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"She alright?" L whispered

"She will be," Sarah replied softly and took hter "She just needs sleep" She turned to me now "Ye can share L’s bed She don’t mind"

At that moment, I didn’t care if she did or not I crawled over the bed and slipped in under the covers L craned around to look at runted and then slid in too, pulling the covers around us She reached over and pulled the other side of the quilt up so that I was coht ht, L Proud o’ ye, lass"

"Thanks ma"

I must have fallen asleep as soon asafter that

Chapter Twenty Six

The next iven a huff of laughter because I’d trapped her inme up I had blushed beetroot, but she’d ise

Apparently everyone else was already up for breakfast It was rateful I already felt so ave ht I pulled on the soft trousers and shirt, warily eyeing the stockings and boots she gave me

The boots were a little big but I pulled the to be a wreck soon As we dressed for the day, L htised profusely She shook ain

"I only mentioned it because…" She seemed embarrassed and I raised an eyebrow at that "Well because ye ht be wantin’ to talk about what happened to ye Ye can talk to ed and turned away from me

I smiled sadly at her back "Thank you, L I don’t…" I bristled at the way ht of the Mountain Man "I can’t just yet, but thank you"

L shrugged again and headed into the oat’s cheese More of Sarah’s delicious apple juice The Moss’ were kind and considerate of, not onlybanter at the breakfast table Their hoain after what I’d encountered up here in the Alvernian Mountains It soothed led nerves

L toldDisease None of them looked particularly worried by that and I realised it was because it didn’t really affect them way up here where the evocation didn’t reach But as L went on, I gathered they realised the importance of the evocation for the rest of our world They knew there was no stopping me And I could see in L’s eyes that she knew for me it was personal; that I felt about Haydyn the way she felt about Jnr

"So the Pool of Phaedra" L shook her head By now I knew she was seventeen, Haydyn’s age, but she spoke to me like I enty years her junior "Quite a quest Ye’ve certainly made a muddle o’ it so far, isn’t ye"

"L, be polite," Jonas scolded

L gave hiave heret that plant, even if I have to face a limmer with a hint of respect at ettin’ an idea," Sarah piped up "Our L is as tough as they come; knows these here ic to the Pool, L will be keepin’ ye safe and right"

"Although I don’t appreciate bein’ offered up as a guide without reed "I’ll do it"

I rather liked the idea of having a savvy, crossbow-toting er anyone else "I appreciate the offer, but you don’t have to help lowered at me "I don’t offer help unless I be wantin’ to I’m comin’; isn’t no yes thank ye, no thank ye about it I leave yer lily white ass to saunter through these here mountains and Phaedra will be doomed – ye eaten alive by the Aran and Phaedra fallin’ to nothin’ without that Princezna o’ yers"

Minutes before I’d thought having her along rimaced With L’s obnoxious, superior attitude I

Then I reainst the wall at the fire

I pasted a strained smile on my face "Thank you I appreciate it"

We left soon after, both us outfitted in warm jackets, each with a pack of supplies L carried her crossbow and I carried one of Jonas’ hunting knives I’d lost er at the stream when the Mountain Man had taken me

We took off at a brisk pace, and I marvelled at how rejuvenated one what I had The boots didn’t begin to rub as quickly as the maid’s fronored it

Our march upwards was quiet until we broke for a late lunch I eating in my jacket already As we sat to nibble on the biscuits and bread Sarah had given us, it soon became apparent that L was bored with the quiet

"Ye don’t talk ed

I thought that would be the end of it but as we began walking again, L encouragedI said or explained to her was answered with phrases such as, "Well that just sounds stupid" and "What would ye be wantin’ to do that for?"

Surprisingly, I began to enjoy L’s chatter Her speech hter of our language belied a keen ree on some of her assesss society htforward, ht I was She knew the h theer than I I puffed a little to keep up with her She began to wonder how I’d survived this far without her, especially when I squatted to relieveon poisonous leaves After that L began pointing out the different species of plant in the forest; what each of them was called and what their properties were capable of I was aeable she was on the subject and she told ht her before he died a few years ago

Hours later, e stopped for the night, er than ever, L didn’t build us a fire When I asked why, shivering in s My heart had thudded in s I was glad L said we should huddle together for heat

We fell asleep with our arht around one another

"Who’s Wolfe?" L asked as I tripped over a tree root I hadn’t seen I picked , we’d already eaten, and we’d been walking for half an hour

I glanced sharply at L