“I need to wash this off a bit.” She set her canvas bag on a dry section of the boulder, then scooped up some water in her hands to rinse off his leg.
With a groan, he shuddered.
“It’s not that bad,” she assured him. How lucky that she had some of the verna plant with her. The leaves would keep the wound from getting infected.
She pulled out some of the leaves then, using a small rock, ground them on the boulder and added some water till she had a green paste. She smeared it onto the wound, then used her shears to cut a strip of white linen from the hem of her shift. She wrapped it around the treated wound and tied off the ends.
“There.” She patted the boy on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Do you live close to here? Do you need help getting home?”
A series of shouts drew her attention, and she glanced up at the ridge. There were a dozen men there, yelling at her and shaking their spears.
More shouts came from the other bank, and she gasped when she saw a dozen more men.
No, not men. They were close enough that she could get a good look at them. They were short, dressed in dirty clothes, with long hair and beards. The language they were yelling was not Norveshki. And they all had spears pointed at her.
The boy she had just treated yelled back at them, his voice deep and guttural.
With a gasp, Gwennore jumped back, falling off the boulder and landing knee-deep in the frigid water.
He wasn’t a boy. With his face now visible, she saw he had the beginnings of a beard. His nose was large and bulbous.
Her blood ran cold.
Mountain trolls were real. And these were ready to attack.
Chapter Sixteen
Gwennore stumbled back, her gaze darting from one side of the stream to the other. Goddesses help her! The trolls looked every bit as frightening as the illustrations in Torushki’s Bedtime Tales of a Mountain Troll. But this wasn’t a nightmare. She was awake, and they were real. Their spears were definitely real.
The injured troll on the boulder was telling the others something and motioning to his leg.
“Yes! I’m a healer,” Gwennore called out in Norveshki, hoping they could understand. “I mean you no harm.”
The trolls started jabbering to one another, but she couldn’t tell if they were excited or angry. She backed away slowly, ignoring how much her feet were burning from the icy water.
One of them on the ridge noticed her sneaking away, and with a shout, he pointed his spear at her. Another one on the opposite bank lunged toward her.
Goddesses protect me! Gwennore lifted her skirts and ran, splashing through the stream toward the lake.
There is no need to fear, one of the Kings of the Forest said softly.
She scoffed. Easy for the Kings to say. They were practically indestructible. The water grew deeper, up to her thighs, then her hips. In desperation, she ripped away any remaining shield around her mind and envisioned herself mentally screaming. Puff! Can you hear me? I’m in trouble!
A spear shot past her, bouncing off a boulder. Puff! They’re attacking me! Help me!
Where are you? His voice sifted into her mind, and she almost wept from relief.
He’d heard her! Puff was there for her. I’m north of the castle, close to the lake.
The stream’s current knocked her off her feet, and with a squeal, she plunged into icy water that was up to her shoulders. As the current swept her along, it took all her concentration to keep her head above water and avoid being slammed into any boulders. Before she knew it, she was dumped into the lake.
She treaded water as the current carried her toward the center of the lake. Thank the goddesses she’d learned how to swim on the Isle of Moon. And she no longer had to worry about crashing into any rocks. Glancing around, she spotted the trolls. They had followed her to the lake and were shouting at her, gesturing for her to swim ashore.
Were they hoping to take her captive? She couldn’t let that happen. But the freezing cold was seeping into her bones. If any of her muscles cramped, she could drown. Puff?
I’m coming.
Her heart squeezed at the sound of his sweet voice. He would save her again. Goddesses help her, if he wasn’t a different species, she would date him.
Have you reached the lake? he asked.
I’m in the lake.
What? Dammit, Gwen, get out. It’s dangerous.
I can’t, she replied. The trolls will attack me.
I’m almost there. Don’t get caught in the current.
A little late for that, she thought as the current swept her slowly south. If she just stayed afloat, she would eventually make it all the way to the village of Dreshka. With a gasp, she recalled the waterfall.
She was slowly moving toward it. And the current was getting stronger. Holy goddesses, she could either plummet to her death or be captured by the trolls.
Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she channeled the frantic feelings into a burst of energy, swimming hard for the shore. The trolls pranced about, shaking their spears. Puff, where are you?
A burst of fire shot from the sky, hitting the shoreline and forcing the trolls to retreat.
Puff! She spotted him, coming from the north and flying straight for her. Good goddesses, he was magnificent. Smoke curled up from his mouth, and his scales shimmered green and purple in the sunlight. He had to be the most incredible creature on all of Aerthlan.
And he was coming for her.
His wings folded in as he dove downward. His forelegs hit the water, skimming along the surface, then he scooped her up as easily as if she were a kitten.
She flung her arms around one of his legs, squeezing him tight.
I have you.
His great wings batted the air, lifting him slowly as he continued to fly south. Just as he rose above the lake, she glanced down and saw the water cascading over the falls. Oh dear goddesses, she’d come too close to dying.
But she was safe now, thanks to Puff. Tears burned her eyes, and a shudder racked her body.
He curled up his forelegs, cradling her against his chest. Are you all right?
“Yes.” She shivered. “No. I’m freezing. And I was so … afraid.” A sob escaped and she burrowed her face against his soft leathery skin. “You saved me. Again. You’re the best dragon in the whole world.”
He held her tighter against him. I was afraid, too.
“Oh, Puff.” She pressed a hand against his chest. “I missed you. It seems like ages since I last saw you.”
It hasn’t been that long. And you had others to keep you company. Like the general.
“He doesn’t come dashing to the rescue like you. You’ve saved me twice now.”
One of Puff’s claws flinched. Then you prefer me? He angled his head downward, his golden eyes gleaming as he looked at her. I heard you wanted to date me.
“Wh-what?” she stuttered. “Who told you that? The general? The man is always joking. You can’t take anything he says seriously.”
A huffing sound emerged from Puff’s nostrils as he shifted his gaze forward. So you ignore what the general tells you? Didn’t he warn you about the dangers of the forest?
Gwennore winced. While it was true that she’d made a mistake, wandering off on her own, she still felt that Silas shared part of the blame. “I wouldn’t have gone if I’d known the trolls were real. Silas should have told me.”
But he warned you about the bears, wolves, and wildcats, didn’t he?
“I don’t want to talk about him,” she grumbled. “He’s always neglecting to tell me important things.”
Another huff from Puff. Maybe he’s trying to protect you.
“Why are you defending him?” She smoothed a hand across the soft leather of Puff’s chest. “No one protects me as well as you.”
His claws tightened, then relaxed. Then it’s true. You want to date me?
“Well…” She winced. How could she let this beautiful dragon down gently? “I am very fond of you, but…”
Have you heard of the rules for dating a dragon? When I take you for a ride—
“Hold on tight and don’t let go,” she finished for him. “And the second rule is about your extra-large heart.” She sighed. “I would never want to hurt you, Puff. Not when you’re sweet enough to come to my rescue.”
Then you should know the third rule, he said softly in her mind. Whenever you need me, you only have to call and I will come.
Dear goddesses, he made her heart ache. What a shame that he was a different species. For he was so much sweeter than that rascal Silas.
Puff’s claws flinched once again.
“Ouch.”
Sorry. He paused for a moment, then continued, I have to admit to some anger that you ventured away from the castle by yourself. Why did you?
“I wanted to meet the Kings of the Forest. And I did. They’re truly magnificent.” She patted his chest. “Almost as magnificent as you.”
Another huff. The general will be upset, too.
No doubt Silas would want to fuss at her. But she was annoyed with him, too. “You can communicate with him, right?”
Yes.
“Good. Then tell him I don’t want to talk to him. After all, whenever I’m in trouble, you’re the one who saves me. Not him.”
Puff’s grip tightened as another huff escaped his nostrils. We’re at the castle now. I’ll tell the colonel that you have arrived.
He zoomed down and dropped her with a thud on the lawn close to the southern gate.
Oof. Had he done that because he was angry? Gwennore sat up and saw him flying around the castle, headed back north. Puff, when will I see you again?
Why do you ask? Are we dating?
She scrambled to her feet. I haven’t thanked you properly.
Thank the general. He’s the one who sent me.
Silas had sent Puff? Gwennore pondered that as she watched the dragon disappear from view. If Silas had been communicating with Puff, why had she heard only Puff’s voice in her mind? That reminded her that her mind was still open, so she quickly erected a mental shield.
A cool breeze wafted against her wet clothes, causing her to shiver. She needed to warm up quickly, or she’d catch a cold. As she hurried through the gate, she realized she’d left her canvas bag behind at the river. Blast. She’d have to do all that work in the garden again.
This day was not going well. And it wasn’t going to get any better if Silas was intending to give her an earful.
* * *
“Dammit, I’ll wring her neck!” Silas strode down the hallway on the ground floor of the northern wing. He’d just returned to the castle through the northwestern tower, where Dimitri had met him.
“Not so loud,” Dimitri grumbled. “Everyone in the castle is eager for more gossip about your turbulent love affair with Lady Gwennore.”
Silas took a deep breath to calm his anger. “Did you send Margosha to her?”
“Yes.” Dimitri opened the door to Karlan’s office. “We can talk in here.”
Silas glanced around as he entered. “Where is Karlan?”
“I asked him and a few of his most trusted guards to help me keep an eye on Romak and the priest. We’re taking turns, so they won’t realize they’re being watched.”
“Where is Romak?”
“In the king’s outer office, going about business as usual.” Dimitri rolled up a sleeve to show a few wet leaves plastered against his forearm. “Lady Gwennore sent these earlier.” He peeled off the leaves to show a red, inflamed patch of skin.
“What is that?” Silas asked.
“It was caused by poison. Lady Gwennore has a similar spot on her arm.”
“What?” Silas’s heart lurched. “She’s been poisoned?”
Dimitri snorted. “I was, too, but I can see where all your concern lies.”
Silas gave him a wry look. “You’re obviously still alive. Where did the poison come from?”
“The dagger that Romak had me pass on to Gwennore.”
Silas’s heart grew still for a moment. “The weasel wants me dead.”
Dimitri nodded. “I figure he wants rid of both you and Lady Gwennore. If she stabbed you with the poisoned dagger, it would kill you. And then she would be executed.”
“Bastard.” Silas clenched his fists. “How dare he abuse her like that? If she had accidentally cut herself, she could have died!”
Dimitri cleared his throat. “Me, too.”
“Yes.” Silas paced about the room. “So Romak didn’t receive that gold just for spying. He was being paid to assassinate me.”
“Say the word, and I’ll arrest him.”
Silas paced some more as he considered. “Where is the priest?”
“In the village at a tavern.”
“Probably waiting for news of my death.” Silas stopped. “As soon as Aleksi returns, spread the word in the village that I’m deathly ill and not expected to live. When the priest leaves, have Aleksi follow him. I want to know where he goes and who is behind all this.”
“I thought you suspected Lord Morris.”
“I do, but I need to be sure. Once the priest is gone, we arrest Romak.”
Dimitri nodded. “Got it.”
Silas glanced at his friend’s inflamed arm. “Did the poison make you sick?”
“Now you ask?” Dimitri smirked. “My head hurt like hell.”
So did that mean Gwennore had a headache, too? Silas grimaced. “She should never have wandered off like that.”
“But I’m feeling much better now, thank you.” Dimitri smiled when Silas gave him an affectionate swat on the shoulder. “I suggest you refrain from wringing her neck. After all, she’s the one who figured out that the dagger was poisoned. We need her.”
“I know. She’s wonderfully clever.” Silas thumped a fist on Karlan’s desk. “That just makes me more upset with her. How could she do something so foolish?”
“Calm down. She’s fine. No harm done.”
“She almost went over the waterfall! And if I have to hear one more time about how sweet that damned Puff is—”
“What? Puff?”
“The dragon,” Silas growled. “She keeps going on and on about how he always comes to the rescue, while I do nothing! It’s Puff who protects her, not me! It’s Puff that’s a sweetheart—”
“By the Light!” Dimitri laughed. “Do you hear what you’re saying?”
“It’s what she’s saying that’s pissing me off!”
Dimitri punched him on the shoulder. “Idiot. You’re jealous of yourself.”
Silas hissed in a breath, then shot his friend a warning glare. “Don’t say it. We can never let her find out.”
“If she’s as clever as you think, she’ll figure—”
“No!” Silas shook his head. “She wants to go back to her family in a month. If she finds out, we won’t be able to let her leave.”
Dimitri gave him a sympathetic look. “Then you have no choice. You have to let her think Puff is the hero.”
Silas sighed. The true nature of the dragons was Norveshka’s most guarded secret. No foreigner was ever allowed to know the truth.
“And you should keep your distance from her,” Dimitri added. “Any woman who gets involved with us could be affected by the curse.”
“I don’t believe in the curse.”
“Fine. But even without the curse, you could hurt her. So be careful.”
Silas winced. He knew deep down he shouldn’t get involved with Gwennore. Not when her greatest desire was to return to her adopted family in Eberon. But how could he stay away from her when he was working with her? He had to be by her side.
Or was he just using that as an excuse? With a silent groan, he realized the truth. He didn’t want to stay away. He enjoyed being with her.
She made him laugh. She made him lust. She made him want more and more of her.
But to what end? She’d already asked him that. If he had any honor, he would stop lusting for her. Stop tr
ying to pull her into a relationship that had no future. “I need to warn her not to wander off by herself. After that, I’ll stay away.”
Dimitri gave him a wry look as if he doubted Silas would heed his own words.
As Silas left the northern wing and crossed the courtyard, he wondered if he was capable of staying away from Gwennore. He’d been so terrified earlier that she would come to harm. Or die.
By the Light, he had to be suffering from more than a bad case of lust. He wanted to grab on to her and not let go. And it was so damned tempting to do that when he knew from overhearing her thoughts that she was also attracted to him. Whenever their eyes met, he could feel the pull between them. The yearning. It was so strong, it felt like a cord had connected them, and it was slowly being reeled in.
But she was going home in a month. If he truly cared about her, he needed to cut the cord. He shouldn’t send her home with a broken heart.
His hands curled into fists. What about his heart? She’d nearly killed him when she’d put herself in danger. And then she’d trampled all over his traumatized heart by declaring Puff the real hero. She’d called the general a jokester, a man who wasn’t to be taken seriously.
Dammit to hell! How could she dismiss him like that? Was that any way to treat a man she was attracted to? He strode into the southern wing, then darted up the stairs, two at a time, headed for her bedchamber.
She was going to take him seriously. Now.
* * *
Gwennore settled on a pillow in front of the hearth to let the heat from the fire dry her long, wet hair. After a hot bath, she was feeling much better. Margosha had taken away her sodden clothes with a promise to return later with some hot tea and soup.
Now she was dressed in a clean shift and trying to relax, but it was difficult to do when she knew Silas was going to fuss at her. Stop worrying about him, she told herself. It didn’t matter what he thought, not when she was leaving in a month. And there was no point in wanting a relationship with him. No one else would ever accept her here. So it was better to keep her thoughts private and never let him know how much she had fallen for him.
She carefully reconstructed her mental shield once again, placing each imaginary brick into place until she had a sturdy wall that Silas could never penetrate.