“Elderflower and comfrey?” she asked
The silent one nodded, looking impressed, before leaving her to bathe.
“You will find cloths to dry with and clean garments hanging over your screens,” called Meraud. Kaetha hadn’t even realised that her old clothes had been taken.
Dressed in a smock and loose grey robes which were too long and baggy for her, she emerged from her screen. Meg sat, hugging her knees as she sat by the fire and Kaetha joined her. Now that the dirt was washed from her face, she could see purplish, green-edged bruises partly concealed under her loose hair. Similar dark smudges also marked her wrists. Whatever happened to her has turned her into another kind of ‘silent one’, Kaetha thought. Meg’s silence spoke as clearly of her suffering as if she had been shouting and screaming. Perhaps what weighed upon her was the betrayal of those she loved and trusted, perhaps it was the imprisonment in that cramped, dark, stinking hut, but perhaps more had happened to her than anyone knew but her. Kaetha didn’t ask, she simply took a wide-toothed comb and started running it through Meg’s hair.
“None of this was your fault, Meg,” she said. “Remember you’re safe now.” “Would you come here a moment, Kaetha?” said Meraud.
Kaetha joined her at a small table, sitting when Meraud tapped a stool with her long fingers. The silent one who had tended her hand with the herbal infusion now came to sit beside her too and opened a pot containing a yellowish balm. Her dark hands moved gently over Kaetha’s pink, raw, blistered skin but, despite her gentleness, her fingers hurt so much that she had to hold her breath to stop from crying out. But when the silent one had finished, the tingling cold of the balm gave some relief to her burned skin, numbness seeping deep into her fingers.
“Why are you doing this for me?” asked Kaetha.
The silent lass just smiled.
“What are our gifts for if not to serve others?” said Meraud, her voice as smooth as seal skin. “Thank you, Kahina.” The lass got up and walked away. “May I see?”
Kaetha held out her hand.
“How did you burn it?”
“On a cooking pot. I didn’t realise how hot it was.”
A smile playing briefly on Meraud’s lips and Kaetha knew she was unconvinced. Then Meraud placed her hand on Kaetha’s. She was surprised that this touch didn’t hurt at all and, when Meraud lifted her hand away, some of the redness had faded from her skin.
“Your skin will return to normal quickly now,” she said, “Kahina’s balm will help. Time will heal the bones,” she said, fixing new splints to her two broken fingers, binding them with cloth.
“I have to be leaving soon.”
“All are free to stay or leave as they wish.”
“When do you think there will be any news about my stepmother?”
“I assure you, I shall tell you as soon as I find out.”
“I could help look for her.”
“The best thing you can do right now is rest. Trust us to find her.” She stood up and bowed her head. “We are appointed to serve.”
“Thank you, Meraud.” Kaetha felt her Air magic swirl softly, subtly, but she could sense nothing of substance from Meraud’s thoughts, only a questioning and a watchfulness.
TWENTY THREE
Neul Carraig
Kaetha woke, foggy-headed from a deep sleep. Pale flames danced in a hearth set into the wall. There was no fuel or smoke, just fire like plumes of moonlight unfurling. They made her feel sleepy to look at but she knew she’d slept enough. The wall was cut with a pointed arch of black. Night had fallen and, feeling hungry, she realised she must have slept through dinner. She got up, putting on the soft leather slippers which she found by the bed, and crept across the room, careful not to wake Catrin, Roddie or Meg. Donnan’s bed was empty.
Crossing the landing, she eased open a heavy door and stepped out onto a canopied walkway which edged the mountainside. The air smelt like snow. She wondered it that meant it had no fragrance. The hairs on her arms rose and she shivered, covering her hair with her shawl to keep it from blowing everywhere. Moonlight caressed grey rock, deep shadow slicing through it in the distance – a glimpse of the forest. She paced the walkway, chewing her bottom lip.
“They’ve not found her yet.”Donnan was standing beside her. “I’ve just spoken to Branna. They’re willing to try again in the morning.”
“We should leave in the morning, anyway. Find her ourselves and carry on south.” His face was in shadow and she wondered then if she was being too hasty. “Or I can look for her with Naru and the others and bring her here. You might benefit from more time with the healers. They’re very good.”
“I know. They gave me a potion of dachas flowers or something.”
“Dochas?”
“Aye, that.”
“I heard Nannie mention it once. It’s very rare.”
“Anyway. I’m feeling better than I have done for,” he paused, “for a long time. They said that dochas would banish shadows of the mind, if the mind was ready, and that the opean only masked them briefly. They gave me enough for a few more doses and said it should be all I needed but . . .”
“But what?”
“They said the shadows could come back and that it was important that I talked to someone if I felt that was happening.”
Her heart went out to him and she took him in her arms. “I hope you know you can always talk to me.” He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her too, holding her close. They stayed like that for a while. Embracing him felt good, a warmth amidst the biting cold, something simple, uncomplicated. “I’m hungry,” she said.
He
