He nods, giving me a wide grin. ‘They’re starting to get to know you. We’ll go as soon as we finish for the day.’
I nod.
We enter the apothecary, but before I follow Jak into the healing rooms, I try to make the chime in the window fall, something fly across the room, or the candle on the nearby table flicker.
Nothing happens and I frown at myself.
Maybe I need to be angry for it to work.
I join Jak in the healer’s rooms and draw out some of the right tincture for Dawn and her babe into a small vial from the much larger pots on the shelf by the wall that Jak makes in batches. In the apothecary, I locate the salve that’s already been decanted into small pots. Then, I begin to sweep up some of the bits from where I’ve been mixing herbs this afternoon, but Jak takes the broom and waves me away.
‘It’s almost time to leave for the day. You need do no more. Thank you for your help these past few days. You have a natural skill with healing, you know.’
I turn to look at him fully, finding it impossible not to smile at his words.
‘Thankyou,’ I say, a little bashfully. ‘Coming here every day. Learning. It’s been… I very much enjoy it. Thank you for suggesting it, Jak.’
He coughs a little. ‘It was actually Locke’s idea. I had my reservations.’
I feel my face fall a bit. Did Jak not think I could do it?
‘Oh?’
‘It was only that I thought you should have more time, Bryn, to settle in, I mean. But he was right, though I’m loath to admit it. Getting you out of the cottage, ensuring people see you, speak with you, get to know you. It was a good idea.’
‘I suppose so,’ I say quietly.
I wouldn’t have thought that Locke, out of the three of them, would be the one pushing for me to set roots down here, or that he’d know me well enough to understand how bored I’d havebeen just sitting in the cottage for days on end with nothing to keep me busy but waiting to be told when to report to Voss, or waiting for the three of them to return in the evenings.
Jak and I finish cleaning up and leave for the night. Before we go home, however, we return to the cottage where Dawn lives. I knock on the door, and it opens just a crack.
‘Dawn? I brought?—’
‘My thanks,’ a whispered voice interrupts, and a hand reaches out to snatch the bag from my fingers.
The door shuts with a small click and I blink at it for a moment before I turn to Jak with a shrug. ‘I suppose she was busy…’
He’s staring at the closed door with a sardonic expression.
‘What is it?’
‘Was the woman’s name Dawn?’ he asks.
I nod and he snorts.
‘What?’ I ask again.
‘Dawn is Tavish’s wife. Taramel is his daughter.’
My eyes widen. ‘No wonder she seemed worried earlier,’ I mutter. ‘Her husband won’t be angry with her if he learns Dawn took help from me, will he?’
Jak puts his arm around my shoulders and I try not to melt into him.
‘I’ll tell you a secret. Tavish talks much, but he’d do anything for Dawn and his babe. This may well work in your favor, love.’
Love?
Jak takes my hand and walks with me slowly to the cottage we all share. All the way back, all I can think about is how my fingers feel intertwined with his, how much I like it.
