Page 76 of Stalk the Dark
“And you think this is fun for me?” Merry cried. “How many times? How many times have I forgotten?”
“Too many,” Padma said.
“You need to write it down,” Ordell said. “Everything that happens going forward, in your own words. Write it down in a journal, and if you forget, then read it and remember. Not just events but feelings.”
“That’s an amazing idea,” Edwin said. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Merry offered Ordell a shaky smile. “Thank you. ” Then to me, “You’re hurt? The bandage on your neck…” Her eyes went round. “Were you bitten?”
“I’m fine. You healed me.”
“I did?”
“Yes,” we all said in unison.
“Oh…good.” Merry blinked down at her teacup, looking lost and small, and my heart ached for her.
“You’re amazing, Merry. And you and I were becoming friends. We can do it again.”
She offered me a shy smile. “Yeah, yeah we can.”
I jerked my chin up at Edwin. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry I got dragged away like that.”
“Not your fault. And I’m fine. Hemlock got us to the clinic in plenty of time. We were more worried about you.”
“Everyone is fine,” Padma said. “And we’re going to stay that way because we’re gonna look out for one another.”
Haiden clomped into the room carrying a rolled-up note and handed it to me. “Raven came.”
I rolled it out and read the neat script.
Dear Miss Lighthart,
In light of recent events, it would be safer for you to reside at the castle. I fear parading as my companion may have placed a target on your back. My enemies will use any tactic to control me. They do not realize how little your life means to me. But it seems that I am temporarily in your debt.
The west wing is yours. The east is out of bounds.
E.H.T.
I handed the note to Ordell. “Well, that saves me trying to coerce him.”
“Can I see?” Edwin took the note from Ordell. “Wow, he offers protection and insults you at the same time. Nice.”
“No…” Padma said. “He wants you close soyoucan protecthim. You and the hunters. He knows that you’re safe with us.”
“She has a point,” Ordell said. “We don’t have to go.”
“I think it’s best that we do. At least until I get a handle on how to manage him and figure out who poisoned him. But I’ll be at the office as usual. We have cases to solve.”
“You won’t be solving any cases if you don’t get your strength up,” Haiden said. “Goodness knows what kind of food they’ll serve at thecastle.” He tutted.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him about the feast we’d been served, and to be fair, I had no idea if that was a one-off kinda meal, just for show.
“If the food sucks, then I’ll get Godor to fly me over for supper.”
“Who’s Godor?” Merry asked.
Padma sighed, but Edwin smiled kindly at her. “I’ll fill you in later.”
