Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,54

if I had time.

“There’s an entire kingdom at stake. Food can wait.” He marched by and headed out the front doors.

I stood in my half-wrinkled clothes, my bandaged hand throbbing with pain—needing more ointment–and looking at the buffet table full of food.

My stomach let out an unladylike announcement.

“Oh, stars.” I raced into the room, and with my bare hands grabbed handfuls of ham, bacon, and toast, and then raced out the door and down the steps. Carefully, I sandwiched the meat between the bread as I stopped in front of Damsel.

“You decided to join us.” Devin grinned jovially. “I saddled her for you, just in case.”

“I couldn’t let you have all the fun without me.” I shoved the sandwich in my mouth, pulled myself up into the saddle, only slightly wincing from having to use my injured hand. Then we were off.

The trek was brisk, the hours long, and I suffered in silence. By late evening, we came to a lake, and Liam called a halt so we could rest. Everyone easily dismounted, but I leaned forward and grimaced when I bumped my injured wrist on the pommel. Devin noticed, and he held out his hands for help, and I shook my head.

“I got it.” I leaned forward and slid from the saddle to the ground.

“Independent. I like it,” he said.

It had nothing to do with being independent. I rarely liked to be touched, and the habit of avoiding people was still strong, unless it came to Liam.

Hayes came over and unloaded the wagon. “It looks like we’re going to get a few hours of rest.”

“Sounds good. Let me help you.” Devin jumped up onto the wagon and helped Hayes unload.

I kept busy and helped Joshun chop the fresh vegetables we got from Duke Tallywood for the evening’s supper. After a candle mark, I noticed my hands were shaking, and I was fidgety, struggling to concentrate.

Devin came to check on me and noticed. He leaned forward, and whispered, “Are you okay?”

I flinched as his soft question rammed into my eardrum and split my skull painfully. “I think I just need to take a b-break.” I shivered.

Devin patted me on the head and nodded in understanding. I blinked and tried to focus as I headed over to my bedroll by the nook of a tree. I took my cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders, then snuggled into the base, pulling my knees up to my chest as I tried to control my shivering. Sweat dotted my brow, and I could feel a pool of it trail down my back, and the sulfur smell of the fog changed to a sweeter smell—one that terrified me and reminded me of the incense.

Staring off into the woods, I saw a silhouette of Madam Esme materialize as she puffed on her pipe before disappearing into a cloud of fog.

“Oh stars, no,” I whispered, realizing that I was hallucinating and that my body was having a withdrawal to a substance I equally wanted and despised.

Devil’s breath.

Chills rode up and down my body. I knew I was in for a rough night until I could ride out the withdrawal, but how did I do it without putting the camp in danger or upsetting Liam? I had seen my mother treat an addict back home, and it wasn’t pretty. He had lost a leg in a farming accident and had taken to different substances to try to overcome his loss. His wife begged my mother for help and to intervene. It surprised me when Mother agreed.

She had the man chew on guanna root to keep the cravings at bay while we kept him in our barn. She did her best to let him ride it out, and whenever he became dangerous during a hallucination, she would use a spell to put him back to sleep. After a few days, he was almost as good as new. But that first night was a nightmare. It was terrifying to see him screaming and hallucinating. Going from sweet and kind, promising us the world if we would let him go, to threatening to hurt us if we didn’t bend to his commands.

Would I go through a similar ordeal? I held up my hands and saw the tremor. I was in for a similar ride, and I couldn’t bring myself to disturb my friends.

I grabbed my pack and tucked it behind my back as I leaned against the tree. Liam had his back to me and was speaking with Berk and