Page 76 of Ravenrose

Let him think I don’t care. What I did was reckless, and I need them to keep underestimating me, but he knows something isn’t adding up. And that something might make me even more dangerous in his eyes. And that’s not where I want to be.

Kent is summoned for another examination. He’s in there for a long while. I perk back up at the sight of Ayer and Kent exiting the cottage—starting toward their horses, which brings them closer.

I keep my head down, pretending to be far more interested in the rock between my fingers than I am with them.

Ayer speaks, dropping his voice, but not low enough that I can’t make out the words.

“So the milk and honey—?” he starts slowly. “It really worked?”

My lips twitch.

“By the heavens! No!” Kent scoffs. “We just got lucky, that's all. There’s no cure for red fever. Everyone knows that. That baby should have died.” He points back at the cottage behind them before frowning. “I can’t tell you why she didn’t... I can’t explain it, but I do know it wasn’t no stones-cursed milk and honey.”

The rest of the morning passes quickly. The men set about gathering more supplies, preparing for the ride ahead. It looks like we’ll be spending yet another long and glorious day on the road.

I sigh, staying put. My back resting against the post I’m bound to, I savor every minute of rest I can get. I’m so tired.

I feel his approach before I see him.

Ayer doesn’t say anything to me as he untethers the end of my rope, freeing me from the post. I notice his eyes lingering on the dark ink he burned into my skin.

Yes, it’s still there. Still intact.

Without a word to me, he sets off toward Dash, and I follow… in silence.

“The baby is better.”

I stiffen at his words, but keep my gaze fixed on the pretty stallion ahead of me, not wanting to give him a reaction, acting like I couldn’t care less.

“Kent reckons she’ll make a full recovery.”

Relief crashes through me at the news, but I keep my face carefully blank, burying the flood of relief under indifference.

“Oh,” I say, pretending to inspect the road ahead, ignoring Ayer as he secures my tether to his saddle. His unasked questions fill the air between us, and I shift uneasily under the weight of them.

He suspects.

He has to.

Unfortunately for me, he’s not as dumb as he looks. But he still doesn’t know how I did it—or if I did anything at all.

But red fever is notorious for showing no mercy, sparing neither the weak nor the elderly, and definitely not the young. The virus rips families apart, decimating village populations. There are no remedies, and once one’s cheeks flare scarlet…

It’s already too late.

But not for Josi.

I stare forlornly at the rope tied once again to Dash’s saddle and sigh. It appears I’ve lost walking privileges. My toes curl inside the soft leather of my boots. The rope, I can deal with, but if he tries to take my boots again… we’re gonna have to test the strength of that rune again.

Ayer turns to pack up the last of his supplies, and the question tumbles out of me all on its own before I have a chance to stop it.

“What will happen to them?” I ask, quickly slamming my mouth shut. So much for indifference, Rowan…

Ayer looks down, studying me for a moment before obliging me. “A couple of my men will remain here, with Nadia and her children. And once they have all recovered enough to travel, they will be escorted back to Theo’s camp. Where they will be safe.

I nod in response. My jaw locked, looking anywhere but at him.

The captain finishes securing his bags, swinging his leg up and over Dash before giving me one last curious look.