The Book of Glass

Medicine (16)

In the end, all of the soldiers had gone with Ingrid and Aila, and it was obvious it was because of their distrust for Ingrid. So the girls waited patiently for the others to return, and Emory sat staring at the empty vial Aila had given her before she left, saying it was for pain. Strangely enough, the small amount of liquid had lessened Emory's pain. She still wasn't able to fully move her arm, but it made sitting on the hardwood bearable.

    Emory sat beneath the window, admiring at the sunlight that came through. Shay had been walking through the cabin, which seemed small on the outside but was actually large enough for a well-off family. Not quite nobles, but just below. She was walking back into the main room where Emory was when she caught a glimpse of someone slipping through the bushes outside. Through the sheer curtains, she couldn't make out much detail, but she knew there was only one of them.

    She hurried to the side of the door, grabbing Emory's sword as it lay beside her. "There's someone outside," she whispered.

Emory nodded to Shay, whose back was pressed against the wall beside the door. Whoever was outside was taking their time walking on the porch, and Emory saw a shadow cast down from the window above her as they peered inside. Then, the person walked back over towards the door and tugged on the handles. Shay prepared her sword, holding it with a tight grip and white knuckles. As the door creaked open, she spun and angled the sword at the figure.

    It was Commander Cassius. He was clutching his arm with a bloody cloth, and hardly seemed surprised when the edge of the sword pressed against his neck. "I didn't know anybody was in here. I was just looking for some shelter..." he spoke slowly, turning to see Shay. His brows furrowed, and a strange smile crept onto his face. "Well, isn't this poetic."

    "How did you find this place?" Shay asked with a shaking voice. She could still see the hint of fire in his eyes as he burnt down the vineyard. The beautiful people and children who lived within it.

    "I was just walking through the woods when I came across it, I swear." Cassius lifted one hand up into the air, but didn't attempt to push the sword away. Emory stood up behind him and he glanced over. "Ah, you're here, too."

    "Who are you with?" Emory crossed her arms, careful not to make any movements that would show him her injured shoulder. He didn't seem to care, though, because he sighed and gestured to his arm.

    "I'm not with anyone. If it sways you, I'm not on King Evander's best side anymore."

    "Did he do this to you?" Shay looked down at Cassius' arm, which was still bleeding out into the deep red cloth. Cassius glanced down at it and winced.

    "That he did. Are you going to continue pointing your sword at me or am I free to sit down and do something with myself?" Cassius looked to both of them, but neither would budge.

    "I'm not working under Evander anymore. I have no reason to bring you guys to him-"

    "No prize except for the bounty and getting on his good side again, Emory scoffed.

    "Trust me when I say that he won't let me on his good side again."

    "Tell us why he kicked you out of your position and we'll consider helping tend to your wound." Emory bargained with him, and Shay felt her fury rise.

    "I was the person who sent that group after you. When they lost track of you, one of them rode back to tell me where you had been sighted, and in the process told me that one of you had been shot with an arrow. In the shoulder. So, I suspect it was you who was hit." Cassius nodded to her crossed arms. "From our previous experience together I would expect you to be the one pointing a weapon at me." Emory straightened herself and didn't say anything. Cassius continued, "I had told them not to actually harm you. Not in any lasting ways, at least. Weapons were meant for getting you three away from anyone protecting you. Speaking of, where's the witch?"