if she should enter or leave.
“Not at all,” Quinn’s friend said. “I’m actually glad I have this chance to speak with you. Thank you for healing my sister—you saved her life.” She bowed a second time to Angelique, and the smile she wore looked a tiny bit watery, but happy.
“I don’t know that things were that dire, but I’m glad I could help.” Angelique closed the door behind her before coming to stand at the foot of the bed.
Quinn struggled to sit up taller and pushed pillows out of her way. “Lady Enchantress Angelique, please allow me to introduce my little sister—Bridget. She’s the Red Rider.”
Dimly, Angelique recalled that the Farset royal family had magicus mounts—colored horses given to them by the elves as a symbol of their co-mingling of Farset. Each color of horse represented something different of the royal family’s power, and the herds were said to allow only one rider to claim them at a time.
If I remember correctly, the Red Rider is the warrior out of the magicus mounts. It seems bravery runs in the family.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Bridget,” Angelique said.
“The pleasure is all mine. I’ve heard what you did to the goblins, thank you.” Bridget looked at Angelique with something like admiration—which felt a little odd considering the petite rider was carrying a sword and at least two daggers that Angelique could see, though she was betting the Red Rider had more hidden based on the pleased hum of her core magic.
“Bridget took out the few goblin bands that were marching for Navia,” Quinn explained.
“I rode south after facing them—I was hoping I could be of some help with the rest of the goblins—but you’d already taken care of the southern force by then,” Bridget explained. “You’re amazing,” she added in a voice that brimmed with sincerity.
“Um,” Angelique awkwardly said.
I have always respected those who serve in the military and fight to protect others since my father was a solider, too. It feels strange to have their admiration when they are far braver.
“She is very impressive,” Quinn agreed. “And the variety in her abilities is astounding. Which reminds me, I, too, must thank you for saving my life, Lady Enchantress, with your healing magic.”
“It was nothing,” Angelique said.
“It was everything to me,” Quinn said.
“To our family,” Bridget added. “We owe you a great debt, Lady Enchantress—as does our entire country, for you saved the elves just as surely as you saved my sister.”
Angelique felt a blush heat her cheeks. “I’m afraid you’re overestimating me. It is merely that I have magic, which makes fighting such an army far easier.”
Quinn shook her head. “I saw the price you paid, and the way you used your magic. It was not easier.”
“I am certain your skill with magic is to be admired, but it is your passion to protect others that sets you apart,” Bridget added, the two sisters combining their earnest sincerity to make even Angelique’s jaded—and admittedly slightly embittered—heart twist in her chest.
Is there something special about this family that both of these sisters are able to so entirely put me off my guard? Listening to them makes me want to be proud of who I am.
Angelique shuddered a little at that uncomfortable thought and cast around for a new conversation topic—one that perhaps wouldn’t embarrass her as much. “Be that as it may, I am glad to see you are awake, Quinn. I’d like to place another slow healing spell on you—that shoulder wound of yours looked rather tricky, and I don’t imagine you’re the type to willingly rest in bed while healing.”
Bridget backed away from the bed, giving Angelique room to approach Quinn, and folded her arms across her chest. “No, she’s not.”
Quinn grimaced. “I am not typically the most ideal patient.” She glared at her sister when Bridget scoffed.
“May I?” Angelique rolled back the collar of Quinn’s shirt when she nodded—someone had helped the soldier into a clean elven tunic. The soft fabric stretched nicely, giving Angelique a view of the wound.
The wound was closed—though the skin was still an angry red and was slightly swollen—but the elves must have been happy with Quinn’s progress or they would have kept it bandaged.
“It seems you are doing quite well—though another slow-burn healing spell will ease some of the pain and continue to encourage swift healing.” Angelique flexed her fingers, calling some of her magic up as she carefully twisted it from her cold, metallic core magic into the fine fibers