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Knock, knock.
The healer rolled her eyes. “And there is Captain Marcus, right on time. Do you feel up to answering his questions? I can send him away if you aren’t.”
“No, it’s fine. I can answer them.” A small smile curved my lips, she seemed so eager for a reason to send the captain away.
Sighing, she opened the door and stepped aside so he could enter the room. He had to duck slightly so his head wouldn’t hit the doorframe. His bushy gray eyebrows rose when he noticed me standing upright.
“Arrow, I hope you are feeling better today,” he offered, all business, and I was oddly grateful that he was acting like his normal bristly self, not treating me differently after last night.
I folded my hands and nodded my affirmation. “I am, thank you. You have questions, I’m sure?”
“How did you know it was the Bruralians that buried your cousin?”
“Because of their clothes. They were wearing wolf pelt cloaks. Also, I know pretty much all our guards on sight. I didn’t recognize these men.”
With a firm nod, he began to fire off more questions. I answered them as best I could, but there wasn’t much more information to give him. I hadn’t seen their faces, so I couldn't identify them.
“I don’t know what they were doing out there, or even where they came from. I was exercising.”
He looked at me sharply, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “I thought you were walking?”
“Walkingisexercising,” I replied, suppressing my own smile.
The captain knew exactly what I was doing out there and why I chose that area. No one went there because of the rumors about the clearing “being haunted”. Rumors I may or may not have started.
The smile stayed on his face as he thanked me for answering his questions, and with a nod to the healer, he turned to the door. “When William wakes up, let me know.”
“I will,ifhe is well enough for your questioning,” the healer interjected, arms crossed and looking just as stern as him. She’d been so quiet while Captain Marcus was talking that I’d forgotten she was there.
As soon as the door closed behind him, my attention returned to my cousin. I wished I could say he looked peaceful, but truthfully, he looked pretty terrible. I reached out to gently touch his face, and nearly jumped out of my skin when one of his eyes peaked open.
“Will!” I screeched in an unladylike fashion, nearly jumping out of my clothes.
“Sorry,” he croaked. “I just didn’t want to talk to the captain yet.”
“How long were you listening?” My voice filled with suspicion.
He attempted a smile through cracked lips and my heart softened. “Long enough to know to stay asleep,” he joked.
“Will…” I began then stopped, unsure what I wanted to say first. “I was so scared,” I admitted.
“I’m so sorry, Row. I never meant—” He grimaced, and like magic the healer appeared beside him with a cup of liquid. He drank it carefully, then turned to the woman. “Thank you. Would you mind if I talked to Arrow for a minute, lady…?”
The healer squinted at him, and I was glad it was aimed at him and not me. “You can call me Epione. And you should not overexert yourself.”
“I won’t, I promise, Epione,” Will answered smoothly, and Epione snorted. Then, with a sharp nod, she disappeared into the next room, and Will motioned for me to come closer.
“Row, something is seriously wrong with the Bruralians,” he confessed, eyes wide, imploring me to believe him.
I nodded vigorously. “I know! I saw them bury you. Only, I didn’t know it was you at the time,” I babbled, tears coating my throat again. I’d come so close to losing him.
“No, Row. People are going missing. I think the Bruralians are behind it.”
“What? Does the King know?” I asked, thinking of the letter from the King he had in his possession. Did the Bruralians know about the letter? Was that why they attacked him?
He shrugged, then grimaced in pain. A rustling came from the far corner, and I looked up to see Epione glaring at me. I cringed. “Sorry,” I mouthed.
“I don’t know, I was on my way to talk to him when I was ambushed,” Will admitted, brown eyes looking around the room as if expecting an attack.
