Page 52 of Burn Bright
"Thank Vashta," Avie whispered. "I was so worried you weren’t going to return. There was so much smoke in the sky and we feared theworst."
Ellie drew back and punched me in the arm. "Father was so mad when he woke! You’re going to be in so muchtrouble."
Averill looked away fromme.
"What?" I demanded. "What isit?"
"He was worried," she admitted. "He’s spent the past few days fretting, and his health took a turn for theworst."
I pushed away from the pair of them, turning for home and expecting theworst.
"Neva, wait!" Evaron called. "We’re to have a feast for our return. You’re to be the guest ofhonor!"
But I shoved the door to my home open, and rushed to find myfather.
* * *
"Here, father,"I whispered, helping him to sit up, and tipping the flask of water to his lips. I'd filled it at the Well of Tears, and the water was almost luminescent as I tipped it from my steel waterflask.
"What... isit?"
"It will make you well again." I knew my father. There was no man more pure of spirit than he. All he lived for was the hunt, and for hisdaughters.
The water from the Well of Tears gleamed on his lips as he swallowed, and then he gave a startled cough, spraying some of it across the room. His chest heaved, and for a second I thought I'd killedhim.
Then his spine arched and he bowed off the bed, his eyes wide andstaring.
"Neva!" Averill exclaimed, her facepale.
"What have you done?" Ellieasked.
"Wait forit…"
The same silver lines appeared beneath his skin, but at least this time I knew to expect them. Father hacked and coughed, until finally he collapsed back on the bed, gasping for breath. The ominous rattle in his chest was gone. So too his pallid color. Blood rushed through his cheeks, revealing the gaunt hollows of hisface.
Averill sucked in a sharp gasp as he reached for myhand.
"What… what did you do to me?" hewhispered.
I helped him to sit up, flinging my arms around him. "I only did what you told me to do, papa. I followed the Old Ways. All of them. You’re healednow."
"Healed?" Ellie whispered, sinking onto the bed and wrapping her arms around them both. "How? What did you do? Is this medicine? Isit—"
"It’s a secret," I said fiercely, meeting her gaze and then looking past her to Averill. "One the king would kill to get his handsupon."
Averill gave a short, sharp nod, and I knew despite her cool expression she was simply overwhelmed right now. I held a hand out to her, and she came and sank onto the floor at my feet, squeezing myhand.
"We won’t say a word," Elliewhispered.
"Is it magic?" Averill finallyasked.
Inodded.
"There is always a price to pay for magic," she pointedout.
"And I will pay it," I whispered, earning a start from my father. "No. It’s not a bad price, father. It just means… My life will change. I have a new home now. The forest needs me, and I will benearby."
I could see they didn’t understand. With a sigh, I rested my chin on my father’s head and told themeverything.
