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“If he isn’t, he will be soon,” Elmer sneered,” Now tell me where those documents are so we can have some fun. The longer you make me wait the less fun it will be for you.”
“I told you I don’t have them.”
“Then who does?”
This time he was absolutely certain she saw him. He nodded and she let her shoulders slump, looking defeated.
“Marsh does,” she whispered.
“Then I’ll bet he’ll be willing to trade them in exchange for getting you back, even if you are a little worse for wear.”
As Elmer reached for his belt, a scratching noise came from the rear wall where Thorn was lying.
“What the hell?”
Elmer’s head snapped in that direction and Marsh moved.
The door was locked but the wood was rotten. He easily tore the handle away and kicked the door open. Elmer swung back around but he was a moment too late - Marsh has already reached him. He punched the man hard enough to send him flying. He hit the wall with a sickening crack, his head at an impossible angle. He wouldn’t be bothering them again.
He hurried to Aurora’s side, quickly stripping away the ties.
“How badly are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Thorn…”
“I’m working on that. Give me a minute.”
The vines and thorns around the small hut were strong, but not impermeable. He simply ripped his way through them to reach his uncle. Thorn groaned as Marsh knelt next to him, but he was conscious.
“Is Aurora… all right?” he gasped.
“She says she’s not hurt. But you are. Can you heal yourself?”
“Too much damage. Healer. Outside the village.”
His uncle’s eyes closed, but his chest was still rising and falling.
“We have to help him,” Aurora said as she joined him, her legs shaking but moving on her own.
“I know, but I can’t carry you both.”
“I’m fine. Take him.”
“You’re certain you’re unhurt?”
“Yes. Help Thorn.”
He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled her scent for a brief moment, reassuring himself that she was alive and whole before kneeling next to his uncle and carefully lifting him. The weight made him stagger, but he found his balance and headed back down the path.
Aurora followed, her steps faltering, but he couldn’t help them both and she was moving. His legs and arms were burning by the time they reached the bottom of the hill. Jimmy met them there, putting his arm around Aurora and helping her to the boat as he followed more slowly.
“Thorn said there was a healer outside the village. Do you know who he’s talking about?”
“Yep. Hang on.”
The boat tore through the swamp at frightening speed but it never occurred to him to object. Aurora didn’t either, huddled next to him as they watched over Thorn. He was still breathing when Jimmy brought the boat to a halt, and Marsh prayed that was a good sign.
All of his muscles protested as he picked up his uncle again, but he ignored them as he followed Jimmy, his arm around Aurora again. As soon as they reached the healer’s small cottage, he pushed his way inside and bellowed for her.
