Page 48 of Fallen
Clenching her jaw, Coira sliced the knife into the boil. Pus and blood burst forth, and her belly roiled. Fighting a gag, she continued her work, cutting open the swelling so that it emptied completely.
Revolting.
Coira had never seen a boil like it. She just hoped that lancing them in this way wouldn’t send her patient’s body into shock. Once the first had been lanced, she moved onto the second boil—and once that too had emptied, she doused both with the vinegar Craeg had given her.
Her mother had always used vinegar on lanced ulcers and boils, swearing that it prevented them from festering. Coira too had noted how effective it was.
Fenella, who’d been insensible during the entire process, moaned. Sweat slicked her face, and her body still trembled from the chills that wracked her.
Sitting back on her heels, Coira let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. No wonder she was starting to feel light-headed. The drained plague boils weren’t a nice sight, but they were definitely less sinister-looking than how they’d looked previously.
Gathering up her things, Coira left the tent.
Gunn was standing outside, waiting for her. “Did it work?” he asked. The man’s face was haggard with worry, his gaze gleaming.
Coira stripped off the gloves, dropping them onto the ground next to the tent’s entrance. “It’s too early to tell,” she admitted softly. “But what I’ve done has not worsened her condition.” She straightened up and met Gunn’s eye. “If she survives the night, ye may have cause to hope.”
Heading in the direction of the fireside, Coira removed her scarf and tucked it away in her healer’s basket. Her limbs felt heavy, and her temples ached. She wasn’t sure what the time was, but she sensed it was growing late.
“We all need to sleep … like everyone else in this camp,” she murmured, her gaze sweeping around at her companions. “There’s nothing more any of us can do for the moment.”
Craeg nodded, rising from the fireside. “Very well … I’ll be in my tent if anyone needs me.” His voice was subdued as well, his gaze shuttered.
Watching him, Coira wondered if he was brooding about what she’d told him earlier. She hadn’t expected such kindness, such compassion, from him. It had unbalanced her. She knew his hatred for Duncan MacKinnon ran deep, and she wondered if she’d just added fuel to the fire.
A strange hush had settled over the camp, now that most of the folk here had retired for the night. However, it was a watchful, tense silence, for they all knew what the dawn would bring.
Craeg needed to rest, and Coira wanted to let him retire to his tent, yet she needed to ask something else of him tonight.
“Craeg,” she called to him as he turned to go.
The outlaw leader swiveled around. “Aye?”
Coira faced him, her gaze steady. “When ye and yer men ride out to face MacKinnon tomorrow, I want to go with ye.”
Craeg tensed. “War isn’t for women,” he replied, his tone terse now. “Ye will be safer here.”
“I can fight,” Coira replied, scowling. “All Sisters of Kilbride know how to wield a weapon.”
A muscle flexed in Craeg’s jaw. Coira was aware that Gunn’s gaze was boring into her back, yet she deliberately kept her attention upon the man who stood between her and her wishes.
“As ye all might have guessed, the quarter-staff I carry isn’t to help me walk,” she continued. “Mother Shona taught me how to do harm with it.”
“That may be so,” Craeg replied after a pause. “But being able to wield a weapon, and facing a screaming warrior bearing down up ye with a claidheamh-mor is another.”
Coira raised her chin, her own jaw tensing. “I’m aware of that.”
Their gazes fused. A battle of wills ensued. Although she appreciated Craeg’s empathy earlier, she’d not be ordered around by him now.
“Ye are needed here, to tend Fen,” Gunn spoke up from behind her, his voice wary.
“Flora will be able to look after her,” Coira replied, her gaze still fixed upon Craeg. “I’ve done all I can for the time being.”
Silence settled over the fireside. “I won’t get in yer way,” Coira continued, stubbornness settling within her. She’d argue this with Craeg all night if he wished. “But ye will have yer vengeance tomorrow. Let me have mine.”
20
No Going Back
