Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,47

and I notice several of the wood elves watching them nervously.

“Beloved, we found you,” Speaker Hawthorn rasps, his voice breathy, causing Speaker Fawne to place an arm around him.

My joy at seeing them overshadowed my worry about why they were here, but I see now that Hawthorn doesn’t look well. In fact, his skin appears tight, and he’s swaying slightly. His voice has always sounded like the wind blowing through the leaves in the trees, but he sounds off, exhausted. Hawthorn must see something on my face as he steps towards me, only to stumble and collapse to the ground. Vaeril moves forward as quick as a flash and catches the speaker, lowering him gently to the earth. I can see now that his legs are completely mangled. Black growths have doubled the size of his usually thin, stick-like legs, and they look to be crawling their way up his limbs.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I look from his collapsed form to a pained-looking Fawne. “What happened to him?” I try to keep the panic from my voice, but it sneaks in despite the wall of calm I try to build around myself.

Crouching at his side, Fawne brushes some of his tawny hair from his face and grips his hand. She glances up at me, and I see her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Beloved, you must save him.” There are murmurings of agreement from the gathered wood elves, and I feel all eyes land on me.

Mother above, I curse, feeling my palms sweat as the pressure mounts. How am I supposed to heal him? I can’t do that! A storm of doubt, pain, and regret twist in my mind as I look at the expectant elves. They all believe me to be capable of saving their speaker, they brought him here to me, but I have no healing abilities.

Something brushes against my fingers, bringing me out of my panic. Glancing down, I see that Hawthorn has reached up with his willowy limbs. Taking his hand, I sit at his side and lean forward when I notice he’s trying to say something. “The queen, she knew we supported you. She’s poisoning the forest with her darkness.”

I pull back with a frown, feeling my anger awaken within me as my gaze returns to the black growths on his legs. Even though only a short time has passed, they look larger than before and the darkness has spread, and the speaker’s breathing is more laboured. This is no illness, no accident. This was a targeted attack. An icy calm takes over me. “The queen did this to you?”

Speaker Hawthorn squeezes my hand again, pulling my eyes back up to his, although his grip is getting weaker and weaker. “It’s a spell, beloved.”

“Spell breaker,” one of the elves whispers, and my head whips up. I don’t catch who says it, but they’re right.

I realise now I misinterpreted the message from the trees. They need you, they told me. I assumed they meant the tribes, that with the arrival I was being warned the tribes would need my presence. But all along, it was the elves who needed me, Speaker Hawthorn who needed me.

Hope blooms in my chest. Perhaps I can save him after all. One of my goddess given gifts is the ability to break spells, and if they’re right and this is a spell, then I should be able to remove it. Glancing over my shoulder, I look at Vaeril and Tor, then flick my gaze to Eldrin and Naril. One by one, the elves nod their support. Revna is standing next to Tor with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression concerned, and I can understand her apprehension. She’s not seen me break a spell yet, and she has no idea who these elves are who have turned up so soon after the attack, but she trusts me. She’s leaving the decision up to me. Tor, ever steady Tor, quirks his lips up into a smile, and I know he’ll support me in whatever I decide to do. But really there was never any question of whether or not I was going to try and break the spell, but if I’m able to, if I am strong enough to…

Focusing on my breathing, I gently pull my hand from Hawthorn’s grip and shake out my fingers. His legs look so painful, yet he doesn’t make a single noise of pain or complaint, simply watching me with calm acceptance. When