are you ready?” he asked, glancing at the spilled contents of her bag.

Lena nodded and stuffed everything back inside quickly. They made their way to the great sitting room, which to Lena’s surprise, also doubled as a dining hall. It was full of tables, chairs, and weary travelers, and Lena made sure to pull her cloak tighter around herself after she caught some of them sneaking glances in their direction.

The innkeeper made his way over to them, his gaze lingering on Lena.

“Quiet night,” Cross said by way of greeting, extending the room key to the man.

“Yes, we think the felis corpses in the field deterred our usual nightly visitors. The guards at the gate send their thanks.” The innkeeper turned to face Lena and passed her a small bag. “I’ve packed some things for your travels; I hope you don’t mind.”

Lena opened it to find some fresh clothes and other small, wrapped items that looked like provisions.

“Thank you,” Lena said, but the old man just brushed her off.

Cross nodded at the innkeeper and then strode off towards the stables. Lena put the sack in her pack, and with another nod of thanks, followed Cross out of the inn.

The heavy iron door of the stables stood open, revealing a cloudy day, but instead of heading towards Kharon, Cross nodded to the street beyond.

“The shop is this way,” he said curtly.

Lena followed, amazed at the small shops thriving inside the stone buildings. There were a lot more people in the small outpost than she’d expected. Having caught a glimpse of the shop she’d noted the night before, she stopped.

“I’ll be in there,” she said.

Noting the healer’s banner, he nodded and said, “Three shops down on the left,” and continued walking.

Lena watched him go, sensing that any progress they’d made last night had evaporated with the dawn. Sighing, she walked over to the open-faced shop, stepping onto the stone floor. She marveled at the plants and herbs that grew in small pots along high wooden shelves and the small bottles of oils and tinctures in colors and viscosities she’d never seen before. She was considering inquiring about the healing properties of a small glass vial with silver liquid swirling inside when a familiar voice caught her attention. Taryk was standing toward the back, having a heated conversation with a man she could only assume was the shop owner.