The Border Trilogy (Book #1) Enemies to lovers, Forbidden love

Part 7 - EDITED

Eva 

It wasn't long before the sound of a horn followed by people clapping and cheering flowed in through the windows, the invasion was over. The guards opened the doors and women and children poured out of the stone house, running in the direction of the council grounds where everyone would be gathered for a head count of each family and tribe member.

Following suit, I allowed myself to be ushered out by the crowd, I seemed to become invisible to those who just an hour ago were watching me face an impending death sentence. Children ran past me to find their parents who had been gathered in the other stone houses. Once outside, I stood still.

Do I follow everyone? Or do I turn and run?

Do I give them a reason to catch me and tie me up again, or would my actions speak for themselves and incline them to grant me mercy. Before I could make a decision a hand clamped down on my shoulder, my head whipped behind me to see the guard Darien ordered to keep me indoors.

"I've been instructed to take you to the healing center to take care of that." the guard motioned at my wrist. "Follow me."

He turned and began walking, confident in my obedience. Considering my condition, he was right. We walked in silence, he glanced behind every now and then but not to make sure I was following, it was more so a look of curiosity. It was how I would imagine you'd look at an animal that you believed to be extinct, now directly in your presence- and not how you pictured it to be. The silence was almost as painful as the moment my wrist had snapped, neither of us having the proper words for such a situation. I'm an outsider, a trespasser- but tonight, I was an ally; a protector. He must be as confused as I am. Not to mention neither one of us yet knows my fate.

Arriving at a small hutt, he opened the door and gently nudged me in. An immediate warmth settled over me, the room was dimly lit with hints of sage and rosemary in the air. Sheer lavender curtains covered the windows, with flowers hanging over them. Five hospital beds lined up parallel against the walls to my left, separated by the same curtains that covered the windows. At the end of the room is a table with herbs and bowls. To my right, cabinets labeled with medical supplies. On the walls were sconces that held lit candles.

"Josenia is one of the highest ranking healers in our tribe for over 20 years, she's not here at the moment but one of the other healers will apply a poultice she created and protective wrapping." He led me to a chair, "I'll be waiting outside. Once you're finished here, I'll escort you back to the council grounds."

"Thank you."

His eyes widened a bit before he nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind him. That's when I noticed the bundles of herbs and roses hanging above the door frame. I reached out to touch them.

"Sage and roses dipped in rosemary oil, to ward off evil spirits." An enchanting voice flowed into the room.

I whipped around to see a beautiful older woman with wavy black hair approach me.

"It smells really good," I offered a smile, "My name is Eva, Darien sent me to get my wrist patched up."

"I'm Josenia," She had a thick spanish accent, "Let's take a look at that hand."

"The guard told me you wouldn't be here,"

"It was my night off, but when the invasion started, I knew I would be needed here. I sent my healers with supplies to the council grounds to tend to as many as they could."

She radiated a safe energy which calmed my nerves. Taking hold of my forearm lightly, she led me to one of the beds to sit. She got straight to work mixing a creamy substance in a small bowl meticulously before beginning to apply it.