Page 7 of Feathers and Thorns

“She’s right; we need to be smart about this.” He reached forward to touch Enara’s shoulder, the simple act seeming to calm her slightly. “Let’s hear Soren out,” he said, softer this time.

Enara loosened her clenched fists and nodded. “Make it quick,” she said, gesturing to Soren.

“The house is practically an apothecary,” she replied matter-of-factly. “We can regroup there, but I will need your help to carry him.” Without waiting for confirmation, she unrolled a bandage and wrapped it tightly around his torso to stop the bleeding.

“I’ll second that motion,” Jai said, hobbling toward them.

“All in favor?” Baz asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Everyone but Enara put up their hand, and she sighed.

“Fine,” Enara replied but made no move to assist Rook.

Soren tried not to panic as the bandage changed color, and she willed her friends to move faster. They were only a kilometer away from the manor, yet it felt like a marathon. Even with their combined strength, the four of them struggled to get his body down the snow-covered path. Behind them was a trail of crimson that seemed to be following them like a shadow.

The adrenaline had worn off, and they were all feeling the results of their brush with the kestrels. Enara’s head had stopped bleeding, and she had stuffed snow into her sock, using it as an icepack. Jai tucked one of Rook’s legs under his arm and held his ribs with the other, fairly certain that at least two of them were broken from his fall through the trees. Baz had miraculously come out pretty unscathed, all things considered, with a few scrapes here and there. Soren’s arms closely resembled the rest of Rook’s body, some of the defensive wounds deep enough to require a stitch or two.

She looked at Rook’s broken body, and tears welled in her eyes. Somehow, this man had struck a chord in her heart, and she sent up everything she had to the universe in the hopes that he would survive this. All their best moments from the last couple of weeks seemed to erase the bad ones. He had known pain and suffering beyond imagination, and she understood why he would do the things he had done to save himself, no matter how temporary the reprieve was. The things he had gone through—she shuddered—anyone else would have broke.

The group stumbled over some buried branches and almost dropped him, but they regained their composure and continued. The blood was dripping from the bandage now, and they were breathing heavily, the puffs of white a continuous cloud around their heads.

“He better be worth it,” Enara grumbled half-heartedly as they came within sight of the manor.

“He is.” The response was automatic, and Soren mentally kicked herself before adding, “I think.”

They burst through the front door, blood streaking the floor of the foyer as they carried Rook’s limp body through the house to the dining room. They laid him on the table, and then Soren ran out, promising to return with help

She sprinted to the servant’s quarters in search of Meena and Evelyn, startling them with the state of her appearance.

“Rook … he’s hurt … Come quick!” she shouted, darting back out toward the hall, knowing they would follow.

Soren sobbed internally as they patched him up. His chest was barely rising, and she could hear the steady drip, drip, drip of his blood pooling on the floor.

Enara held her hand, and Baz put his head on her shoulder. Jai stood to the side, unsure of his place in all this. They might not have understood Soren’s compassion for this man but they respected it, nonetheless.

After a few minutes, Enara gave Soren a once-over, dealing with the worst of her cuts, and then she took the boys to retire to the next room to nurse their wounds.

“We will be right next door if you need us,” Enara said gently. “We love you.”

Soren stayed with Rook all night, dozing on and off, sleeping fitfully. Multiple times, she woke up with tears on her face, having dreamed he hadn’t made it out alive.

“You should get some rest,” Evelyn said when she came in to check on her as the first day’s light started to enter the room. “He’s settled now.”

“I couldn’t leave. I needed to know he was okay. I mean … I don’t even know what this is … but I just couldn’t go … I care … I mean, I don’t want to … but I do. I told them we’d go after sunrise.” Her eyes were red, and the dark circles were extensive.

“He cares for you,” Evie said softly. “You know … in his own way.”

“I know,” she said, squeezing his hand. She swore she thought she felt him squeeze back but dismissed it due to the lack of sleep. “Can you give this to him for me?” She held out a piece of parchment. “And … could you … could you tell him that I’m sorry?”

“Yes, hon, of course.”

“Thank you.” Soren wiped her face and stood from the dining chair that she’d spent the night in.

“Soren?” Evie called as she reached the door.

“Yes?”

“We enjoyed having you here. You will be missed.”