Page 38 of Pippa of Lauramore
I hear the creek from outside the cottage, but I’m not sure how far away it is.
It’s a dark night. A storm has moved in, and the clouds cover the moon. I walk through the woods, feeling a little spooked in the dark.
When I finally find the creek, I fill the kettle and stumble back to the cottage. Archer is already asleep. I set the water to boil and then wander the room, feeling lostwith nothing to do. With nowhere else to sit, I settle down next to Archer.
He shifts. His arm bumps my leg, and he groans in his sleep. I turn toward him, careful not to disturb him, and brush a few short strands of hair away from his face. Idly, I brush my fingers over his temple.
He’s got a small, light scar just under his left cheekbone. I’ve never noticed it before, and I’m not sure where he got it. I glance down at the long scar on his arm, and I softly run my finger along it. His skin is hot under my hand—his fever is rising.
The water comes to a boil, and I remove it from the fire. Finding no clean cloth, I pull my knife from my boot and slice a rectangle of fabric from my underskirt. I dip the cloth in the water and wait just a moment for it to cool, so I don’t scald him.
If I’m careful, I might be able to tend him and slip away without disturbing him. His eyes flutter open when I dab the cloth over the welts, and I give him a rueful smile. “You weren’t supposed to wake up.”
Archer blinks several times and cringes like his head hurts. “What time is it?”
“Late,” I answer. “I wasn’t able to sneak away until the palace was asleep. I’m sorry it took so long.”
I clean the two welts at his neck. “I believe these are the only two wasp stings. The rest are from the nettle.”
“It’s cold.” He tries to rise. “I’ll add more wood to the fire.”
“You have a fever. It will break soon.” I still him with my hand. His chest is hot and feverish under my fingers.
He looks at my hand, glances around the cottage, andfinally meets my eyes. “You shouldn’t be here,” he says, his voice a whisper.
Something knots in my chest and then releases—like a key in a lock. Archer’s gaze is still on me, and there’s not enough air. I rip my eyes back to my work. I gently smear the salve on the wounds, but I feel his stare.
“Pippa…” he says, his voice deep and rough.
I don’t dare look up. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me, but I know I can’t acknowledge it.
His hand finds my cheek, and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.
“Look at me,” he whispers.
I shake my head, my eyes still closed. He sits up, and the bed shifts underneath him. He cups my other cheek, and I finally open my eyes.
His gaze is strong but bright with fever. “I lied to you.”
A shiver runs through me, and I try to move away. I wave my hand. “It doesn’t matter—what’s done is done. My father would have found out somehow.”
Archer looks confused, but then he laughs—a soft, surprised sound. “No, Pippa, not about the other night. About the tournament. If I were able, I would fight for you.”
My heart races, and for the second time today, tears sting my eyes.
He leans forward, his sea-blue eyes intent on mine as he strokes my cheek with his thumb. “It makes no difference. It doesn’t change anything, but I want you to know. I need you to know.”
Then his hands slide from my face, and he lies backdown on the cot. His eyes are already closed. Slipping into sleep, he murmurs, “I would fight for you.”
I watch him, stunned, and I don’t stand until I am sure he won’t wake when I go. I leave the cottage, shutting the door softly behind me, and then I lean against the rough wood, trying to catch my breath.
It’s the fever speaking, that’s all. Just the fever.
CHAPTER 9
When I was a little girl, my grandparents brought me a globe from Ptarma. When I shook it, glittering pigments mixed with a clear oil and shimmered over a little sculpted village. There was beautiful chaos for several minutes, and then the pigments settled, leaving the scene calm again.
I feel like I’m in that globe. Archer turned my world upside down, sending a riot of beautiful, sparkling pigments around me, but everything is settled and calm this morning.
