Heart of the Forest (Arwn's Gift Book 1) Read Free Page A

break.”
    “Thank you,” he finally said, holding my gaze with his. Oh, that voice . He spoke those two words like they held some sort of dark little secret that was ours and ours alone. A shiver slipped down my spine, making my shoulders rise noticeably. I quickly pulled the shawl tighter around my shoulders.
    “Here I thought the carpenter fixed that damned draft,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “There’s no need to thank me; I’m here to help the wounded, aid the sick, and all of that,” I lectured him as he picked up the mug and took a sip. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t make a face as he sipped the tea. It was the first time someone didn’t grimace with every swallow—the smith’s girl vomited after the first mouthful. “You’ll have to stay off of your leg for a while. I’d recommend staying here for a day, maybe a week, and then having your friends fetch a cart to take you home.”
    “With all due respect—”
    “With all due respect? Why don’t you just say what you’re thinking? ‘You’re a plowing idiot,’ that’s all I ever hear when someone says those words to me.” I snickered as I leaned against the door frame. My tiny outburst won me a short-lived, boyish laugh from Aneurin. He winced after a few moments and placed his hand on his bandaged side.
    “I can’t exactly leave by cart.”
    “I suppose you’ll be staying here then. It won’t be the first time I’ve treated a patient for an extended period of time…” I eyed my bed—my warm, soft, comfortable bed that I’d be giving up for the next however long.
    “I’m going to tell the others he’ll be okay. I’ll leave payment on the table,” the other elf said quickly as he stepped past me. And I had a brilliant idea.
    “No coin. Just follow the river upstream to the wood and remove the carcass that’s polluting the water.”
    “All right, I’ll come back tomorrow to check on him.” Without another word the hooded elf left.
    “Fucking Islwyn,” Aneurin grumbled in a ragged breath between slow sips of the tea. His hands were shaking. Isn’t that cute, he’s trying to fight the pain.
    “Not a fan of your friend?”
    “He’s not my friend.”
    “He certainly seems like he’s your friend. He cares for you,” I offered him a smile, a quick tug of my lips.
    “He’s…family.” Riiiight. I quirked a brow before leaving the room. I locked the front door and stared at the two cots. One had blood on it from when I treated his first wound, the other the butcher’s boy’s vomit. I should have made the “friend” clean up before he left. I watched as he finished the cup and drank the potion. He passed out before the vial left his lips, leaving me to curl up with the extra fur on a chair in front of the fire while the winter wind howled outside the window and the snow continued to fall in fat, slow snowflakes. I was probably the only person in town hoping to get snowed in.

Chapter Two
    Winter raged on, and snow fell inch after inch until it piled up to the window. On the third day we were snowed in. The door wouldn’t open. It wasn’t a problem for me; I always made sure I had more than enough firewood and food. Water wasn’t an issue either with the snow that gathered outside the window.
    I stared out of the warped glass at those falling flakes that danced on the wind. The snow didn’t seem like it would be letting up anytime soon. I was more than a little grateful for the break the snow afforded me. If someone got desperate enough, they’d dig out my door, and I’d gladly treat them. But until then I would keep to myself and tend to Aneurin, who was pleasant enough—read quiet. He kept to himself for the most part and only bothered me if he needed water—which wasn’t too often. However, I did need to clean and change his bandage.
    With a sigh, I gathered fresh bandages, ointment, and a cake of soap. When I entered the bedroom, he watched me curiously. That odd gaze followed me as I moved about, but he