Page 30 of Blood Weaver
Caelan studied my face for a moment, a hint of interest evident in his eyes. “Very well. If you change your mind, just send word.”
Ronan, still bristling, grunted, “She won't need to.”
The clan chief’s son looked ready to attack at any moment. Right as I was about to step between them, the door to my clinic burst open and Henry, the young boy who hung around the Tea House barged in, holding his forearm.
“Miss Leila!” he called out. “I need your help.”
I frowned as I approached him, then sucked in a startled gasp when I moved his hand off his forearm to reveal a nasty gash. “What happened?”
When he looked away guiltily, I didn’t push any further. He was obviously doing something he shouldn’t have done.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” I led him over to the cot and asked him to sit.
As I started cleaning his wound, he asked, “Do you want to hear any more information on the lost princess?”
I tensed and peered over my shoulder to find Caelan’s eyes going wide. If he wasn’t suspicious before, he definitely was now.
Ronan laughed. “Whodoesn’twant to hear about the lost princess? It’s top-tier gossip nowadays,” he cut in, trying to shift the attention to himself.
The young boy looked up at Ronan and his eyes went wide. “Crimson Clan,” he whispered, belatedly realizing who Ronan and Silas were. The young boy shifted closer to me.
“Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you,” I whispered. Turning to the men, I announced, “I think it’s best if you all go now.”
Silas, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. “Ronan, let's go. We have matters to attend to.”
Sending one last possessive glare my way, Ronan nodded at his companion. “Remember what I said, Leila,” he warned, then stepped outside.
With them gone, the atmosphere in the clinic lightened. I let out a sigh of relief. Caelan lingered, a curious expression on his face. “Leila, are you sure you don’t want an escort or guard? The streets are dangerous these days,” he added carefully.
I gave a wry smile. “I think I'm more afraid of the men trying to protect me than the actual threats out there.”
He chuckled softly, but it sounded forced, as if there were a million questions running through his head—particularly why the local healer was so interested in learning more about the lost Valorian princess. “You're brave and headstrong. But don't be too stubborn to ask for help when you need it.”
I offered a stiff smile. “Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. “Take care, Leila. I'll see you around.” With a parting glance at the young boy, he left.
I hoped I hadn’t placed a target on him like I had already done to Selene. Once it was just the two of us, I closed the door and turned back to Henry. “Now that they’re all gone, want to tell me what happened?” I quirked a brow.
He sighed. “I was in the mountains following the Valorian army,” he said. “I was running from them so I wouldn’t get caught.”
“The Valorian army?” I questioned. “Why would they be here?”
The young boy shrugged. “I don’t know. I was trying to find out, but then I almost got caught by one of their generals.”
Caelan and Marcellus were supposed to be here as envoys. When making deals, it was poor form to bring an army along to intimidate the other party. What did they have up their sleeves?Whatever it was, it was no good. If war ravaged the Central Plains, the people would be the ones who suffered.
“Do you know if they came with the princes?” I asked casually as I applied ointment to his wound, then blew on it gently to dry.
“They didn’t. The army didn’t arrive until yesterday,” he said, then winced from the sting on his arm as the medicine started to work. “The princes only came with a handful of guards.”
I nodded. “How do you get your information?”
He grinned. “Information is money, Miss Leila. It’s the only way I can survive.”
I snorted and ruffled his messy hair. “You need to stay out of trouble, is what youneedto do. Where are your parents?”
“Dead,” he answered. “The plague took them.”
