Page 71 of Bought to Break
‘What about her? She comes with us.’
‘It’s too dangerous. He collects anything that is rare or valuable. Can you imagine what he would do with her if he found out what she is? And, remember, the further north she goes, the more dangerous it becomes for her. ’
‘The captain says the wind has been favourable and we’ll dock earlier than expected. His first port is a small town up the coast from where the army will land. We could leave her there while we–’
‘No,’ Kane’s voice snarled. ‘She is one of us. We’re not leaving her with a keeper. Where we go, she goes.’
To say she was surprised was an inadequate description. Kanewantedher with them? What was going on? She made a show of stretching and their voices hushed. A cup was put to her lips. She drank every drop.
She opened her eyes to find all three Brothers sitting on the beds around her, making the already small cabin seem positively tiny.
‘Are you hungry?’
She nodded and a plate of meat and bread was placed in her hands. ‘When do we reach the mainland?’ she asked between mouthfuls.
‘Soon.’
She just about stopped herself from rolling her eyes at them. ‘Will you give me more than one-word answers or must I wring them from you like water from a strap? Am I not still one of you?’
‘Yes, of course you are, but–’
‘But nothing,’ she interrupted Viktor. ‘Tell me what is happening. Please. Have you – have we – left the Brothers? Are they coming for us? For me? What is our plan? I’m not a child that must be coddled! Tell me the truth.’
She tried to keep her eyes open during her little speech, she really did, but they began to drift closed of their own accord towards the end, which, she suspected, somewhat damaged what she was trying to convey. She vaguely heard the plate fall from her hand and clatter to the floor and she was glad she had eaten most of it.
‘You see? I told you there’s something wrong with her.’
The next timeshe opened her eyes, she was on a horse in Viktor’s arms. Her brow furrowed. ‘Where …?’
‘Hush, little bird. You aren’t well. We’re on the mainland and we’re taking you to a hedge witch.’
‘A witch?’ she mumbled puzzledly.
‘A wise woman,’ he amended.
‘Which is it?’
Viktor made a noncommittal sound. ‘All these old hags are basically the same. Regardless of what they call themselves, they aren’t actual witches.’
She turned her head to see where they were going and spied a tiny cottage in the forest, its thatched roof and wooden structure making it blend in well with its surroundings. As they cantered up, the door opened a crack.
‘Woman. We have need of your services.’
A hunched mass of rags hobbled out slowly, leaning heavily on a stick. ‘What do three Dark Brothers want with the likes of me?’ rasped the voice of a crone.
‘Our friend is ill. They said in the town that you might be able to help.’ Sorin paused. ‘We can pay.’
The woman eyed them all long enough for them to start shifting impatiently.
‘Can you help or not?’ Kane barked.
She simply watched him as if debating something. Then, suddenly making her decision, she let go of the stick and stood up straight.
‘Bring her in, then,’ said the voice of a much younger woman.
Viktor carried her into the house. Dried plants and bundles of leaves hung from nails protruding from the thick oaken beams overhead. There were books and scrolls piled on a table and the bottles and jars of an apothecary were crowded untidily on haphazard shelves.
‘Lay her on the table.’
