Page 54 of Crowned A Traitor
“If you insist,” Kharon said, wrapping a skeletal hand around the bullet. Klara pushed Wolfgang into the longboat and Arthur pulled her on as it rocked in the waters.
“Get this boat moving, or it will be you in the River,” Klara warned Kharon as Abadan and Mila walked side by side up the long dock.
“Don’t run away from your mother, dearest!” Abadan said, her shrill laughter cutting through the howling Hounds. It was as if the High Queen was doing nothing more than taking a stroll. However, Mila’s eyes burnt with determination. Her half-sister’s armour glistened as the storm clouds opened and it poured down on top of them. Klara watched as Mila reached for an arrow at her back and laced it into her crossbow.
“Kharon, I swear if,” before Klara could finish her threat, the longboat moved down River as Mila’s arrow flew. Watching millisecond by millisecond, the arrow was about to strike her new heart when Kharon clapped his hands, creating a bang so loud it deafened her. When Klara’s senses readjusted, they were further downstream. Klara placed a hand on her chest relieved that no arrow pierced her heart. There was alsono Hounds, Abadan or half-sister insight.
“Trouble with the family,” Kharon mocked. “Something like that.”
Klara watched as Lottie cradled Wolfgang’s head as he slept. “Why help if you crave my soul?” Klara asked.
“No one takes life on my River,” Kharon frowned steering the boat with magic.
Klara sat at the edge of the longboat as the ink-black water gently rocked them side to side. She could still see the arrow coming directly at her, and the relief made her dizzy.
Soft sobs brought Klara back to the present as Lottie gripped her hand. “Please help him, he won’t look at me,” Lottie begged as she tried to control her tears. “Let’s take a look,” and Klara wiped Lottie’s tears away.
Wolfgang mumbled in a distressed sleep. Klara examined the wound, the veins had shrunk closer to where the bullet had entered, but the infection was still rife in his body.
We need medicine. Klara thought once she removed the bullet, it would have healed. The bullet must be laced with poison, she kept the thought to herself to shield Lottie from further pain. Klara reached for her bag, hoping for medicine. Arthur stayed with Kharon surrounded by heaps of silver and gold. Lottie kept close to Klara to avoid the littering of silver that were sure to burn her Lycaon skin.
Lilith, please tell me you packed medicine.Klara rummaged under the spare clothes and then she felt it, a small spider’s jar. Praise Lucifer, this will seal the wound, and the thread will remove any impurities.
“Will he be ok?” Lottie choked out. Klara removed the cork and allowed the spider to crawl on to her fingers.
“This should help him feel much better,” she said, and Lottie wrapped her arms around her small frame.
“What about the Bright Lady?” Lottie mumbled through tears, and Klara looked on in confusion. “What Lady?”
“The Lady that helped us in the Forest, she came through the flames…” Lottie’s words were broken as she cried. Klara looked to Wolfgang whose eyes were suddenly alert.
“Was it Lilith?” Klara asked Wolfgang, who shook his head slowly. “There wasn’t any Lady, she was in shock,” Wolfgang said, gritting his teeth in agony.
Lilith was dead, she couldn’t have helped them.Lottie pouted at her brother’s harsh tone.
“I’m not lying!” Lottie panted through her tears.
“Be quiet Lottie,” Wolfgang muttered.
“Enough, let’s get you patched up and then we can all argue about who saw what.”
Lottie pouted as the spider dangled from Klara’s fingers and onto Wolfgang’s abdomen. Klara needed him to relax and for Lottie to stop crying. “See this,” she said to Lottie. Curiosity stopped her sobs and Lottie scooted closer. Back and forth, the spider wove its web, “this will help more than any Bright Lady.” Lottie nodded slowly, her blonde fringe dangling over her reddened eyes.
The red veins began to constrict, “Lilith must have laced the spider with an advanced healing spell.” Wolfgang’s hand clutched Klara’s painfully. He had passed out again and was clearly in the fits of a nightmare.
“Lottie is safe,” Klara said, trying to soften her tone. She had never cared for someone before, healed them. He loosened his grip on her hand and moved them to his chest. Klara couldn’t move, she was too afraid of disturbing him.Moving will slow the healing process, at least that’s what Klara told herself.
The night wore on, and their clothes became damp from the splashing River. Klara took her bag from her side and placed it under Wolfgang’s head, offering him little comfort.
“Is that good? Lottie asked, watching her brother’s complexion brighten once again.Spiders’ thread is good but not this good even with an advanced spell.“He is healing, but we should let him get some rest.”
Lottie slumped into Klara’s side, surprising her. Klara wasn’t used to all this touching, why were Lycaons so intent on contact?
Klara didn’t know what Lottie needed, so she wrapped her arm around Lottie’s small frame and allowed her to sleep against her.
“Family looks good on you,” Arthur whispered, sitting on the edge of the longboat. “Shut it, or you’ll be in the drink,” Klara hissed, and yet she didn’t move Lottie from her side or Wolfgang’s hand from hers.
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