The House Of Gaian

bandages’ knots when Ashk and her escorts rode into camp.
    Seeing her so grim and exhausted shamed him into patience. Her brusque “Later” when Sheridan asked if there was news warned everyone that whatever Ashk had to tell them wasn’t good.
    “Now, then,” Lyrra said with a brisk cheerfulness that struck Aiden as being off-key, “let’s unwrap the bandages and let your hands breathe for a bit.”
    He tried not to flinch as she tugged at the knots. He tried not to see the worry in her eyes as she realized how large his hands looked. And he tried to deny the stab of fear when she got the bandages off his left hand—and she screamed.
    “What is it? What’s wrong?” Ashk demanded, rushing up to them. She stared at Aiden’s left hand before quickly unwrapping the bandages on his right. “Mother’s mercy.”
    They were so swollen, they didn’t look like hands anymore. The skin was stretched so tight, he thought it would split open if he tried to move a finger.
    I’m going to lose my hands. What kind of Bard can I be without my hands?
    “Sit down, Aiden,” Ashk said, leading him to hollowed log. “Sit down.”
    Blind to everything but his hands, he paid no attention to the crows cawing a warning until Ashk’s snarl startled him.
    “Riders coming,” Sheridan said, reaching for his bow and arrows.
    “Our men,” Ashk replied, moving forward. “And someone with them.”
    The huntsmen rode up casually, reining in a few feet from Ashk. The dark-haired woman with them placed a soothing hand on the neck of her dark horse, who pawed the ground and laid his ears back.
    The gold pentagram around the woman’s neck flashed in the sun.
    “Blessings of the day to you,” Ashk said.
    “Blessings of the day,” the woman replied.
    “The lady has been traveling,” one of the huntsmen said. “Alone.” He packed all of his disapproval into that word.
    The dark horse snorted.
    The woman’s lips twitched. “Not quite alone.”
     
    “We suggested that she camp with us tonight,” the huntsmen said.
    Ashk studied the woman. “You’re most welcome to share our camp. You really shouldn’t be traveling alone. Not anymore. And not any farther south.”
    The woman closed her eyes. “I know. Blood stains the land. The Mother drinks it and weeps bitter tears.
    ” She shook her head and opened her eyes. “I would be pleased to share your camp tonight.”
    “Come and be welcome,” Ashk said.
    When the woman dismounted and took a step toward Ashk, the dark horse nipped her sleeve and tried to tug her back.
    “Fox, behave. We’re guests.” She untied her saddlebags, slung them over one shoulder, then grabbed the horse’s ear when he tugged at the saddlebags. “Let the Fae Lords take off your saddle and bridle so you can have a nice roll and play with the other horses. I’m staying right here.”
    Snorting with every step to let them all know he wasn’t happy, Fox allowed the men to lead him away.
    “I’m Ashk, from Bretonwood.”
    “I am Rhyann.”
    Before Ashk could continue the introductions, Rhyann dropped her saddlebags, walked over to Aiden, and knelt in front of him, studying his hands.
    “Do you have any healing skills?” Ashk asked.
    Rhyann’s fingers hovered over his hands. “Fire trapped in earth. Water seeks to quench it, but is trapped between its banks and presses on the earth it seeks to protect.” She paused a moment. “How did this happen?”
    “The Lord of Fire did this to him.”
    The cold anger in Ashk’s voice didn’t chill Aiden as much as what he saw in Rhyann’s woodland eyes before she turned to look at Ashk.
    “One of the wiccanfae did this?” Rhyann asked softly.
    “I doubt Lucian wants to think of himself as wiccanfae,” Ashk said.
    “It doesn’t matter what he wants to think. What matters is what he is ,” Rhyann replied sharply. She looked toward the stream. “Sweet, flowing water. Come with me.” She rose, gripped Aiden’s arm, and pulled him to his feet.
    With Ashk, Sheridan, Morphia, and a silently weeping Lyrra trailing behind them, she led Aiden to the stream. She took off her boots and stockings, waded into the stream, and knelt down facing the bank.
    “Kneel there.” She pointed to the bank in front of her.
    Ashk and Sheridan held his arms to support him as he sank to his knees.
    Rhyann grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands into the water. She closed her eyes, and said, “Fire, release your hold on the earth of flesh and bone. Give your