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Her shy smile returned. “I shall rewrap it now, but if you are willing, we should treat it with honey and garlic again later today.”

He was not sure whether she had purposely omitted mentioning vinegar to win him over or if he was truly to be spared the fire water. Either way, he knew his best chance of recovery lay in her ministrations. “Agreed,” he said.

She had just bent down to wind the linen around his leg again when the door to the cottage flew open and Lufian entered. “The king has returned! He and the men with him are approaching the island.”

Aisley turned to Brecc with alarm-filled eyes. “He is come.” Her fingers fumbled, and she dropped the linen across his leg. Hastening to pick it up again, she resumed the winding, but her previous calm was gone. He wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her, but there were men everywhere. Even the queen and her maid had appeared from the small chamber.

“It will be well, Aisley,” he said.

She nodded mutely and tied a knot on the bandage.

“Rheged,” Brecc said. “Help me to my feet.”

“Should you be—” Rheged broke off to give Aisley a questioning look, but before she could respond, Brecc continued.

“I will stand for the king. Look to the side of my pallet. Radolf made me a crutch. Once I have that, I shall manage without needing to put weight on my injured leg.”

Rheged reached for the long piece of wood. “Radolf made this for you?” He appeared as stunned as Brecc had been when the older man had set it beside him. “It’s quite remarkable.”

Now that he could see the crutch properly, Brecc could more fully appreciate the workmanship that had gone into it. It must have taken Radolf all night to peel away the bark and smooth the wood so well. The long part of the branch was almost straight, and at one end, it forked into two stubby pieces.

“How marvelous,” Aisley said.

Rheged handed her the crutch and moved to stand over Brecc. Bracing his feet, he grasped his hand. “Whenever you are ready.”

Setting the foot of his strong leg down, Brecc nodded. “Now.”

Rheged heaved, and Brecc pushed upward. He rose and wobbled, but he kept his wrapped leg off the floor.

“Here.” Aisley handed him the crutch. He slid it under his arm. It felt awkward, but it did offer him a new way to maintain his balance.

“I thank you,” he said. “Both of you.” Being dependent on others for something as simple as standing required swallowing an unpleasantly large dose of humility. “And although I have no right to ask anything more, I do wish to make one further request.”

Rheged raised a curious eyebrow. “And that is?”

“I wish you to take Aisley out of the cottage. Show her around the island, visit Bracken and the other horses, check on the punts. Do what you must to keep her from here until I have spoken with the king.”

Rheged’s brows furrowed. “But does she not have something important to tell the king also?”

“She does. And I shall ensure that she is given an opportunity to speak with him. But I must see him first. Alone.”

Brecc glanced at Aisley. Had Rheged noticed how pale she had become or how tightly her hands were clasped?

“If you are willing, Rheged,” she said. “I should enjoy that very much.”

“Of course I am willing,” he said, looking between the two of them as though attempting to decipher a secret code. “Fetch your cloak, and we shall go directly.”

Aisley hurried across the room toward the partition, and Rheged swung on Brecc. “Would you like to tell me what this is about?”

“I would, but unfortunately, I cannot. Trust me. This is for the best. I will send for you and Aisley when it is safe for her to return.”

“Safe?” Rheged’s eyes widened. “What is this, Brecc?”

Brecc set his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You will know all soon enough, I give you my word. Until then, you must trust me.”

“Hm.” Rheged reached for his own cloak and set it around his shoulders as Aisley appeared from behind the partition wearing hers. “I accept no responsibility if Aisley chooses me over you after I have escorted her so gallantly around this patch of land lying in a swamp.”

Despite knowing that a fearful tempest was about to be unleashed, Brecc’s lips twitched. “Fair enough. I shall simply have to hope that ultimately, the best man triumphs.”