Page 41 of The Guardian's Witch

She stopped mid-step and searched his face.

“I don’t need your help. I just need some bandages to stop the bleeding and I’ll be off.

“Bryce, I need to see the depth of the wound. I can see it needs to be cleaned.”

He took a deep breath and stood up on wobbly legs. She lent him her shoulder. Two steps were all he could take before he started panting.

“Let me help you to the bed in the other room. You can rest and leave for Ravencroft when you’re able.”

Lisbeth couldn’t help but see the look of indecision written on his face. She would give him time to think it through. He didn’t have many alternatives.

Bryce looked to the bedroom and nodded.

She helped him shuffle into the other room and eased him onto the bed. He tugged at his cloak to get it off, causing the clasp to pop and fly into the folds of the covers. He stretched out on the bed. Once he was settled and as comfortable as she could make him, Lisbeth went about and gathered what she could, then returned to his side. She bent over and examined the wound carefully.Zhure nas sheer naf durzh.The ancient healing song filled her head.

Bryce kept moving under her touch.

“Just one more minute. I must make certain it’s clean.” She saw fear, stark and vivid, in his eyes. “The wound’s not deep. It may not even leave a scar.” Once she was satisfied the wound was clean she applied a bandage. Tired and achy, she straightened and let out a sigh of relief.

“I need only rest for a few minutes, then I will leave.” His eyes closed as he spoke.

She let him rest. The stress of the day caught up with her. She was relieved that Laura hadn’t come. Now every fiber of her body told her to go back to the castle. But she couldn’t leave Bryce in his condition. She dropped into the chair in the other room and put her head on the table. The nagging at the back of her mind refused to be still.

Hours passed and Bryce slept. She on the other hand got no rest. She stood at the lodge door and stared at the horizon with tired eyes. Pink streaks ran across the brightening sky. Why had she come here? Ah, to make certain Laura was safe. She should have known better. Jamie wouldn’t let her come if there was danger about.

She grabbed the water pitcher from the table, her cloak from the peg, and stepped outside, quietly closing the door behind her. She wandered to the orchard in back of the lodge and picked one of the last apples off the tree. She brought the fruit to her lips and took a bite. The juice from the fruit splashed out of her mouth and trickled down her chin. Surprised, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

The sound of stomping hooves coming from the barn broke the silence. But the vision? Could it have been Bryce? She looked toward the lodge. It must have been. Bryce’s horse whinnied. She hadn’t given much thought to the animal. At least he’d found his way to the barn. Hopefully an extra ration of oats and an apple would make up for the horse spending the night in its tack. She picked up an apple from the ground and traipsed to the barn.

She opened the door and came to an abrupt halt. She expected to see the abandoned horse still in its saddle and halter. Instead the animal was comfortably situated in a stall with fresh water in the trough. The saddle and halter sat on the saddle stand. She walked over, stroked its muzzle, and let it take the apple from her outstretched palm. She checked his legs and found no injuries. She patted the horse’s silky neck. It appeared Bryce had gotten the worst of the stumble.

She left the barn and went to the well for some fresh water. From Bryce’s condition when she arrived she wouldn’t have thought him strong enough to haul water, settle in the horse, or start a fire in the hearth. She lowered the bucket into the well and heaved it back up. She poured water into the large pitcher. Movement in the bedroom window distracted her. The bucket slipped from her hands and fell, with a loud splash, back into the well.

Bryce stood at the window naked from the waist up. His body was scarred like Alex’s. She realized that when she touched Bryce, she felt nothing. None of the breathtaking body throbbing feelings she had with Alex. She pushed the thoughts of Alex away and brought her focus back to Bryce.

From where she stood, he looked well rested. He could certainly go on to Ravencroft. She hurried back to the lodge eager to dismiss her patient.

“Good morning, I see you’re up and about.”

Bryce closed the chest lid and turned at the sound of her voice.

She stood at the bedroom door. “Let me look at the bandage.” She put the pitcher on the table beside her. “I’ve brought some fresh water. I’ll have it heated for you in a minute. The linens aren’t in there. I’ll get you a fresh one.”

When she returned she found him sitting on the edge of the bed clutching his head. She peeked at the wound. It was clean. “I’d rather not disturb the bandage. The wound appears not to be bleeding. I can get you on your way to Ravencroft.”

“I can’t stand without feeling my stomach roiling.”

“Are you certain?” She cloaked her annoyance. He still had his head in his hands. “When I saw you from the window you looked recovered.”

“I thought so too.” He looked up at her. “I don’t know what happened.”

The pain in his eyes startled her. She felt guilty for wanting to be gone. After a moment’s thought, Lisbeth offered, “I’ll go back to Glen Kirk and get help.”

“No, the raiders are active in this area. I went to Glen Kirk to warn Alex. I can’t let you go back to Glen Kirk by yourself.” He peeked up from his hands. “No, I’ll escort you back to Glen Kirk...” His voice trailed off.

“It will take just as long to go to Ravencroft as it would to go to Glen Kirk.”

“I need to go to Ravencroft, and I can’t leave you here alone.” He raised his head. He looked more tired than she first thought.

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