Page 19 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

Mariane gives us a shaky smile back, right before falling onto her own knees, blood pouring from numerous gashes littering her body. As her eyes flutter, she mumbles, “Well, that was fun.”

I manage to lunge forward just in time to catch her before her face can hit the dirt. This is twice now she’s passed out on me, can’t say I’m too happy about that fact. After quickly assessing the extent of her injuries, I gently pick her up and carry her over to where my pack and bedroll are somehow mostly undisturbed. Cradling her in my arms, I rifle through the magically enchanted bag in search of the healing tonic I’m praying is still inside.

When my fingers finally wrap around a small glass vial, I let out a relieved sigh. Pulling the tonic free, I use my teeth to remove the cork and press the rim of the vial against Mariane’s blood-stained lips. Once I’ve carefully poured the liquid into her mouth, it only takes a moment for her eyes to shoot back open and a loud gasp to rip from deep in her chest.

As we both watch, all of the various wounds on her body begin to stitch themselves back together. As if they were never there to begin with. Tear-filled golden eyes drift up to mine and Mariane croaks, “Thank you, whoever you are. I was fairly certain I’d been about to die just now.”

My own voice wobbles slightly as I wipe a bit of blood off her cheek and say, “Well, good thing my bag is full of surprises, now isn’t it?” I curse myself when she begins to laugh, only to be cut off by a violent coughing fit. Helping her sit up, I rub her back and mutter, “Ah, shit. Sorry about that.”

After a bit more coughing, and a fair bit of wheezing, she shakes her head. “Ah, no more apologies from you. I find myself growing tired of hearing them.” She then proceeds to use my thighs as a pillow as she curls up into a ball, her eyes falling shut again as she drowsily mumbles, “I’m going back to sleep now. Wake me up if any more monsters decide to attack us.”

Chuckling softly, I begin running my fingers through her hair, hoping it will help comfort her. “Will do, Your Majesty. Sleep well.”

By the time Mariane wakes again, my legs are long past the point of going numb and the horse has begun stamping impatiently from the tree he’s still tethered to, likely much too close to the fly-infested corpse for his liking. She lets out a loud groan, followed by a series of adorable grumbles much too slurred to be understood before her eyes slowly squint back open.

Smacking her lips together a few times, she says, “Do you happen to have any water handy? Seems hydration isn’t included in the benefits of healing tonics.”

Snorting a laugh, I hand her the canteen I’d only barely managed to reach earlier. Helping her into a sitting position, I say, “You should be glad we still had one, Due to Rayne’s recklessness we go through them quite quickly and their price tag isn’t exactly cheap.”

Apparently my words are taken in a way I hadn’t intended, because Mariane flinches, lowering the canteen without taking a drink from it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. You shouldn’t have wasted it on me then. Not if it was your last one. I promise I’ll somehow–”

I wrap my hand around the bottom of the canteen and press the mouth of it back to her lips. “Drink. If I’m not allowed to apologize, neither are you.” After ensuring she’s swallowed down several large gulps, I continue, “And never refer to saving your life as a waste. That price will never be too high for us to pay. It was merely a bad joke. Seems I’m a bit off my game today.”

She takes a couple more swigs of water before lowering the canteen, along with her eyes. “Still, I’ll find some way to repay you. Somehow. Perhaps in the next town I can…” She trails off, and this time I hope I don’t know what she was about to say.

Shaking my head, I gently grip her chin between two fingers and force her gaze back to mine. “You owe me nothing. You will do nothing that could somehow put you at risk in any way. Do you understand?” When she slowly nods, I immediately release her chin and say, “Good girl. Now, I feel like our equine friend over there might mutiny if he isn’t untied soon. Perhaps it’s time we get back on the road, yes?”

Glancing towards the horse, who’s already staring back at us with large unblinking eyes, she chuckles softly. “Ah, I have a feeling you’re right. So yes, I believe it is.” She turns back to me, mischief dancing in her golden eyes. “Considering the fact I nearly died, I think I’m going to continue to lay here while you break camp as well. Seems only fair. I’ll take my turn tomorrow night. Assuming I don’t end up losing consciousness again before we next make camp.”

I bark out a laugh. “Of course. Anything Her Majesty wishes.”

Chapter Nine

Mariane

Guilt pools low in my stomach as Vannaria extracts herself from beneath me and begins packing up our camp. The same camp she’d set up by herself last night after I’d succumbed to the effects of the magic drain I’d foolishly brought on myself. While the healing tonic did wonders for healing the wounds themselves, the muscles beneath are screaming in agony after being pushed to their limits. And from going unused in that way for such a long time.

Shame joins the guilt as I take in what remains of my blood-soaked clothes, forcing myself to recognize just how rusty my swordsmanship skills have become since I’ve left home. Not entirely my fault, my father hadn’t permitted me to continue training once he’d taken me. And sparring had, of course, also been completely out of the question. They’d wanted me to lose my strength. So that I wouldn’t be able to fight back when...

No, I’m not going to dwell on that wretched man and what he did to me any longer. On either of them.

My eyes instinctually seek out Vannaria, who’s walking towards me with what must be her spare travel clothes tucked over her arm. No, I have a new life now. One that I refuse to let anyone have control over. And now, I even seem to have someone ready and willing to help me regain the freedom I so desperately wish for. If only I could be brave enough to allow her to. Them to.

I’m no fool, I know with certainty that Rayne played a major part in our fight with the Drithgal. Our conversation had been brief, yet quite informative all the same. She certainly did do a lot of poking. And happily, at that. The green ball of fire I saw was likely Aren. It did match the color of their eyes after all. That and I was already told they were a pyromancer. That leaves the bow. It had been the weapon they’d initially used, which means it probably belonged to Vannaria.

Which also means the stories I’ve heard are true. That Fragmented Souls do have separate talents within each part of themselves. Old Greyva will be thrilled once I tell her. Assuming she’s still alive, that is. She was already quite old when I’d been taken, no doubt she’s bordering on ancient now.

Noticing me watching her, Vannaria gives me a grin over her shoulder as she secures our meager belongings to the horse’s harness.

No. Old Greyva is still alive, and I’ll be giving her a new story to tell. One about my own heroic Fragmented Soul companion.

The last two nights we’ve spent together went about the same as the first. Vannaria refusing to allow me to assist her in making camp, cooking us more delicious meals, and insisting on giving me yet more massages. Her touch had also been just as wonderful, her hands never straying to places they shouldn’t. Unlike the first time, however, I’ve almost been finding myself disappointed.

There’s just something about the woman. She’d irritated me to no end when we first met, but considering the circumstances very few people would have escaped my ire, I imagine. But now… There’s her willingness to forfeit the large sum of gold she could collect from my bounty. Her thoughtfulness and seemingly genuine concern for my comfort and well-being. Her trust in me.

Even after seeing me slit a man’s throat in order to protect my secret, my freedom, Vannaria hadn’t hesitated in giving me my swords back. After a bit of teasing, of course. But before finding out about my past and therefore deciding not to return me to my jailers.

She’s also never lied to me. At least, as far as I’m aware. She’d informed me of her intentions before we’d ever left the city and even admitted her original intent to manipulate me.