Then Jenson entered, too soon according to Archer’s calculations. It seemed that he was, indeed, going in and out of consciousness, and he was quick to wave the guards away, to tell one of them to search the castle and only leave two guards outside his door while Jenson examined him.
The old man’s expression was severe enough to freeze the room instantly. His sharp gaze swept over the destruction before landing on River, standing fretfully beside Archer.
Archer could have sworn he saw a flash of fear on the old healer’s face, and he wondered for whom it was meant. Was it for him, the man who had been attacked twice now in such a short time, or was it for River?
If he had to guess, he would say the latter.
Even with his ancient knees, Jenson managed to kneel on the floor next to Archer, with the carpet as the only padding. He motioned to a guard and the man handed him one of the candelabras so he could see the wound better in the dark, which he proceeded to poke with a careful finger.
And Archer cried out.
“Och hush,” said Jenson sternly. “Me Laird, this is the second attack on yer life in days.”
“Aye, so it is, I suppose,” said Archer with a sigh, letting his eyes slip shut.
“Ye should be more concerned.”
“Trust me, I am concerned,” said Archer. “I’m more concerned about...about losin’ more memories.”
The last part was spoken quietly, so that only Jenson could hear. The old man pulled back and held up three fingers.
“How many are these?”
“Seven.”
“Me Laird.”
“Three,” Archer grumbled.
“Good,” said Jenson. “Ye remember what happened?”
“Aye,” said Archer. “He was hidin’ in the shadows in me chambers.”
“If ye remember, then I doubt ye’ll forget,” said Jenson. “The wound is shallow now. Ye were lucky it had healed quite well.”
“But there’s so much blood,” said River, her voice chilly with terror.
“Aye, head wounds will do that,” said Jenson. “Daenae fash, I’ll take good care of him. We’ll stop the bleedin’ and give ye somethin’ for the pain, me Laird. Then ye’ll rest.”
“It seems to me all I do is rest,” grumbled Archer.
“It seems to me ye daenae rest enough,” said Jenson, who then studied him for a long moment. Then his gaze flicked briefly toward River again, checking silently that she was unharmed.
More guards entered with medical supplies. One approached Archer cautiously, but before they could touch him, another figure appeared in the doorway.
Keir.
Unlike the others, he said nothing immediately. His gaze moved over the wrecked chamber slowly, carefully, taking in every detail—the broken furniture, the blood, the open balcony doors. Then his eyes settled on Archer, his gaze more furious than Archer ever remembered seeing it before. A strange stillness seemed to enter the room as Keir stepped forward at last.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” he said quietly.
And somehow, his calm voice unsettled Archer more than all the shouting had.
15
The castle breathed differently this morning, its occupants tense and uneasy. Every servant moved too quickly through the corridors, every guard wore a harder expression than usual, their hands never straying far from their weapons. And along with the fear that spread through the halls like wildfire, there was also another thing.
Gossip.
