A warm ray of sunlight caressed Seth’s face. He furrowed his brows and turned away from the light with a small groan. He paused when he registered the soft crinkle of warm bedsheets and felt the soft pillow cradling his head. Where am I?

  A soft breeze drifted through an open window, carrying with it the morning song of chattering birds, and the smell of cooking porridge wafted to Seth’s nose. For a moment, he wondered if he was back at The Twin Hammers and had dreamt the whole thing—The Lady, his scars, Gloria, Elias… But then a door opened, and two sets of footsteps entered the room.

  "Have Killian and his family been treating you well?" asked a gentle, elderly voice.

  "Yes, ma'am," Elias answered. Seth exhaled in relief—he hadn’t dreamt it up. "Thank you for finding me a place to stay."

  The old woman chuckled. "I had a vested interest—you were starting to get underfoot."

  Elias cleared his throat uncomfortably and Seth could imagine him shuffling his feet. “How are they today?”

  “They’re recovering well,” an elderly woman answered. “I’m not sure when she'll wake up, but his fever broke last night. I imagine he’ll wake up any time now.”

  “Do you mind if I sit by them?”

  “So long as you can contain yourself.”

  “I will, ma'am.”

  "Good, but I want to see you before you leave; we need to put more ointment on your arm again."

  There was a little grumble. "Yes, ma'am."

  Seth blinked his eyes open at a wooden ceiling, just as Elias’s face came into view. Elias froze, watching him closely.

  "Master?" he whispered.

  Seth slowly turned his face to meet Elias and smiled a little. “Hey…”

  A huge grin spread across Elias's face. “Master Seth!” he cried. “You’re awake!" He spun back. "Mrs. Angie! He’s awake!” Then he raced to Seth's side and looked him over. “How do you feel, sir? I was so worried about you.” A few tears beaded in the boy’s eyes.

  Seth groggily raised a hand and slowly tousled Elias’s hair. “I told you I’d be fine…” he murmured. He groaned and slowly glanced around him. “Where are we?”

  “In the village of Pinewood, young man.” A short old woman strode over to Seth’s bedside carrying a steaming bowl, a roll of cloth, and a towel tossed over her shoulder. Her dark grey hair had streaks of white and was pulled back into a neat bun. Her intense hazel eyes scanned Seth before she set the bowl and cloth down on an end table behind Elias and stepped over to the bedside. “Elias, help me sit him up.”

  “Yes ma’am!” Elias hurried over to Seth’s left and helped Mrs. Angie sit Seth up.

  Seth’s head ached and everywhere felt sore. The blanket slipped and a cool draft sent prickles up his skin. He looked down at himself, then froze. His bare chest was covered in jagged silver lines and his right shoulder was wrapped in a white bandage. His cheeks burned and he clumsily tried to yank up the blankets, but Mrs. Angie chuckled and rolled up her sleeves before working off the bandage around his shoulder.

  “There’s no reason to be shy,” she said with a playful twinkle in her eye. “I’ve delivered most of the people in this village, so there’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” She peeled off the old bandage and let it drop to the bed.

  Seth still felt incredibly embarrassed and tried not to look at Mrs. Angie, instead he shifted his gaze to the room. It was a small bedroom with two beds and an end table between them and an open window above it. The door was cracked open, and Seth could see through into a common room. The doorway was carved with images of flowers, elves, and dancing dryads. This must’ve been her children’s room.

  “You’re lucky your friend got help when he did,” Mrs. Angie said nodding at Elias who hovered by Seth's side. “Blue spider venom is difficult to treat if you let it go too long. You were nearly beyond my skills; not many people make it back when they get to the fever stage.” She reached back to the steaming bowl and pulled out an herb-soaked washcloth. She squeezed out the excess water then dabbed at his wound. "Must've been terrifying to be trapped in those tunnels after that rockslide closed you in that cave."

  Seth winced and the sharp smell from the herbs made his eyes water. He blinked back the sting and glanced at Elias who averted his eyes from Mrs. Angie and nodded subtly.

  "Yes..." he said, catching on. "Yes, it was." Seth glanced around the room again. "Where's Gloria?"

  "She's safe," Mrs. Angie answered, dipping the washcloth into the bowl again. "She's right behind me."

  Seth’s heart skipped a beat, and he tried to crane his neck around Mrs. Angie. Mrs. Angie’s grip tightened, and she gently smacked his head. “Stay still!” she chastised. “She’s fine, I’ve done everything I can for her.”

  But Seth didn’t listen, he stretched as far as he could and managed to peer around Mrs. Angie. Gloria was lying in the second bed. There was color in her cheeks and her chest rose and fell in steady breaths.

  Relief washed over him, and he sank back in his bed. “Do you know when she’ll wake up?” Seth asked, continuing to watch her.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Mrs. Angie patted his shoulder dry and looked over her shoulder at Gloria. “I'm not sure. She was rather weak when Elias brought her to me, but I have noticed that she’s been getting stronger each day. My hope is that she’ll wake up soon.” Mrs. Angie started wrapping Seth’s shoulder with the clean cloth.

  Seth looked back with longing. It felt like it'd been an eternity since he'd heard her voice. The image of her dancing and her glowing teasing eyes came to mind. His throat tightened and he tore his eyes away, embarrassed.

  “Now,” Mrs. Angie said tucking in the end of the wrap. “Would you care for some porridge?” Before he could answer, Seth’s stomach growled. He looked up bashfully and Mrs. Angie chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes." She dried her hands on her skirt and fluffed the pillow behind Seth. “I’ll be right back with a hearty bowl then.”

  She smiled, then walked to the door. She paused in the doorway and gave Elias a stern look. "Don't overwhelm him. He just woke up." Then she closed the door behind her.

  The room was quiet except for the twittering birds and the occasional rustle of a billowing curtain. Seth leaned back on the pillow and sighed before looking at Elias, who awkwardly shuffled from side to side.

  Seth fingered the blanket, then cleared his throat. "Thank--"

  Elias threw his arms around Seth’s neck. “I was so scared, sir!” He gripped him tight. "I was afraid that you would never wake up."

  Seth groaned in pain from Elias’s sudden hug but returned with one of his own. “But I’m okay now.”

  Elias shook his head refusing to let go. “You don’t understand, sir," he wept, rocking back and forth. "You were asleep for three days!”

  Seth blinked. “Three days?”

  Elias nodded. “I sat by your side for the first, but Mrs. Angie kicked me out when I was getting restless.”

  Seth gasped and tried to loosen Elias's tight grip. I don’t blame her.

  "Elias..." he wheezed, patting the boy's back. "Too tight."

  Elias pulled away sheepishly. "Sorry sir. I've just been on pins and needles waiting for either one of you to wake up."

  Seth panted, trying to regain his breath. "Well..." he gasped. "I'm awake now."

  Elias laughed bashfully. "Yes, sir." His smile fell and he looked over at Gloria. "Now we just need to wait for Gloria."

  Seth followed Elias's gaze. His grip on the blanket tightened. She was in Crim's hands now.

  "Thank you, Elias," he said, breaking the silence. He looked up at Elias with sincerity. "If it weren't for you, I'd be dead against a log."

  Elias blushed and fidgeted with some cloth around a finger. “Well, I couldn’t leave my friends to die…”

  Seth watched the motion for a moment, then pointed. “How’s your hand?”

  Elias’s face went pale, and he tugged down his habit sleeve. "Fine, sir."

  Seth frowned. "That doesn't--"

  The door opened again, and Mrs. Angie returned with a bowl of porridge. “Alright, Elias, time's up," she said, putting the warm bowl in Seth's lap. "Seth needs space to eat and rest." She handed Seth a spoon. "Wait for me by the hearth. I'll be there in a moment."

  Elias exhaled in relief and walked to the door. “Yes ma’am." He paused in the doorway and gave Seth an awkward smile. "I'll be back later, sir."

  “If he’s not asleep.” Mrs. Angie said, glaring over her shoulder at him.

  Elias rubbed the back of his head. “Right, if you’re not asleep.”

  “I don’t mind," Seth said. "You can always sit by me if you need the company.”

  Mrs. Angie tsked and shooed Elias out the door. “He's the one who’s bedridden not you! Go on now, shoo! Seth will be joining you at Killian's before you know it.” Seth laughed a little, as Elias shuffled out the door, then groaned and held his aching side.

  Mrs. Angie whirled back on him. "And you need to rest. I don't want to see you out of bed, not even to check on her. By the time I get back, that bowl better be scraped clean. Understood?"

  Seth scooped up a bite of porridge. “Yes ma’am.”

  Mrs. Angie nodded, satisfied. “Good,” Then she closed the door behind her.

  Seth took another bite, then lay back as a dull ache throbbed behind his eyes. He raised his left hand and rubbed his forehead. When he pulled his arm back, he paused and stared at the long thin lines slashed along his arm.

  "Well, Gloria," he said aloud, before glancing at her. "We did it. You were right. I was able to defeat her..." He dropped his arm and watched the breeze play with a stray curl in her face. "But not without you," he murmured, wishing he was closer.

  He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Now that she was gone, it was time to go home. I've waited long enough, he thought, tracing grain lines in the wooden planks above him. If Master Naboth is compromised, then maybe it's time for me to look for these Autumn Knights myself. He pursed his lips, thinking. It might even be safer to go home. Who would expect a hunted man to slip back home?

  He peeked at Gloria again and his heart quickened. Daydreams drifted lazily through his mind. He could picture Gloria's amazed face when he showed her the ocean, Weatherridge, and his skill at fishing. Maybe I could introduce her to Mom and Dad.

  But the dreams wilted and Gloria's smile faded into screams that echoed in his ears. The room felt cold and Seth shuddered as horrible memories overwhelmed him. Gloria's gasps at the bubbling creek. The Lady's cruelty when she drove Gloria up the mountain. Seth looked at his hands, shaking, as the memory burned itself into his mind--Gloria's weeping purple face as she struggled to fight against his grip around her throat.

  "Are you afraid of me?"

  Seth gulped and tried not to look over at her as her answer rang in his ears.

  "Yes...and no...I know it’s not you, but… it’s getting harder and harder to believe…”

  Seth stared anxiously at his porridge. But she's not here anymore, he tried to tell himself and played with his spoon. Is that enough though? Enough to break through the fear?

  He gathered his courage and looked at Gloria again. Doubts swirled in his mind. Maybe she would be happier elsewhere. Maybe she wouldn't be able to stand being around him. Maybe...I should just let her go.

  Seth clenched the spoon in his fist and shook the thoughts away. No--I love her and I will prove to her that she doesn't need to be afraid of me anymore.