After all the work I did, I looked in the mirror and saw that I was covered in blood. I was tired and in need of a good bath. I took the clothes that Abby had left for me and went to the bathtub behind a big screen. I relaxed in the hot water for a few minutes and wondered what would become of me as soon as I arrived at the castle. The events, the revelations, especially that Roy was my legitimate father, had fallen upon me all at once. I breathed deeply to contain the tears, but they were stubborn and rolled over my face one after the other. As I was about to get up, I heard a furious scream followed by a hollow noise. Rolling around in a big towel, I slowly came out from behind the screen.
- Let her go! - Bruce was screaming. - I'll kill them for it! I swear I'll kill them with my bare hands if they don't let her go!
Bruce was screaming and struggling in bed. Scared, I approached the bed. I realized that he was burning up and that he was delirious.
- Don't do that! - he screamed again.
Tears flowed down his face right after a cry of pain. It was like he was reliving a great conflict. That's the first time I've seen Bruce cry since we met. He was sobbing with sadness and the scene broke my heart. Besides being a warrior, Bruce was also fragile and I was the only witness to it.
- Stay calm! - I whispered as cold water ran down his forehead. - It'll all be over soon!
Bruce sighed holding one of my hands.
- It was my fault! It's all my fault! - he whispered in despair. - Cora, don't die! Don't die, please!
His voice was disappearing. There was pain in his tone of voice and I soon realized that he was delirious about his cousin. From the tone of her voice, I could tell that she had been very important. The words of the woman in the forest came to my mind and I closed my eyes. Was Bruce the blackhearted knight she mentioned? No! It couldn't be him! That stupid old woman talked about a lonely knight and Bruce was nothing but an arrogant idiot. It couldn't be him at all. Besides, I didn't believe in witches, even though she said it was just a riddle. Now, a riddle would have said that I would come here in this way and with a grumpy dying man.
I got up when I saw that he had gone back to sleep peacefully, but the fever had not gone down. Returning to the screen, I finished drying and put on the simple dress Abby had given me. I sighed by putting my hands on my waist and then went to bed where Bruce was sleeping. He moaned low as a result of pain and fever. I decided to stay by his side until the fever subsided, so I grabbed a rag and started pouring cold water over his forehead and neck. If she didn't come down, she'd have to take a bath in Bruce with cold water and it would take a lot of work. After what seemed like hours of taking turns with Abby in changing the water and clothes, the fever finally gave way. Tired of moving to my bed, I decided to sleep right there next to him. If he woke up at dawn, I would listen and be able to help him as much as was necessary. It didn't take long, I fell into a deep sleep full of nightmares with soldiers and a faceless black knight.
Chapter 06
Bruce
Two days later...
I took a deep breath when I felt a sharp pain tear my abdomen. She surrounds my waist up to her back in the same direction. I tried to move, but the pain increased. I automatically took my hand where I felt the punch. I kept my eyes closed tightly as I prayed for that pain to pass. Sighing, I gradually opened my eyelids. I blinked trying to focus and aimed at the wooden ceiling.
- Where? - I whispered. - Where am I?
Rising slowly, I was able to sit on the bedside. The room I was in was spacious. There was another bed and a fireplace that was lit. It was very warm and I felt comfortable. That environment was quite different from a stable, so I was surprised to be there. I looked at the bed where I was sitting and looked at the goat-hair blanket that covered my legs. I ran my hand over my chest and found I was wearing a white linen shirt. She had long sleeves and a V-neck. It's been a long time since I wore white and I felt uncomfortable. When I pulled out the blanket, I made sure that I was wearing some pants, also made of linen, but that was black. At least something I liked. Putting my legs out of bed with some difficulty, I stepped on the wooden floor with my bare feet. Standing up, I used the wall to support myself and walked slowly to the large window in the room. Outside a blizzard was falling with winds not too strong, but dangerous. I noticed I was in the same village where
