Page 22 of Tethered In Blood

Her hands froze for a moment before she turned to face me. “Are you sure?”

I nodded and crossed my arms. “It wasn’t growing wild. Someone must have planted it there. The roots were deep, and the placement was intentional. It choked the weaker plants.”

Calder sighed “Damn fools,” she muttered under her breath, rubbing at her temple. That reaction told me more than I had expected.

My eyes narrowed. “This isn’t the first time, is it?”

She gave me an intense look and sighed. “No, it’s not. This has happened before, but not for some time. Last time, it was nightshade mixed in with the mint beds. Before that, a fungal rot had spread through the thyme. I had my suspicions then, but I couldn’t prove anything.”

A slow unease pooled in my stomach. “Who would do this?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? Not everyone values healing. Some would rather let things rot.”

Frowning, I rolled the thought over in my mind.Someone wanted to weaken the Courts’ supplies.“Whoever it is, they know plants,” I drawled. “They knew where to place the bellthorn to do the most damage.”

Calder hummed in agreement, then shook her head. “Keep an eye out. We will handle this quietly for now.”

I nodded, but remaining silent caused part of me to bristle. It hadn’t been mere sabotage, and it wouldn’t end there. Not if it had been occurring for so long.

My hand rested on the door handle when Calder spoke again. “Quinn.” I turned back and noticed the thoughtful crease in Calder’s brow. She crossed her arms and tapped her fingers against her sleeve. “We’ve received letters from Silverfel,” she announced. “Requests for aid.”

My pulse stuttered. Silverfel was one of the kingdom’s oldest settlements, tucked away in the dense forest to the south of the capital’s border. “What aid?” I asked.

Calder huffed and pushed off from the edge of her desk. “They’re vague. The healer is requesting more supplies. There’s also mention of something… strange. An illness that isn’t responding to any of their treatments. They have requested a male physician.”

“Not a healer?”

She gave me a knowing look. “Not awomanor a healer.”

Of course.

Older settlements still clung to outdated beliefs, favoring male physicians over women or trained herbalists, regardless of their skills.

“They don’t have time to be picky,” Calder continued. “Whatever is happening in Silverfel is spreading.”

I shifted my weight. “Are you sending someone?”

“Yes. I am.”

Her hesitation and her expression implied that she was urging me to go. Although I had never ridden a horse before, it couldn’t be all that bad.

But why me?

Others under Calder’s guidance had seniority. Was it because of the bellthorn? Because of what I had uncovered? That made little sense. It bore no relation to the greenhouse.

I shifted on my feet. “Why me?”

“Because you are the best suited for this.” She must have seen the doubt written on my face because she sighed and rubbed her temple. “They are asking for a male physician, but we both know that’s not what they need. You have the knowledge and the skills. Hells, you are more meticulous in your notes than half of the royal scholars. If anyone can sort this out, it is you.”

Swallowing, I looked down at my hands. “What if it’s beyond me? What if I fail?”

“I wouldn’t send you if I didn’t find you capable. Besides, you won’t be alone. A knight will accompany you,” she replied, returning to her seat.

“A knight?” I echoed. A flicker of unease crept into my voice. “Which knight?”

9

Oberon

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