Page 11 of A Hunter for Luna

I startled awake, blinking in the bright sunlight streaming through my window.

This wasn’t my room. The events of yesterday replayed in my head, and I thumped back on the pillows. I should have gone back to my room. Judging by the angle of light, I’d missed my daily lesson with Vala on weapons and etiquette.

Sofia always visited before the lessons. This was very late for me to sleep. Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I sat up, wincing at twinges reminding me that I was still tender. I needed to get up.

Frowning, I slid from the bed, feet sinking into the plush rug. While I slept, someone had left my usual training garb on a chair and filled the pitcher with warm water. After cleaning myself and dressing, I padded to the door and peered out into the hall.

Since I’d already missed my lesson with Vala, I hurried down the corridor to Sofia’s chambers.

"Sofia?" I tapped lightly before pushing open the door.

Rose put a finger over her lips. She sat next to Sofia’s bed, Sofia lay with a damp cloth draped over her eyes.

My sister ghosted to my side. "Soulrider required her to do a ritual last night. This is the backlash."

"To invoke a Name?" I asked.

Rose nodded.

I breathed, my voice a tiny whisper, “The last time she used valerian root and willow bark. Did you check the stillroom? They helped then."

We hurried to the small alcove that housed Sofia's collection of dried plants and tinctures, I rummaged through the shelves. To my dismay, the jars we needed were empty.

I glanced at Rose, biting my lip. "I can go to the apothecary and fetch more."

"I’ll go with you." Rose looked mulish. “Neither of us should go out alone, you know that.”

I knelt by the bed. "Sofia, I’m taking Rose with me to the apothecary to get herbs to help with your headache. Do I have your permission?”

“Yes,” she murmured. “Be careful.”

Rose followed me into the hall. “Do you need help lacing up?”

I nodded. It would be faster. I strode to my room, pulling a dress from where it hung, pulling my shift on. When I straightened it, Rose held the dress and I stopped so she could throw it over my head. It glided down my body, falling in heavy folds. I held the bodice in place as Rose laced it.

It was by no means as tight as fashion called for, but now I was clad decently for the streets.

We hastened together down the stairs only to draw up short at the sight of Vala gliding across the foyer. Inwardly I winced and forced a smile as she turned to us.

"Luna, I’m glad to see you up and about. Little Rose, is school over so soon?" she asked warmly. "Where are you both off to in such a hurry?"

I bowed slightly, giving her the respect due to my mother-in-law. "The apothecary. Sofia isn't well, so we are going to purchase herbs."

"You needn't bother with that," Vala waved a ringed hand. "I'll send a servant. You girls shouldn't wander about unescorted."

"No," I said, more sharply than I intended. Taking a calming breath, I amended, "That is, we're happy to do it. Sofia is dear to us, we want to help."

Vala's eyes narrowed fractionally, but her warm smile never wavered. "Very well. But you'll take a guard for propriety. Perhaps..." She tapped a finger to her lips, considering. "You might see if the fishmongers have any live torpedo fish. Applying one to the scalp can work wonders for a migraine."

I’d heard that as well. We’d need a basket to carry them in though. I didn’t know how long they lived out of water, but perhaps Rose could use her magic to deal with that. "We’ll certainly look into that. Thank you for the suggestion."

Grabbing Rose's hand, I tugged her out the door before Vala found some way to make us delay for an escort. Vala's words nagged at me as we passed through the gate and headed down the hill toward the market that nestled at its base.

Perhaps we should've let her send a servant. Was I putting Rose at risk, insisting we run this errand ourselves? I shook off the thought. The apothecary was very near, on the side of the market next to the hill. What could happen?

I glanced over my shoulder. One of the guards from the gate trailed us, hand resting on his sword hilt. Vala must have made a standing order we be escorted recently. The last time we hadn’t had a guard, a few months ago.

The sun-warmed stones did little to dispel the sudden chill that crept down my spine. What other orders were in place? Vala had always been kind, but I’d never been able to warm to her. On some level it felt like the kindness extended to horses, or making sure a tool was well kept. Impersonal though appreciated on my part.

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