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“Only when I’m tired.”
“And here?” She touched another point.
“A little.”
Kayla glanced up, her hazel eyes shadowing. “It’s settled too deep. I can’t rid you of the clag-doo. I’m sorry.”
Darach’s belly dropped. He’d feared this might be her answer.
Ailsa made a sound in the back of her throat. “Are you sure there’s nothing anyone can do?”
Kayla cut her a glance. “I’ve never seen anything like this … and I doubt anyone else has either.” Her fingers lingered on the circle of thorns that now contained the clag-doo. “Your work is precise, Ailsa,” she murmured. “You have real talent.”
Ailsa blinked, pink spots rising upon her cheeks. “I hoped to do more … it’s only helped him partially. He still can’t control himself once he’s the clag-doo … and he struggles to shift back.”
Kayla took this in, brow furrowing.
Meanwhile, Fern had moved over to where the grouse she’d caught earlier still roasted on the spit. Even with her injured arm, the huntress had a lethal aim with that bow and arrow of hers.
Gaze veiling, Kayla shifted her attention back to Darach. “If we leave it like this, the clag-doo won’t intrude any more than it already does.”
“Great,” Darach grunted, trying to bury his disappointment. “So, that’s it?”
Kayla shook her head. “I might be able to help you control it better after you shift … and make it easier for you to change back.” She glanced down at his tattoo once more. “It won’t be an easy job … and it’ll drain me … but it’s worth a try.”
The beast must have heard Kayla too because it snarled.
Darach ignored it. He’d clutch at whatever straws the tattooist offered him. “Aye?”
Kayla cut her apprentice a quick look. “Ailsa’s circle of thorns has done more than she realizes. Her binding pattern cages the clag-doo neatly … it just needs some embellishments to make it even more powerful.” She paused then. “But I can give you no guarantees. We won’t know if it has worked until you test it.”
Darach nodded. He was disappointed Kayla couldn’t do more, that she wasn’t surer she could help, but he was too tired to let it drag him down. He needed to be practical. What she offered wasn’t a cure, but it might make living with the clag-doo easier. He was stuck with the beast, it seemed, but that didn’t mean he’d let it boss him around.
“I don’t have any tattooing needles with me … or woad,” Kayla said then. “But once we reach Duncrag, I’ll get to work.”
“Thank you, Kayla.” Darach knew the words came out a little flat. He couldn’t help it though. He’d hoped she’d be able to rid him of this curse.
The tattooist’s lips lifted at the corners. “Aye, well … Ailsa wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Next to her, Ailsa stiffened, her blush deepening.
Darach pretended not to notice.
“Are we done here then?” he asked. “Can I pull up my pants?”
Kayla nodded.
Yanking his breeches up, he laced them before taking his place once more by the fire.
His belly growled then. Loudly. It had been a long day with little to eat besides stale oatcakes and hard cheese. Still, those were a feast after nothing but watery porridge for so long. He was looking forward to filling his belly with greasy meat. His weakened body cried out for it.
Leaning forward, he removed one of the carcasses from above the glowing embers. “Let’s eat.”
14: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM?
DARACH TOOK THE first watch that night.
He’d slept better than he had in months the night before.
