Amber stopped cold. Her tiny body stiffened before she shook her head violently.
“Amber?” Lavina tilted her head, noting the child’s sudden fear. “What is it?”
Without a word, Amber turned and darted back down the corridor, vanishing like a wraith in the mist.
“Was it something I said?” Lavina muttered, letting out an exasperated sigh.
She turned—and promptly ran into someone.
“Beg yer pardon,” the stranger said kindly.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, I-I didnae see ye,” Lavina stammered, reaching to steady the elderly man as he stumbled.
Before he could trip, she caught him. He smiled warmly, a gentleness in his eyes that eased the awkwardness between them.
“Nay harm done.” He chuckled. “Should’ve kenned better than to sneak up on the young these days.”
Lavina smiled shyly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before stepping aside. The gentleman gave her a soft pat on the cheek as he passed.
She watched him go, making sure he didn’t stumble. Only when he rounded the corner did she continue toward the infirmary.
The air changed as she entered. The room was warm, permeated with the familiar scent of crushed herbs and peat. Shadows clung to the corners, the firelight giving the room a mystical, almost sacred air.
“Lavina.” Maisie’s voice was a bolt of lightning to her heart. Lavina peered through the dim light as she made her way to Maisie’s cot, settled next to the hearth. Maisie’s smile was contagious as Lavina noticed she was wrapped in nothing but furs.
“Maisie…” she whispered, the name catching in her throat.
Her sister looked better. The blue tint had left her lips, the shadows under her eyes had cleared, and most importantly, she lookedalive.
Lavina crossed the room and kneeled beside her, brushing her hand with trembling fingers.
“Ye look better,” she said softly, drinking in every sign of life in her sister’s features.
“Where are we?” Maisie whispered. “There’s been an old man comin’ and goin’… I didnae ken whether to speak to him. I wasnae sure if he was an enemy.”
Lavina’s eyes drifted to the corner, where Aaron tinkered quietly with herbs and tonics. She gave him a grateful nod, then turned back to Maisie.
“I wouldnae worry about that,” she murmured. “He’s a healer—his name is Aaron. He’ll help ye.”
Maisie scoffed weakly. “And here I thought they were just attendin’ to me so they could torture me later.”
Lavina’s chest tightened. “I still wouldnae put it past them. We’re on McGowan land, after all.”
She kept her voice low, barely above a whisper, but Maisie’s eyes widened at the confession.
“What are we doin’ here?” Maisie asked sharply.
“We had nay other choice,” Lavina explained, brushing back a loose curl from her sister’s forehead. “Ye needed help. The cold had nearly reached yer marrow. I couldnae lose ye.”
She paused, swallowing hard as the memory of that storm chilled her all over again.
“There was nay turnin’ back,” she continued. “The storm was gettin’ worse.”
Maisie closed her eyes, and Lavina let out a long breath, trying to steady her own nerves.
“Ye’re safe now.We’resafe,” she assured, more to convince herself than anyone else.
“Uncle willnae dare look for us here,” Maisie whispered.
