Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“I would be surprised,” Silke responded. “He’s been in our world a long time. He wouldn’t have been made the same way as the serpent. Someone gave birth to him years ago. Who knows how old he is?”
Fenja made one of her rare gestures of affection by smoothing back Silke’s hair. “Have you reached out to Tora to let her know she should come straight here when she wakes?”
“Not yet. I will just before the sun sets. If I did it now, she may be so worried that she tries to rise early. We both need to be strong to free Raik. I have the feeling it won’t be easy. It will be up to Tora to protect the house, keep Imka and Julia away, protected and unaware of what is transpiring, as well as make certain the demon hiding in Raik doesn’t kill him.”
Fenja’s breath caught in her throat. “You sound like that is a real possibility.”
Silke nodded. “Unfortunately, I believe this demon is programmed to destroy the host should it be found before it is ready to strike.”
“Would it help if I was there? With three healers available, we may be able to save him should he be attacked.”
Silke’s heart jumped and began to pound. The thought of Fenja anywhere near a battle with a demon was terrifying. She was the slayer’s most beloved. The demon would sense the relationship and launch a full-on attack on Fenja. “Absolutely not. My attention would be divided. I have to know you’re safe in order to perform my duties.”
Fenja’s eyes softened. “You do realize that in the coming war, no one will be safe.”
Silke lifted her chin. “Tora and I will find a way to ensure your safety. We’ve discussed it already.”
Fenja’s smile was gentle, even understanding, but she shook her head. “I’m a healer, Silke. In a battle, all healers are needed. I couldn’t shirk my duties to be safe. Not even for my very loved daughter.”
Silke’s heart sank. All along she knew that would be Fenja’s response. Fenja had the true calling of a healer. She would never be able to sit quietly somewhere safe while her people were wounded or dying. The compulsion to heal them would be far too strong for her to resist.
“I want to have children and see you holding them. How would I survive this stranger coming to claim me without your support?” She rubbed at her temple again. “I know I sound like a selfish whiny child, but I’ve accepted that my life is one of duty. I have you and Tora. You both are everything to me. You’re what makes giving up a normal life worthwhile.”
Fenja stroked more caresses in her hair and then knelt on the floor to remove Silke’s ankle from the water. She wrapped a wet poultice around the swollen area.
“We all have duties to perform in our lives. Some seem much more difficult than others. I know my family and friends wanted me to marry and have children. It was expected of me. At first, I thought I would comply just to make my life easier. To please my family. To keep my friends. I could not. I had to be true to myself, even if that was the much more difficult path. You are like me. You will always choose to be true to yourself.”
Silke smiled up at her. “You always find the right words to encourage me.”
The sun was beginning to sink, turning the sky glorious colors. The windows in their sitting room were large, giving them a good view of the meadow and forest as well as the ever-changing colors in the sky. Tonight, blues and purples played across the sky in a shimmering display. Few clouds were drifting above the meadow, so the various tints looked more like streaks of colored light sweeping across the landscape and settling in the branches of trees.
It was going to be a beautiful night. No storm coming in meant no spies trying to pierce the shroud of fog covering the forest. There would be no unexpected attack on the villagers unless Castello decided to try to recruit or force a betrayal. She should be relaxing, working out how she was going to call the demon out of Raik without allowing that serpent to harm him.
Silke’s heart rate spiked and then settled. Her gut somersaulted and then settled. Her breath felt hot and raw in her lungs as if air didn’t quite make it in, yet she’d taken a deep breath. Her warning system was shrieking at her. Not just shrieking, raging. There was nothing subtle about the way chills crept down her spine or goose bumps rose on her skin.
Fenja didn’t seem to be aware of anything wrong. She stared out the window, transfixed by the astonishing and unusual colors of the setting sun. “It’s truly beautiful tonight.”