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)
That need for justice was raw. Visceral. It burned hotter and brighter than the excruciating pain roaring through his body. His will was absolute iron. His determination to live and come back stronger than ever aided him in closing off each wound with painstaking care.
She had no idea how he had the strength to work on his own ravaged body. He had been destroyed. Just the sheer volume of blood loss should have been enough to kill him. He refused to give in to weakness. He continued, even as he worked at closing off the wounds, to send his call into the night.
A rustle came from the woods. Another and then another. The blades of grass waved toward Benedek from multiple directions as if many creatures were using the tall weeds and flowers to conceal their stealthy approach. A wolf howled. Then a second one. Wings fluttered overhead. An owl came out of the darkness in silence and swooped low to fly over Benedek where he lay in a pool of blood in the tall grass.
The furred creatures came at him from every direction, circling his fallen body. She saw dirt rising into the air around the body. Silke caught a glimpse of large gray bodies with short tails and black-and-white-striped faces. They had come out of the forest at Benedek’s call and were digging fast around and under him. The badgers were notorious for their ability to dig through and under objects in an extremely fast manner.
Shadows moved eerily until they revealed four small figures emerging from the darkness of the forest. Wrapped in long shawls, they made their way across the meadow to stand over Benedek’s body. One at the head, one at the foot and one on either side.
Silke’s breath caught in her throat. She caught at Benedek’s wrist, holding it tightly in excitement. “Those women are witte wieven.” She whispered the information to him as if the women could overhear her and not that all of this had taken place long ago in Benedek’s past.
“They are healers, medicine women,” she continued. “They know all the natural plants to aid in healing, but you must have known that to summon them. They’re living spirits who walk among us, and they can be anywhere, in any country.”
She studied the one at Benedek’s head. She looked familiar, which was impossible unless Silke was putting her own impressions on the women. It was dark, and the gray clouds kept shifting, moving shadows over the scene so it appeared hazy.
Already the badgers had lowered the body into the ground by several feet. The four women ignored the digging animals as well as the sprays of dirt, and all managed to get into what was now a deep hole. The healing chant was soft, voices raised to the heavens and back down to Mother Earth, filling the air, yet so low it was impossible to make out the actual words.
Silke had heard them many times. She had stood beside Fenja when her mother was working on an impossible injury. She had learned that healing chant as they applied the necessary medication to wounds.
“They are also seers. Some say they can see into the future.”
“What do you think?”
“Fenja can, and I am certain she is witte wieven. Many villagers consult her on planting crops, fishing, even marriage.”
His chin moved in the top of her hair, sending little currents of electricity sparkling through her. “She knows who will be successful and who will not?”
She had a feeling she knew where he was going with his questions. “Yes.”
“Did she weigh in on our union?”
“She sat with me during the negotiations,” Silke said. “I wouldn’t have been there if she didn’t think you were suitable for me. She would have spirited me away.”
“Even when there are demons invading your village?”
“Yes.” It was the truth. Fenja would have found a way to persuade her to leave if she didn’t think Benedek would make her a good match.
His chin rubbed again along the top of her head. “I’m grateful Fenja thinks I’m worthy of you.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, a small wave of laughter slid through Silke. “I doubt she thinks anyone is worthy of me, although if she saw this”—she gestured with one finger toward the women, badgers and Benedek—“that might make you a shoo-in.”
One by one the women knelt beside Benedek’s head and gently placed their wrists over his mouth.
Again, her breath caught in her throat. “They were so brave. They had to know you were starving. It was so dangerous to supply you with blood when you were vulnerable and could have been out of control with pain.”
“I was in control,” Benedek assured. His breath was warm on the side of her neck. Right over her pounding pulse. She was very aware of him, goose bumps rising on her skin.