Page 9 of Curse of the Healer
“Of course, my love,” I replied even though grief sat heavy on my chest.
All this time wasted. All this time my love was right beside me, and I’d never had the courage to speak up, to let him know. I’d played along, waiting for him to make a move, to say something, when I could have admitted how besotted I was by him.
Tears brimmed trailed down my cheeks, but I opened my mouth and sang him to sleep.
Chapter 11
Idid not sleep that night. Instead, I tried to make Wilhelm as comfortable as possible. I changed out of my dress into a shirt and pants, then stacked food and water beside him. Leaving the lantern lit, I blew out the candles, one by one, packed a sack and squared my shoulders.
Although I did not know where I was going, I hoped the Queen of the Wildwood would find me. And Rex might lead me to her, if he knew the way. She was my only hope now, and not for myself. Nay, I did not care what happened to me. My fingers trembled as I opened the door. I had to find her in time to return with the remedy to heal Wilhelm.
At first light I left the hut, a naked blade held tightly in one of my fists. I kept a bundle slung over one shoulder and closed the door behind me, whispering prayers to the goddess that I would return in time.
Rex sat on his haunches, eyeing the door, red eyes gleaming at me. Swallowing my terror, I stood in front of him, reminding myself he had saved my life. “I don’t know if you can understand me. But I’m desperate. I need to find the Queen of the Wildwood, she must know a remedy to heal Wilhelm from the Lycan’s bite.”
Rex cocked his large head, and for a moment all I saw was a flash of teeth which could rip my body to shreds. A shudder went down my spine, but I stood firm. My bravery wasn’t for me, it was for Wilhelm.
As though he sensed my determination, Rex stood and set off through the forest, pausing shortly to glance over his shoulder. I moved after him, and we traveled quickly and silently through the winter-stricken forest.
As we walked, my thoughts were with Wilhelm. Was he breathing easier? Was he in pain? Did he find the food and water I left him? Oh, how could I leave him alone in his misery?
The wildwood lay silent that day, the second day of Yule. Celebration, not hunting and killing, should be the focus. Goddess forgive me, when this was over I would stop drinking, I would own up to my responsibilities as a healer and move past the death that plagued me.
When evening came, Rex led me to the mouth of a yawning cave and settled at the entrance of it. Once again I found a pallet with furs and a few other items, including a flute. Someone else had been here recently. I tried to sleep but nightmares plagued me. Wilhelm bleeding out. Fire burning down the village. A hideous ogre chasing me through the forest.
I woke before dawn. As if sensing my mood, Rex rose and padded up to me, his claws making a clinking sound against the cool stone floor of the cave.
“I’m worried about him,” I told him. “I know the woods are dangerous at night, but I can’t let him die. I must go on.”
I dressed quickly while Rex waited by the cave entrance, and then we set off. It was pre-dawn and the trees were just undistinguishable shapes.
We walked until the wood turned silvery under the light of the sun, hidden somewhere far above those great shady boughs. It was warm yet still oddly silent. I suspected we must be in the domain of the Queen of the Wildwood.
Eventually we walked up a hill. Swelling at the very top in an open glade was a massive tree. It was larger than any of the trees I’d ever seen in the forest, its trunk as thick around as ten men standing side by side, while branches shot out from every direction, some crawling along the ground, others lifting up their branches to the sky. Its tree bark was covered in a patchwork of brown, white and black, as though at some point it had been burned, scorched, and new white wood grew from its ruins, turning brown as it healed, creating new life.
A strange magic ebbed from it, powerful and potent. I dropped to my knees, breathless. It shimmered all around me, in such a way it was almost visible. When I blinked, a filmy gloss, like fog, covered my eyes and then vanished before fully displaying itself.
I placed my bundle on the forest floor and the knife along with it like a sacrifice. I did not feel like I needed a weapon, and it seemed dishonorable to bring one into the circle of magic which emanated from the tree. With hands clasped in front of me, I studied the tree, wondering whether I should call out or recite a prayer. Surely this was the court of the Queen of the Wildwood.
No sooner than the thought left my mind, a woman appeared as if brought by the wind, and stood near the trunk of the great tree, watching me. A red dress hugged her curves, and a green cloak was tied around her neck. Black hair tangled down her head, and her skin was a beautiful rich brown. But it was her dark eyes that held mine, studying me without a hint of emotion.
I squared my shoulders and forced words from my mouth. “Are you the Queen of the Wildwood?”
Chapter 12
“Iam,” she said. “And who are you? Why have you braved the wildwood to speak to me?”
There was an edge to her voice, a distinct unfriendliness. My heart sank. What if she declined to help me? Would she be more favorable if Wilhelm was with me?
“I am Talia, the healer of Moon Leaf.” I tried to remain formal but then the words shattered from me. “I come to you on behalf of Wilhelm, the Woodcutter of Moon Leaf. He walks your woods. He has a kind heart, but he tried to help me and now he lies a day and a half’s journey from here, dying from the bite of a Lycan. Please, I need a remedy to save him. Tell me what I must do!”
My words came out sharp and begging, but the Queen of the Wildwood did not change her stance. She only watched me with those odd eyes, listening yet not reacting. “Tell me, Talia. You are a healer, you know healing properties. I’ve heard of you and your village. Those you heal do not ail, and the babes whose birth you attend grow up hale and happy. Where is this gift now? Why come to me?”
Anger flared up at the mention of my gift. Forgetting formality, I rose from my knees and stood tall, chin jutting out and fingers curled into fists. Fye! She would not help me, would she? She was too high and mighty. She’d come here to defeat the Dark Queen and now she thought her magic was too precious to share. The words I’d originally wanted to say to her flew out of my mouth. “Iwasa healer,” I stressed. “I did have the gift of health until the night of Mabon. Now only death flows from my fingers. Wilhelm thought I should come here to ask you to help find out where my magic went, why my gift is gone. Because you’re the new Queen of the Wildwood, and things have changed since you became queen. But I don’t care about my gift anymore, I just want to heal Wilhelm, before he turns into a monster!”
Something changed in the queen's eyes. Her gaze went to Rex who sat by my side, guarding me. My heart pounded in my throat as my anger evaporated. I was afraid of losing Wilhelm, afraid the queen wouldn't help me, and afraid of being left in the enchanted wildwood alone, where I might be captured again and sacrificed.
"And where does dear Wilhelm lie?" the Queen asked.
