A Stroke Of Midnight - By Laurell K. Hamilton Page 0,84

Ezekiel's tender care for anything or anyone, but I can say this: I tried to heal someone that Prince Cel did not want healed. I went against his express orders. He told me I would be a bringer of death until he told me I could heal again."

"That is a waste of power," Hawthorne said.

She glanced at him, but her attention was all for me. "But today, for you, I have gone against that order."

"He will see you raped and skinned for it," said one of her fellow guards.

Neither Hafwyn nor I even bothered looking at the other woman. "Why would you risk that for me?" I asked. "You just tried to kill Galen, why heal him?"

"Because I am a healer, it is what I am, and I do not want to be this anymore." She touched her sword. "Does saving him buy me anything from you?"

I nodded. "I would not promise until I hear what you want, not even for Galen, but yes, it buys you something."

She gave a small smile. "Good." She took a deep breath and let it out as if she were steeling herself for some great effort. "Queen Andais announced to the court today that you needed more guards. She said that any who wished to could offer their services to you, but that only the ones who bedded you could stay with you."

"I knew about the first part, but not the second," I said.

"She said all guards."

"What are you asking me, Hafwyn?"

She leaned in toward me, hands at her sides. I fought the urge to lean away from her. I saw Hawthorne look to Frost, as if asking what to do. I couldn't see what Frost told him, because Hafwyn's face was all I could see. She kissed me gently, eyes open. There was no passion to the kiss, no promise of anything, just a touch of lips.

"Take me," she whispered, "take me to your bed, take me here, take me anywhere, but please, Goddess, please, don't leave me here for Cel. I owe him no vow, so I break no vow by asking this of you. I served Prince Essus as his healer for centuries. When he went into exile when you were six, if I had known she would give me to Cel, I would have gone into exile with you. But I thought that exile from faerie was the worst of fates. I ask you, as his daughter, do not leave me here. Now that the queen has opened the way for me to ask, I ask, I beg." Her eyes glittered with tears and when she could not keep them from falling, she bent her head down so I would not see.

It was Galen who reached for her first, but I was only moments behind. She collapsed into us both. Her shoulders shook with the emotion of her sobs, but she was absolutely silent. How many years had it taken for her to learn to cry silently? To hide away this much pain.

I stroked her yellow hair, and said the only thing I could say, "Yes."
Chapter 21-22
Chapter 21

ADAIR STUMBLED AS HE ROSE FROM BESIDE US, CATCHING HIMSELF against the wall. Blood was seeping out from underneath his breastplate. "You are hurt," I said.

"Innis's warriors are as skilled as ever," he said, in a voice that was a little tight with pain.

I felt a little spurt of surprise. Innis had always been among the most neutral of nobles. He hadn't seemed to care one way or the other who ruled, as long as he and his clan were left alone. They specialized in necromancy of one kind or another. Once upon a time, some of them could raise true armies of the dead. Innis's skill had always been to raise phantom armies that could bleed you, kill you. You could cut them, but they could not die. I understood now why he was the one on the ground. They had had to hurt him badly enough to stop him doing magic.

Hafwyn raised her head from Galen's chest. Tears still traced the pale gold of her skin. "I have some healing left to me tonight. I could not bring another back from so close to the veil, but I can look at your wound." She looked at me. "I can be of use to you, Princess Meredith, I swear that I can."

"I believe you, Hafwyn. Attend to Adair's wounds, unless someone else is hurt worse." I looked at Crystall, who was still