Threatened [W&W Book 2]

Chapter 11

Author's Note:

It's still Monday in my neck of the woods! 😉

I ran out of chapters of Threatened that were ready to go just when I caught something.  I've only got mild cold/flu/covid symptoms, but I seem to be forever napping. I keep falling asleep when I'm writing/editing so my productivity has tanked.

(I also get to go get a drive through covid test tomorrow.  According to my kid, who apparently heard from  my husband, who probably heard from someone at work, there's a saliva  test now instead of the swab they stick in the nasal passage thing. Here's hoping that lovely bit of hearsay is correct.)

TMI?  😬

Anyways, so then, I stay awake long enough for this chapter to be pretty much formatted to go, and my computer freezes. Argh!

Poor, poor, pitiable me. (I'm fine, I'm just whining.) This right here is why I try so hard to keep a healthy buffer.

Anyway, thanks for reading!!! I'm going back to sleep soon.

* * * * *

Lady Theresa began interrogating the Wizard Jim again.  "So, has Lord Wildwood dragged Sir Thomas into whatever you've both been doing?"

Jim shook his head.  "Not so far as I'm aware."

She pursed her lips.  "I would feel better if he had.  At least Sir Thomas is a competent healer."

"He is," agreed Jim and then took a drink of tea.

"I see you're still reading magic texts," he said, nodding at a book on a side table.  Anya wondered if he was trying to distract the lady.

Lady Theresa smiled.  "Yes.  Did I ever tell you that I actually started when I was still a cat over Lord Wildwood's shoulders?  As you may imagine, being a cat can be rather tedious."

"No doubt."

"I wasn't truly very interested at first, but there was nothing else to do.  But somehow my curiosity about the topic increased and here I am.  Lord Wildwood's been assisting me.  When he is at home."  Her lips turned down at the last words.

"Are you finding it difficult?" he asked in what seemed a desperate attempt to keep her off the topic of what her husband had been doing.

"Not really, but then again I've only done simple spells.  Oh, but see this!  Remember how when we first met you showed Daphne and me what magic could do?  Watch."

Anya saw Lady Theresa concentrate and the cup in her hand turned brilliant yellow.

The Wizard Jim chuckled.  "Very nice."

"I'll never be as accomplished as my husband, but I seem to be able to do simple things."

"Lord Wildwood has a rare talent."

"Yes, he does," Lady Theresa agreed with a satisfied smile.

"Still, you're better off not comparing your accomplishments to him."

Lady Theresa simply smiled wider.  She seemed perfectly pleased with the state of affairs.

The two continued talking for a while with Jim successfully deviating from the topic of what Lord Wildwood was doing in spite of Lady Theresa's inquiries, before Jim finally excused himself.

Anya's mind whirled through the conversation she had just listened to.  She wanted to know more about what Lord Wildwood's mysterious mission. It seemed the king had him working on a particular task.  Was it connected to why Thorne wanted him killed?  If Lord Wildwood was increasingly working on royal matters, he might be an obstacle to... the king?