Page 42 of The Elven Healer's Apprentice

“I put them next to the satchel.” He listed slightly to the side but remained balanced on Sage’s back.

I continued to prove the greater point. “Mere minutes ago, I found you laid out on poor Smythina’s floor, incapable of sitting up, let alone walking. Even now, you are barely staying upright. How do you possibly expect to walk the hours required to reach home?”

“I can ride.”

Sage snorted and tossed her head.

“I can, too, you ungrateful creature.” He addressed the unicorn. “I feed you, house you, and provide for your every need. Not to mention the fact I saved your life. A ride or two in exchange for all that is nothing and you know it.”

The unicorn snorted again, but the sound was more subdued.

“Sage can carry both of us,” Merlon declared, returning to addressing me. “That will solve two of our issues.”

We reached Hubert’s farmyard at that point. I dropped Sage’s leads and turned around to glare up at him, which required I almost wrench my neck. He towered over me normally, and Sage added to his height even more.

“What issues are you referring to?” I demanded. “Your stubborn obsession with killing yourself by completely depleting your magic, or your unwillingness to admit you might be wrong?”

Bewilderment darkened Merlon’s eyes. He frowned at me, silver brows forming a deep V over his nose. His gaze flicked over my crossed arms. “I am confused. I am not trying to kill myself by overextending my magic.”

“Your actions say otherwise.”

His lips pressed together as though suppressing a retort. He swallowed carefully. “And the point on which you believe I am wrong?”

“The wisdom of pushing to return home tonight. It isn’t as though returning home will suddenly heal you or speed your recovery. Or will it?”

“The compound can’t, but you can.” His eye color changed, indicating a shift in emotion.

“How so?”

“I told you. Touching you increases my body's production of magic. A few hours of skin-to-skin—” He hastily amended. “Hand holding will greatly increase my magic generation—thus my strength—and decrease my recovery time.”

I studied him. His ashen skin tone—marred by the dark shadows of exhaustion—appeared all the starker in the afternoon sun. The fact I had found him lying on thehobgoblin female’s floor only moments before, deathly still and frighteningly vulnerable, didn’t make this decision any easier.

“I will agree only if you promise to summon a shadow elf if you take another turn for the worse between here and the compound.”

“And go back on my word.”

I refused to waver. “Agree or remain here for the night. I will not be traveling with you if there is no secondary plan should you collapse in the middle of the road. And if I remain, I doubt Sage will take you back, no matter how you badger her about what she owes you.”

Sage bobbed her head in agreement.

“Fine.” Merlon glared at me. “Fetch the precious food you require and the satchel. We will leave as soon as you can return. I doubt I will get back up should I dismount now.”

I complied and sought out Poppy, who was busily preparing food in the kitchen. After an explanation, a brief food-packing session, and a promise to return, she allowed me to leave. Our satchel had gained even more food, though it still weighed the same.

When I returned to the farmyard, I discovered Hubert and Merlon chatting.

“Here she is.” Hubert crossed to take the satchel so I could mount, a process expedited by Merlon’s help. Once I settled behind Merlon with my arms wrapped around his waist, Hubert handed up the satchel.

“Fair journey to the two of you.” Hubert grinned up at us. “Merlon, be sure to invite us when you get around to formalizing your relationship.” He winked at me and then walked off toward the herd of goats crowding the fence on the other side of the yard.

“What did he mean?” I asked.

“Cheeky gob,” Merlon muttered under his breath as he closed his fingers over my hand, resting just below his breastbone. The familiar sensation of his magic responding to the touch spread up my arm. “Ignore him. He’s just stirring up trouble.” Merlon guided Sage out onto the road and urged her to settle into a trot. The unicorn complied with a snort of disdain.

We reached familiar ground just as the sun sank below the horizon. A chill settled into the air as the light faded. I shivered, leaning closer to the warm male in front of me.

Merlon stirred when I pressed my cold cheek against his back. “Didn’t Cas pack you extra clothing? There’s probably a cloak in the satchel, or at least a blanket. We have at least an hour to go before we reach the compound.” He reached back blindly. “Give me the satchel. I will fetch something for you.”

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