Freyja's Fire - Chapter 21 - A'mara Books

21

(Wirnday, cont.)

Erion Sands

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The tent was quiet. Sure, there was the sound of the ocean, just across the beach. There were the night sounds of many animals in the woods nearby. But it was too quiet.

Aurelia rolled over again, her mind too busy to succumb to the exhaustion of her body after another day’s work – work which she was unaccustomed to. And she was alone – another thing she was unaccustomed to. At home, even in the castle, there was always someone with her – a maid, her cousin, her brother… always someone.

Their holiday had taken a surprising turn, making it more exciting, she had to admit, but more worrying and exhausting as well. She couldn’t even fleece more sailors at the pub until the sickness stopped spreading.

Of the royals who had made the journey to Erion, only she and her brother were left in camp. Breyind and his family (along with Katja and Aron) were up on Mt. Vasana somewhere. Gemina and her sailor were on their journey to find Stella somewhere in the middle of the perilous Fire Swamps.

People were getting sick and dying all around her now. Aurelia, herself, had been turned into a common nurse.

She tried again to lull herself to sleep.

Her eyes flew open again. Why?

An image came to her mind – that which belonged to the one who wore the amulet matching the one that Gemina’s escort bore towards the Fire Swamps. Aurelia had been assured this one would also survive.

But Doc thought the other one would live too – the one who suddenly died. Kolt seemed to think that his brother would die without further treatment, regardless of appearances of recovery.

Aurelia swore softly and put her dress and mask back on. She couldn’t just lay there when the man’s life hung in the balance! She hurried to the tent where the man lay. Sitting on the stool beside him, she took his hand, just holding it in hers as she touched his brow. He was still feverish.

“Hold this to him,” Sister Naemi said wearily from a bed in the corner. She sat up and handed Aurelia the purply-pink stone.

“I thought you had another place to sleep.”

“It is now filled with patients,” she replied.

“I will offer my tent tomorrow,” Aurelia declared.

“We will manage without.”

“I insist. I can sleep in here – like you do.”

“Very well.”

“How does this stone work?” Aurelia asked, holding it to his chest, just under the sheet.

“The dragonstone is a bit of a mystery,” Sister Naemi admitted. “I tried it on a hunch. It seems to work. That may have helped Kolt recover as he did.” She got up and divided the pile of bedding material into two.

“What are you doing?” Aurelia asked.

“Creating a bed for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You need your rest, highness. We have a full day of nursing to continue tomorrow.”

Aurelia nodded, but didn’t move, keeping the dragonstone on the man’s unconscious, warm body.

Only to find herself on the floor.

“Aurelia! This is the second time I’ve had to help you up again. Please sleep! We need you tomorrow,” Sister Naemi’s kind voice said, as strong arms helped Aurelia to the bed.

“But the sailor...”

“I’ll place the dragonstone securely to him. It should still help.”

Aurelia nodded.

“You will have to ask Adrick if this is what it was like with him and Katja,” Sister Naemi said.

“Huh?” she asked wearily.

“Stella told us all about it when she visited. How Adrick had helped nurse Katja back to health – and was in love long before she awoke.”

“I’m not in love,” Aurelia protested weakly.

Sister Naemi chuckled and put a blanket over her as her eyelids closed again.

♥

Gemina knew it was late, but it had been worth waiting for the swamp rat to finish cooking. She sat eating some of the fresh meat which tasted a lot better than she had imagined. Better than jerky, she had to agree.

Kolt’s warm arm around her now did not embarrass her, even though she knew he wore nothing more than he had that morning when he appeared at the door of the medical tent.

She realized that her amorous thoughts had nothing to do with the fact he was naked, and everything to do with the fact that he was a handsome man, both inside and out – very much like what she and Aurelia had been looking for the past few years. Their compatibility had been more or less confirmed during their conversations every time they walked their tired mares.

“Are you warm enough?” Kolt asked. “Maybe we should have made sure you had more than a riding cloak.”

“I’m warm enough now,” she replied, finishing her portion.

“What were you thinking about?” Kolt asked.

Immediately, Gemina blushed deeply. She couldn’t tell him everything she’d been thinking about!

“It seems strange being so far from everyone – just the two of us around this campfire. And we haven’t even reached Thulia yet.”

“What’s in Thulia?” Kolt asked.

“Fresh horses. Maybe a soft bed if we get there at the right time.”

“How far is it to Thulia?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. Maybe half a day.”

“Then we will have to forego the soft beds. We have to ride hard tomorrow.”

Gemina felt disappointed, more than she would have expected at the knowledge. She had slept rough before – like when she and Aurelia had strayed too far from the castle and had to make their own beds next to a lake. They had been in so much trouble!

No, her thoughts of bed had far more to do with the way she ached to be held by the man next to her. She knew if she looked at her dress right now, she’d see the telltale points pushing out from her chest.

To pass the time, she looked up at the dizzying stars above.