Page 37 of To Wed a Witch
Chapter 9 – The Healer
One month later.
The sound of laughter echoed through the Healer's cottage as Aidyn toddled after a wooden ball.Bhaltair sat at the kitchen table in the back room, reviewing ledgers, but his attention kept drifting to his daughter—for that's how he'd come to think of her—as she played nearby.
"She'll be walking properly soon," Sìne observed, settling beside him with a cup of cider.Even after a month of marriage, the simple pleasure of sitting beside her husband still made her heart flutter.Lately they'd had very little time like this to enjoy the quiet, which is why Bhaltair joined her in the cottage on days when the clan did not require all of his attention.
"Aye, and then we'll have real trouble on our hands," Bhaltair replied with a smile that transformed his usually stern features."She's already getting into so much mischief."
The changes that had swept through the clan in recent weeks were nothing short of remarkable.With the dowry funds, Bhaltair had been able to purchase grain stores for the winter, proper tools for the smithy, and materials to begin essential repairs.The clan members moved with renewed purpose, their faces less gaunt, their children's bellies finally full.Better still, the men who had been camped beyond the border had finally left, and his guardsmen and scouts had heard nothing more from them.Bhaltair remained vigilant but slept easier at night knowing the threat to Sìne and Aidyn was hopefully gone.
"Ada says the new ovens are working well," Sìne reported, reviewing her own mental list of the day's accomplishments."And we've finished the last of the food preserves.The root cellar is properly stocked now for winter."
Her healer's cottage had been transformed from an empty grain store into a proper workroom, complete with shelves lined with clay pots containing her carefully prepared remedies.The clan members had begun seeking her out for various ailments like cuts that needed tending, winter coughs, the aches and pains of hard labor.She'd also helped the midwives deliver four babies and new additions to the clan.Each successful treatment had slowly worn away at their superstitious fears.
"Ye've worked miracles," Bhaltair said quietly, reaching over to clasp her hand.
"We'veworked miracles," she corrected."All I did was provide the coin and boil some fruit."
"All ye did," he repeated with gentle mockery, "was give our clan someone who cares whether they live or die, whether their bairns have enough to eat, whether their wounds heal well."His thumb brushed over her knuckles."Ye've given me much more."
Heat flooded Sìne's cheeks at his praise, but before she could respond, Aidyn had reached their table and was pulling herself up on Bhaltair's leg, demanding attention with unintelligible babbling.
"What's this now, wee one?"he asked, lifting her onto his lap with practiced ease.The sight of the fierce warrior cradling Aidyn with such natural tenderness never failed to make Sìne's heart melt.
"Da," Aidyn said clearly, patting his chest with her small hand.
The word hit them both like a thunderbolt.Sìne's eyes filled with tears as she watched Bhaltair's face transform with wonder and fierce joy.
"Did ye hear that?"he asked hoarsely.
"Aye," Sìne whispered."Her first real word."
"Da," Aidyn repeated proudly.
Bhaltair pressed a kiss to the top of her curls, his voice thick with emotion."That's right, sweeting.I'm yer da, and I always will be."
The moment was interrupted by urgent voices outside.Through the window, they could see a small group of people hurrying toward the cottage, a woman's desperate cries carrying clearly on the air.
"Please!Someone help my lad!He's dying!He had a fever."
Sìne was on her feet immediately, her instincts overriding everything else.A fever?"Wait!I'm coming outside," she called.Her instincts told her to be wary of fevers.If contagious, they had the power to wipe out an entire village.
Bhaltair moved to intercept her."Sìne, be careful, I'll come with ye—"
