Page 11 of Burn Bright
"Well, you cannot take my father." I stepped between the prince and my father's room. "He barely made it through the winter. If you take him out there into thesnows—"
"Neva," called a raspingvoice.
My father leaned in the frame of his doorway behind me, clad in his thin nightshirt. I saw his proud face take in the trio of men in the room, even as I saw the faint note of shock on the prince’s face as he saw my father’s pale, lined face, and gaunt cheekbones. No matter how much he ate, my father simply couldn’t keep the weight on his bones. Something was eating him up from within, Eloya claimed, and she’d thrown herself into her healing apprenticeship in an effort to discover how to treatit.
"You mentioned coin," father said, limping forward with his cane. "Perhaps you should sit down and tell me what you want, and how much you’re paying. Neva, would you boil thekettle?"
* * *
"He won't change his mind,"Averill muttered, watching as father packed for the trip. "He won't even listen toEllie."
And Eloya was his sweet favorite, the one who nursed him through the days while Averill and I tended to the five acres weowned.
I met Ellie's eyes as she helplessly held out father's coat, and he stuffed it into his leather satchel. A great racking cough burst from him, and he turned aside, clutching his stained handkerchief to his lips. It seemed to go on forever, but when it finished he simply asked for hisboots.
I eased the door shut, my heart racing wildly. "The prince insists on hunting within Gravenwold. And father has pledged his word to provide a tracker. He didn't say it had to behim."
"No." Averill breathed, catching my wrist. "You've never been within the heart of theforest."
Technically.... "He'll die,Avie."
She licked dry lips. "Perhaps he won't. You know how the forest makes him feel. And the firebird..." Her dark eyes suddenly lit up. "If they catch it and kill it, perhaps there is some way he could use its blood to heal himself. The king can have its heart. We could use therest."
Was she right? I bit my lip, as another barking cough echoed through the small hut we allshared.
"I don’t think the prince intends to share," I admitted. "I can do this, Avie. I'll take his place and help them track the blasted firebird. Then I'll bring back what I can forfather."
We both eyed ourfather.
"How are we going to stop him from trying to leave?" she whispered, her shoulders slumping indefeat.
I crooked a finger toward Eloya. "It's a good thing our sweet, dear little sister has been studying herballore."
