He nods. 'Aye, there’s plenty. In the back.'
I snort softly. No new supplies have arrived this week. As I suspected, Tavish was lying to Bryn when we came here the other day asking for them.
Braun gets me the supplies I need, packing them into small parcels that I can easily walk back to the healer’s rooms with. As he's doing that, Tavish himself appears from a side door. When he sees me, he scowls.
'You,' he snarls. 'You tell that Dark Realm bitch not to show her face here again. Unnatural fucking female.'
'What the fuck did you just say?' I snarl, forgetting I’m a healer for the moment as I stride forward, completely taking him aback.
He's never seen me angry, I realize. I’m usually smiling, pleasant, and making a joke. But I won’t have anyone talking about Bryn like that.
‘You dare speak about my female in that way?' I spit.
The weak cunt skitters back like a scared child without a word.
'She's been given leave to stay here by the Council. You were there,' I remind him, ‘and if I hear that you’re not beingwelcomingto her, we're going to have a problem, you and I, Tavish,’ I grate out.
He opens his mouth, likely to argue, but I cut him off. 'And if she comes here to get supplies for the healer’s room or theapothecary, then you fucking give them to her, or I will have you up before Dane. You aren’t permitted to thwart a healer in their duty. That’s the law. I serve Halsford. So does she.'
'That woman is not a healer,' he spits.
'She's as much a healer as I am,' I say through clenched teeth, deciding to let him find out for himself that his wife and babe have benefited from Bryn’s healing knowledge. 'And she'll be the one managing the apothecary and the healer's rooms when I'm not here.'
Tavish's face grows red, and he chokes back some nasty barb.
I sneer at him as I take my packages. 'Payment from the Council will be forthcoming,' I mutter over my shoulder as I stalk quickly back to the healer's rooms, my fists clenched in anger.
I go inside and find Bryn with a woman I don't recognize at first, but, as she turns, her fiery red hair gives her away.
'Gwen?' I ask.
She grins at me.
'Jak.'
'How did you get in? I thought the wards were closed.'
She rolls her eyes and snorts. 'I, Drak, and Grim lived here first. They can try to keep us away if they like, but we have our ways in…and out.'
I let out a chuckle. 'I see you've met Bryn.'
'Yes. I've actually just arrived. We’re barely into the pleasantries. Where in the Dark are you from, Bryn?’
‘A place called The Barrack,’ Bryn says.
'The Barrack?' Gwen exclaims, eyes wide.
‘You know it?’ Bryn asks, trepidation in her tone.
‘I know of it. Gods, we allknewof it,' she mutters. 'It was a threat. Do your work, be a good slave, or you’ll be sold to The Barrack.’
The look Gwen gives Bryn is now tinged with respect. ‘So, you're a Dark Realmer and they let you stay? Didn’t think they were doing that anymore.'
'I…made a deal,' Bryn says.
Gwen's brows rise.
'I'm sure you did,' she says. ‘No one like the fae to give you a deal, though oft they put you in the position to need such an agreement in the first place, eh?’
