Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
The forest whispered to her. She was sure of it.
It wasn’t the trees or the rivers this time. It was something far more tangible. Something that reached for her as surely as she longed to reach for it. But the king held her hand so firmly she thought he might fear letting her go. Besides, he would never allow her to go into the forest alone.
She let herself get lost in the whispers, hoping to learn something.
“What are you suggesting?” Dravic asked, feeling a sudden unease from Adira and surprised by how strongly he felt it. Something disturbed her. Later he would ask her but for now he needed his attention here and present.
“The children your grandfather ordered placed throughout Scotara—”
“The healer’s mother could be one of them, making her offspring—”
“Extraordinary,” Fiora finished.
“If true,” Dravic said… He spotted Ernach talking with others by Vachel’s cottage.
He would know more and Dravic wanted to know more.
Dravic summoned Cadby with a wave of his hand, the guard standing a distance away, affording the king privacy.
“Bring Ernach to me,” Dravic ordered when Cadby reached him.
Fiora flitted close. “Listen to what is said but pay more attention to what isn’t said.”
“You offer fairy riddles rather than sound advice?”
Fiora grinned. “They make more sense.”
Cadby returned with Ernach.
The old man bowed respectfully. “You wished to speak with me, my king?”
“I do.”
Ernach glanced at the gathering crowd, then to Adira. The cold had painted her cheeks a delicate rose and the wind tugged at the loose strands of her hair.
“If it pleases you, my king,” Ernach said, “perhaps we could continue this discussion inside my cottage. It is warmer there.”
Dravic followed the old man’s gaze. Only then did he notice the color in Adira’s cheeks. Without thinking, he reached up and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and tucked it snugly at her chin.
Ernach’s brows rose ever so slightly.
Cadby noticed as well, his expression remaining carefully blank though surprise flickered briefly in his eyes.
Fiora watched them all.
Oh, this was not good, she thought.
As they walked through the village, people stepped aside for their king, though their whispers did not fade completely.
“She was here…”
“…the healer…”
“I thought she was only a myth.”
“What if the stories are true?”
“A tall tale.”
“Then who healed the lass?”
Dravic listened with interest. Rumors rarely began without reason. Somewhere among them truth waited to be uncovered.
Ernach opened the door to his cottage and stood aside for the king and Adira.
Warmth welcomed them inside, and Ernach immediately went to prepare a hot brew.
Fiora flew to the mantel and settled herself upon it, stretching her tiny hands out in front of her to catch the heat that drifted off the fire.
Dravic walked Adira to a chair at the table to sit, but she remained standing. He pointed to her to sit but she pointed back at him, then the chair. She sent a quick glance to Ernach and the fairy before returning her attention to him.
He understood she was worried what the two would think if she seated herself before the king sat.
Dravic laid a heavy hand on her shoulder, forcing her to sit. He then tapped his chest, placed his hand above his head, the gesture for the king.
His gesture was clear. He was king and would do as he pleased.
The exchange was not missed between Ernach and Fiora, but their exchange of wrinkled brows was not caught by the king.
Dravic sat. “Tell me, Ernach, of my grandfather’s decision to resettle children from their Driochmorian parents to live with families outside of the forbidden Land.”
“He believed it would normalize them. Teach them to be strong advocates for Scotara. And with no one to guide them into developing their magic, it would fade away. Until it existed no more.” Ernach shook his head. “It was a foolish plan, but with the death of your da and mum blamed on magic, there was no convincing him otherwise.”
Dravic listened wanting to hear all he had to say.
Ernach shook his head again. “It was a tragic loss. Your da would have made a good, caring king.”
Dravic was barely eight when his da and mum died. He had loving memories of them both, but they faded as the years went on, his mind occupied with learning what it took to be a king, and he barely recalled them now.
“I know my grandfather threatened the death of the Driochmorian children if they did not comply with his edict. But how real could that threat be against magic? Surely, Driochmor could have easily quelled my grandfather’s threats.” Dravic’s brow narrowed. “Though being here in Driochmor, I have seen little signs of powerful magic.”
“To quell such a troubling edict would have been at a horrific expense of lives that Driochmor was not willing to lose on either side. And as for the lack of magic, you have seen here? This village sits just over the border of Caerith. Travel deeper in and you will find more than you ever expected or imagined.”