Page 99 of Horn of Winter

“I don’t suppose you want to expand on what comes?”

“Again, that would be a risk too far.”

And with that, her presence withdrew, though her orb remained. I sighed, pushed wearily to my feet, and staggered back to the door. Mathi was waiting on the other side.

He gripped my arm with one hand to keep me upright, then gave me a large reusable mug filled with hot tea. I took a sipand sighed in happiness. “Where the hell did you get this? The council chambers?”

“Good grief, no, that muck is undrinkable. I had Grant go fetch some.”

“What happened to Marc?”

“He’s the company driver and now off duty. Grant is a recent hire and will fill in for Henrick when he has time off or is otherwise unavailable.”

“Ah.” I took another sip, and though the tiredness remained, strength was definitely returning. While it was probably due more to Liadon’s gift of healing than the tea, I wasn't about to give said tea up.

“You up to walking down, or shall we wait a few more minutes?” he asked.

“As long as we don’t rush, I’ll be fine.”

He raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned and headed down in front of me, keeping close enough that should I slip or falter, he could easily catch me.

I didn’t slip, though by the time we reached street level, the temporary strength Liadon had gifted me was disappearing fast. I made it to the car, dropped the now empty reusable mug into a holder, then closed my eyes and leaned back against the headrest, listening to the gentle thrum of the engine as Grant whisked us away into the traffic.

“Right,” Mathi said, after what seemed only a few minutes. “I’ll go get your bags, then we’ll escort you over to the hotel.”

I nodded. I should have argued, really, because not doing so would only confirm his suspicions that I wasn’t in a great state, but in all honesty, I just didn’t have the strength. He returned what seemed to be only a couple of minutes later, tossed my bags into the trunk, then climbed back in and gave Grant the address of the hotel.

When we arrived, he collected my bags, then collected me and escorted me inside, checking me in and then taking me up to the room—and made me wait in the hall while he checked it was empty and safe.

“Really,” I said, caught between amusement and annoyance, “isn’t this all a little over the top?”

“No. And Lugh would expect nothing less.” He glanced at me. “Would you be protesting if it was Cynwrig being overcautious?”

“Yes.”

“You lie, Bethany Aodhán.” He waved me inside. “Now, make sure you lock this door—using both the supplied locks and your own wood weaving—and get some rest. I’ll be here tomorrow?—”

“Come for breakfast,” I said. “Apparently they do a fantastic full English downstairs. My treat.”

“Did I not mention me being able to claim all expenses?”

“Yes, so I’ll give you the docket.”

He laughed, kissed my cheek, and left. I locked the door behind him, then gently pressed my fingers against the frame and wove the two together. No one was getting into this room—not without making a whole lot of noise, anyway. Well, my aunt could, but I doubted she’d show her face so readily. It was more likely she’d send more lackeys.

I staggered into the bathroom to grab a quick shower, then tugged on a T-shirt and some knickers and climbed into bed. After sending a quick text to Lugh to tell him where I was, I fell, long and hard, into sleep.

I wasn’t sure what woke me gods knew how many hours later. I lay there for several minutes with my eyes closed, listening to the gentle song of the building, though it seemed much more distant than it should have been. It spoke of movement, but I wasn’t sure if it was in this room, in the hall beyond, or even several floors away. Confusion swirled throughme, and I tried to shift, tried to throw off the blankets, but my limbs felt as heavy as my mind, and I just couldn’t.

Alarm stirred even as the song of the wood briefly sharpened in warning.

Then a cloth clamped over my nose and mouth while hands held me down. I struggled, but every breath was filled with the slightly sweet-smelling scent that soaked the cloth, and it made my head spin. Darkness rushed in.

The last thing I clearly remembered was a voice. A familiar voice.

My aunt’s voice.

Chapter

---