Page 6 of Curse of the Healer
One of his big hands came up, as though he would wipe away my tears, and then he reddened and dropped his hand back down on the table. He cleared his throat, and a moment of uncomfortableness hung in the air, unsaid words as thick as grief. I wanted to tell him to continue his tale, but the words stuck in my throat. I dropped my eyes back down to the table.
"In one of the villages to the east of us,” Wilhelm continued, “a storm of magic destroyed the temple of the Sister of the Light. There was one survivor with strong magic. She ventured into the enchanted wildwood and defeated the Dark Queen."
I gasped at his words. Defeated the Dark Queen? How was that possible? There was no one alive with magic stronger than the Dark Queen's, and if there was, what did that mean for us? As Wilhelm's words sank in, other thoughts rose. Whatever gift I had, whatever it was called, had fled the night of Mabon. Was it because. . .
"Everything has changed now that the new Queen of the Wildwood is in power."
Questions flitted through my head and burst out of my mouth. "How do you know these things? Will the new queen uphold the old ways and protect us from the forest, like the Dark Queen did? Is she to be trusted?"
Those dark green eyes studied me, and there was a sadness behind them. His shoulders slumped, slightly. "I used to walk the forest during the days when the Dark Queen ruled. I met one of her knights, Sir Aelbrin. He told me stories about the wildwood, including the downfall of the Dark Queen and the rise of the new Queen of the Wildwood. It's also where I found Rex, ensnared in a trap for disobeying the Dark Queen’s demands. I set him free and now he follows me. But walking the wood isn't without its peril. Aelbrin told me that the new Queen of the Wildwood hopes to make amends for the Dark Queen, to make things better, easier for the village folk. She has a good heart, but she is young and unused to the wildwood. Her power is strong, but the dark creatures of the forest are vast and pit their power against hers. More than anything, the darkness wants to escape out of the wood into our world. The new queen hasn't been strong enough to hold all of them back, and magic has leaked out, changing things. I believe the change has affected you, the magic which flowed in your blood has gone, leaving only death. Perhaps if you speak with the Queen of the Wildwood, she can help you."
My heart dropped at his words. The Queen of the Wildwood was young and did not know what she was doing. If she couldn’t keep the dark creatures from leaving the wildwood, how could she help me? Nothing but death flowed from my fingers.
I dropped his gaze and twisted my hands together in my lap, suddenly feeling sorry for myself again. My lower lip trembled as I considered my options. Being a healer was my life, my only role to play in the village. Without it, I was nothing but a drunk, but that wasn’t who I wanted to be. I wanted, well, I’d been too afraid to consider what I wanted. No need to displease the goddesses. I was content; I had everything I needed.Had. It was ripped asunder now, and what was left? I studied my fingers, the broken nails, the threadbare garb I wore. I’d meant to buy a new winter dress, but after Mabon the money had run out and no one wanted to barter with me. I was cursed.
I lifted my chin as a flare of defiance went through me and glanced up at Wilhelm. He waited patiently, although his fingers lightly tapped the wood of the table, as though he were listening to the beat of a drum, somewhere far away.
Jealously spread like an open wound through my body, and my words rang with bitterness when they came out of my mouth. “Wilhelm, I thank you. Truly I do. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t found me last night. But…it’s the first day of Yule. You should celebrate with the village. It’s cold outside, too cold for a journey into the wood. Besides, I can take care of myself.”
The light in his eyes darkened a bit, and he opened his mouth to protest. I held up a finger to stop him. “Please,” I whispered. “What happens to me is not your concern. I will return home and prepare for Yule.”
Chapter 8
Wilhelm stood as I rose. A pained expression crossed his handsome face. “Talia…” He faltered, his deep voice husky with…what? Remorse?
The way my name rolled off his tongue made my heartbeat quicken. I could listen to him whisper my name over and over again, shivering at the delightful sensation it created. Inwardly, I cursed at my folly.
“Your home,” he stammered. “I was going to tell you. It’s been…The creatures of the wood…They burned it down.”
I stared, rigid with horror. My jaw dropped and my eyes went wide. The breath stole out of my body and then returned as a rising sense of panic came over me. My home. Burned? It could not be! Gathering my skirts in my hand, I bolted out the door.
Icy air kissed my face, but I ignored the wind that tugged at my dress like fingers determined to drag me back to warmth. Lazy snow twirled in the wind before landing on the barren ground. Snow on the first day of Yule was a good omen, but I couldn’t breathe as I ran.
My grandfather had built the house for my Grandma. He’d worked for the king in the mountains, earned a fair wage, and traveled out to the village to start a new life. My grandmother captured his eye during the celebration of spring, and he built the house just for her. It was where they’d spent their happiest days. My mother had grown up there, and I’d inherited it after Grandma passed.
When I reached my home, the structure was still intact, but charred, leaving nothing but smoking remains. Everything was gone, destroyed in the fire, and anything I found would smell of smoke and ash. So many memories destroyed in one night.
My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground, tears blurring my vision. My life had turned into one stroke of bad luck after the other. In one cursed night, I’d become a beggar. I wouldn’t survive through the rest of the cold winter. Dreams of warmth, a husband, and my own fat babies rose and dispersed like smoke in the wind. I clasped my hands to my lips, and a sob shook my shoulders.
I wept until I had no tears left to cry. Wiping my grubby face with the back of my hands, I stayed on my knees, gazing at my lost home. Grandma taught me never to give in, never give up when grief hit me the hardest. Her lessons were the reason I went on, long after both her and Mother had passed through the doors of death. Now it was time for me to stand up for myself and determine my fate, my future. Yet, it seemed so hard, sitting there, with nothing but the clothes on my back. I sniffed. My eyes drifted to the wildwood where gnarled branches shut out the light, leaving it looking more sinister than ever in the daylight.
Something rustled behind me and I whirled, surprised to see it was Wilhelm, standing a few paces away. His face turned red as he met my eyes, but he looked prepared for travel, with a bundle on his back, a cloak over his shoulders, and a hat—one I’d knitted for him—over his sandy blond hair. If anything, he looked even more handsome. Despite my grief, I wanted to lean into him and feel his strong arms around me, reassuring me.
“I’m sorry, Talia.” His forest-green eyes were imploring. “I’m sorry I could not stop them.”
Numbly, I shook my head. “It wasn’t your fault,” I offered, making no attempt to rise to my feet. My gaze was pulled back to the forest. “Why me?”
“If I had to guess, it’s because the dark creatures sense your magic,” Wilhelm suggested. “I’m not sure how it all works, but I believe magic can be released when someone passes, some kind of transference. I think the creatures of the wood seek to capture your magic and use it against the new Queen of the Wildwood.”
I frowned, considering Wilhelm’s words. Suppose I were to take him up on his offer and meet this queen? I had a few choice words to say to her for ruining my life, no matter how inadvertent it had been. Why couldn’t she let the old ways stand? Why did she have to defeat the Dark Queen?
“Talia?” Wilhelm spoke my name like I was some rare treasure. “Will you let me help you?”
Grief gave way to frustration. My head hurt and I desperately wanted a sip of spiced wine to take me away from the painful moment. But I had nothing left to lose, so I stood and flattened down my wrinkled skirts, well aware I must look a frightful sight.
“Why?” I breathed. “Why do you want to help me?”
He stood a step forward, tentative at first, then growing bold he continued until he stood only a breath away from me. His proximity forced me to look up into his wide-set face where his eyes misted over. One of his hands reached out and his fingers brushed my arm. Even though I wore long sleeves, a shiver of desire went up my spine and resistance melted away like fog under the heat of the sun. My breath caught in my throat at the look he gave me, and for just a moment, his gaze flickered to my lips. His fingers closed around my arm, gentle, yet strong.
