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

said nothing as I set things on the small table next to the bed. I then walked back into the larger room and set the kettle on the hearth.
    “I need to clean the wound and bathe you,” I stated plainly as I returned to the bedroom tugging the shawl tighter about my shoulders.
    “Here I thought humans didn’t believe in bathing.” He smirked, those lovely lips tugging to one corner. Is that supposed to be a joke? I furrowed my brows at him.
    “So have you been to Lyr? Ynyr told me every decade elves are supposed to go to Lyr on pilgrimage. Though he didn’t tell me why,” I said, making idle, pointless chatter as I made sure everything was in order.
    “Yes, though I’m surprised your smith has been at all. Most of my kind who dwell in cities rarely follow the old ways. When an elf goes to Lyr, they’re not really going to Lyr. On the coast, there are ruins of the old port, Lyr Gan’ddwr. It once was a stop on the pilgrimage to the holy sites on Ynys Afalau, but it was swallowed up by the sea long ago. When I was a boy, I remember going with my parents. The only sign that there had ever been land there was a single large dead oak tree sticking out of the water, a macabre skeletal hand taunting us as it waved in the wind, reminding us of what we lost and what we’d never have again.” His voice was quiet and hoarse when he finished. “The pain is starting to set in again.” I watched him carefully as his dark brows furrowed.
    After closing the distance between us, I checked his temperature with the back of my hand on his forehead. His skin was dewy with sweat, and he was starting to smell a bit like a goat—three days of sweating in pain would do that. I’ll need a new mattress after this. He was still running a slight fever, which was normal for his injuries.
    “After your bath, I’ll give you another potion to help you sleep.” He nodded, but frustration lurked in his gaze. “It must be hard to be confined. I honestly can’t imagine what it’s like to go from being so free, to so trapped.”
    “It could be worse. At least the company is pleasant enough.” We exchanged a smile, and I turned from him almost immediately to hide the blush that colored my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I went to check the water.
    There was a certain amount of dread that accompanied the thought of bathing him. The smell was probably the only thing keeping me from turning into an utter moron around him. One look at him and I could forget everything that elves were rumored to do in those forests. I respected them, but there was a grain of truth to every vicious, hateful rumor. I didn’t believe everything I was told, but I knew enough. Elves treated humans in the forest like humans treated elves everywhere else. It was only fair, in my opinion, since elven harems were commonplace. Once, I had a standing order with a brothel for fisher’s root tea (more commonly referred to as whore’s tea because it prevented pregnancy). When I initiated the deal I didn’t know the whores were elven slaves, and when I found out I was mortified. It was then that I realized I had lived in the countryside for far too long. It never occurred to me that the elves employed there were being held against their will, let alone as slaves. When I went to collect payment, I saw a cart carrying in a cage filled with male and female elves of varying ages. I watched horror-struck from a distance as the owner took them out one by one, fondled them as if assessing their worth, and then placed a brand on each of their backs. I didn’t collect my coin for the tea. I turned around and walked the six days home without hiring a cart like I had planned.
    That was almost a year ago. Maybe I was feeling guilty for being attracted to him because of what I had done. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn’t notice that my body had continued on without me. I was sitting on the bed beside him with a small knife in one hand as the other pulled up the bandage. I shook