Of the Woods

by J A S Bennet

  Sheridan’s hand fell and shock came out first, but then a stern look took over to let Grog know this was not okay. When she saw the look of pride on his face, she broke out in laughter.

  Deaglan was impressed with the ability of this odd creature to evoke so many different emotions out of Sheridan in such a short span of time, when he had been trying for hours to get more than just sadness and undue guilt.

  Cian knocked on the already open door. All three of them turned to give him their attention. “Brecon collected Ava from training to go be with Jenny. The healer was hopi—whoa! What the hell happened in here?” There was no doubt about what had caught his attention.

  “Pretty flowers for sick queen.” Grog beamed with pride at his simple explanation.

  Cian flinched. He hadn’t even known Grog was in the room until he spoke. Turning his body back to Sheridan, he continued his previous thought. “Mac is hoping you can bring your energy and strength into Jenny’s room. It might help her wake up.”

  “She’s still unconscious?” Sheridan still felt recipients of her healing were direct victims of the Darkness’ revenge, but could she stand by and wait for Jenny to slip into a coma or maybe even die? No. She couldn’t and wouldn’t.

  Throwing her legs off the bed, she prepared for the cold wetness Grog had decorated her floor with. The mud he created was spreading everywhere. It didn’t bother Sheridan because she loved the feeling of mud squishing between her toes.

  Stepping into the bathroom to freshen up a bit, and put pants on, she avoided looking in the mirror. She didn’t want to take the time to change anything about her appearance, so she just brushed her teeth and threw her hair into a ponytail before slipping her muddy feet into some flip flops. They made a sloshing noise with every step, but Sheridan couldn’t care less about that.

  The hallway reeked of something musty and sour, but Sheridan couldn’t put her finger on what it was. Her nose wrinkled up and Deaglan noticed, just like everything else she did in his presence since the moment they met. “That’s amazing. Mac could smell it from here too, but she has decades more experience.”

  “Smell what?” She would love an answer to the question plaguing her mind, trying to obtain the correct memory the odor was attempting to revive.

  “The poison.” Deaglan couldn’t smell anything. Neither could Cian or Brecon or even Tadhg, who was holding hands with the poisoned person. “Only healers can smell it.”

  “Just when I’d begun to think I’ve seen, or smelled in this case, it all.” She pushed into Jenny’s suite and took in the scene. Tadhg and Ava holding a bedside vigil, the healer woman raking a sprig of sage a foot over Jenny’s body, and Fergus standing with the caretaker in the far corner waiting for instruction.

  “The sage will do more for her if you burn it. Grog?” Sheridan yelled out and he was at her side in an instant. She wasn’t used to being the one calling the shots and barking orders, but it was crystal clear in her mind what needed to be done. “Grog, can you please fill that tub with saltwater and bring it in here?”

  Her power’s strength seemed to grow with each step she took toward the other two women who shared her newest tattoo. Deaglan had been right. She did have enough strength to share, now she just needed to trust her ability to heal. When this was all over, she was going to need a stiff drink or five.

  Leaning over Jenny’s bed, Sheridan put her hands on Jenny to feel where she was injured. If it was a sprained ankle or a scratched leg she knew the heat would exit her hands and do its job. But this was totally different. Jenny had been submerged in poison. There was no heat leaving her fingers this time.

  Ava saw Sheridan’s hands shaking as they sought the source of the Jenny’s injuries. She wasn’t much for touchy feely shit, and Sheridan didn’t seem the type for it either, but something made Ava reach out and hold Sheridan’s hand. There was a spark. Not like a “love at first sight” spark, but the “rubbed my socked feet on carpet for a few minutes” kind of spark. Seeing that Tadhg passed Jenny’s hand that he had been holding off to Ava, Mac gave Jenny’s other hand to Sheridan. When the circle of three was complete, water poured down on Jenny’s bed from above. Grog had returned.

  The caretaker gasped and opened her mouth to yell at him about the damage to the bed, when she saw Jenny’s head move.

  Whether it was the splash of the water, the three women sharing strength and energy, or if it was just her time, Jenny came to. Blinking a few times, Jenny closed her eyes again and began moaning. It was clear she was in a lot of pain herself, but her first croaked words were selfless. “The sprites?”

  Tadhg sighed in relief at the sound of her voice, no matter how weak it sounded. “We got them all moved. Bridget is still sick, but Mac thinks the fresh water will have her back to rights as soon as possible. You gave us all quite a fright yourself. You’ve been unconscious for hours.”

  Jenny’s eyes started to water and panic shown on her face. But at least the moaning ceased. The girls let go of her hands, Fergus and the caretaker made their exits, and even Grog seemed to be trying to sneak away.

  “She’s not sick anymore, Grog. No need for flowers.” Deaglan sounded stern as he followed Grog toward the door.

  “What he means to say,” Sheridan stated, “was thank you for bringing the water so quickly. You saved her.”

  “I do anything for my queen.” At his words, Deaglan shook his head as he sighed audibly. Grog being smitten with his woman would take some getting used to.

  Mac immediately checked Jenny’s vitals and made notes in her file. “I will be back to check on you later. In the meantime, drink lots of water, have some soup, and get some rest.”

  Soon, the three women and Tadhg were left in the room. Jenny’s tears were tracking down her face, but she was trying to smile. “I’m sorry I worried you all. I knew it was dangerous to go in the pond, but I had to help them.”

  Jenny attempted to sit up and then stuck her arms out. “Can someone help me to the bathroom?”

  Without missing a beat, Tadhg scooped her up off the soaking bed and carried her to the bathroom. Sheridan and Ava immediately stripped the bed of its wet comforter and sheets, placing them in the tub Grog had left behind. They were surprised to find a waterproof mattress pad in place.

  “What the fuck? Does she wet the bed like a toddler or do you think she does some freaky shit between the sheets?” Only Ava would come to those conclusions.

  Sheridan shrugged. “Maybe the castle knew something like this was inevitable?” Then she busied herself looking for clean bedding in the half closet Jenny had mentioned when she was telling about exploring her room.

  Tadhg was proper as he placed Jenny on the side of her massive tub, began filling it with water, and dumped in a few capfuls of some clarifying bath soak sitting on the ledge. The sound filled the room, which made Jenny need to go more. “Can you please step out?”

  “Will you be okay?” Tadhg’s relief at her being awake was evident in his tone, but his continuing concern for her was palpable. Jenny could feel it in her aching bones. All she intended to do in her was use the toilet, but the thought of soaking in clean water was heavenly. “Yeah, I can do this, been doing it for years.”

  “Okay, but I will be right outside there if you need me. No arguments.” Tadhg walked out and closed the door behind him. Ava was gone with the wet sheets and Sheridan was trying to make the bed on her own. Humming contentedly to himself, he helped Sheridan get everything to rights with the bedding.

  Sheridan opened Jenny’s closet and picked out a pair of sweats and a comfortable-looking shirt as well as appropriate undergarments. She wrapped them in a bundle and knocked lightly on the bathroom door. “Jenny, I have some dry clothes for you. Can I set them inside the door?”

  “Yes, please. Thank you, Sheridan.” Jenny was just settling down into her bath. It felt just as amazing as she thought it would. She could feel the poison leaching out of her pores. Her head rolled back as she sighed. Deciding it would be for t
he best, she scooted forward so she could submerge fully. Those poor sprites had been living in that awful water much longer than she had spent in it. It was a horrendous thought. What kind of evil being could do something like that to such innocent creatures? It was chilling to imagine.

  Sheridan left Jenny’s room and headed back to her own. The pile of mud and rooted flowers made her giggle for a second, but remembering why Grog felt the need to bring them made her sigh. Having done a good deed, she crawled back in to bed for a reward nap. She still didn’t know if she had done the right thing by trying to help. In her mind, Jenny was just the next in a long line of victims for the Darkness to target. Even though she hadn’t really healed her previously, it was likely sufficient that she showed she cared enough to try. “Ugh.”

  Someone knocked on her door. “Not now, Grog.”

  “Oh, he’s busy making the caretaker miserable. But I have brought you something to eat.” Sheridan didn’t want to admit it, but hearing Deaglan’s voice brought her comfort and the thought of Grog causing mayhem pleased her.

  “I’m not really hungry.” She sat up on her elbows.

  “Well, all bodies need nourishment. How about I feed it to you?” He sat beside her on the bed and the smell of the soup on the tray was almost enough to change her mind about eating, but not quite.

  “Here comes the food plane doesn’t work on me, Deaglan, I’m not three. I can feed myself.” She sat up farther so she could cross her arms in defiance. The act was abrupt and Deaglan wasn’t expecting it. She caught the corner of the tray with her elbow and the soup sloshed around, some spilling on Deaglan’s leg.

  “Whoa!” he cried, setting the tray down quickly on her bedside table and then immediately began undoing his pants. An angry red mark was appearing.

  “Blow on it!” Deaglan was pleading and clearly in pain.

  Sheridan looked at the welt and then at the soup, which caused anger to bubble out of her. As quickly as she could, she scooted to the far side of the bed before looking at Deaglan. “Were you seriously planning to put that hell-fire and lava soup in my mouth?”

  “No, I didn’t know it was that hot. The caretaker said it would cool down by the time I walked it up here. I’m sorry.” His eyes were true. She believed him, but the point was made. This only reinforced her feeling that she didn’t belong here.

  “You should go ice that to get the heat out. Maybe see Mac, since I can’t seem to heal people today anyway. And take that esophagus-melting shit with you.”

  The pain in his leg was winning out over his desire to stay close to her, especially because he didn’t see how he could win her over at the moment. He grabbed the tray, mumbling about “best laid plans,” and left her alone again.

  Her hope of a nap was dashed. The next best thing was some time alone in the library. Hopefully, nobody would bother her there and she could be alone with her thoughts.

  27

  Rumble

  Tadhg was waiting when Jenny exited the bathroom. She looked so thoroughly refreshed it was shocking. “I want to go feed some shamrocks to the sprites.”

  “Okay, I’ll escort you in case you get tired.” It wasn’t a question. He was going to follow her whether she agreed to it or not. Things would be much nicer if she did.

  She took a moment to gauge his appearance. Honestly, he looked like the tired one of the two of them, even though she was the one who’d been poisoned. On top of the worry lines creasing his forehead, his shirt was filthy and parts of it were still wet from when he carried her to the bath. “Um, do you want to take a shower, and maybe borrow a dry shirt or something?”

  Looking down, he ran a hand through his hair. He probably still had some of the poisoned pond water on his shirt and a shower might help with his weariness from his trying afternoon. “Will you wait here for me?”

  “As long as you are quick.” She grinned, and it was balm for his worried soul. “So hurry along.”

  Truth was she’d wait no matter how long he took. She found herself wanting to wait for him.

  She went into her closet to find a shirt that would work for him. A plain gray one would do. Without thinking about it she opened the bathroom door to set it inside. Her eyes caught on strong, wide shoulders and followed down his naked back to his narrow hips. The sinewy muscles of his bare arms flexing as he worked the fly of his pants. He turned, deliciously, at the waist to catch her admiring his form and his eyebrows raised.

  “Thank you. I mean, I’m sorry!” She threw the shirt at him and slammed the door closed, but not before hearing him chuckle in response. Her face was flaming. Who knew he had all that going on under there? Fanning herself, she sat on her dry, made bed and tried to get herself together.

  An uneasy feeling settled in. She could feel something was off in the woods and it was calling to her like the pull of a fishing line. Attempting to ignore it, she laid back on her bed to wait for Tadhg. The urge to rush toward the pull to see what the concern was about grew stronger and stronger until Tadhg walked out of the bathroom in a rush.

  “Do you feel that?” Jenny spoke as she checked out how her shirt fit tightly to his form. Wow, she couldn’t even dwell on that.

  “Yeah, we have to go.” He held the door open for her.

  They passed Sheridan on her way into the library. “Do you feel the pull to the woods, Sheridan?”

  “Yes, but I’m not going. All I do is make things worse.” Her tone was flat and concerning but figuring that out would have to wait. The fact she was going to attempt to ignore a pull the strength of what Jenny was feeling was hard to believe.

  Ava and Cian caught up to them on their way out the door. Ava was carrying a knife in each hand as she asked, “What’s happening? Where’s Sheridan?”

  Deaglan joined them before they breached the wall surrounding the castle. He’d heard the questions.

  Tadhg shook his head. “I don’t know for sure, but it feels like another strong attack in the second quarter. Sheridan was on her way into the library. She said she’s sitting this one out because she only makes things worse.”

  It was Deaglan’s turn to shake his head. Turning to his number two, he asked, “Can you head this one while I see if I can convince her to come? They are stronger, better together. She needs to see that.”

  Cian bowed to him while picking up his pace toward the troubled zone. “You’ve got it.”

  The four of them raced to the second quarter section and were shocked and maddened to find several guardians beaten, bloody, and tied to trees with chains. Some of them had lost spars to Ava, so these were young guardians, not fully trained.

  Cian started calling out orders and though Ava was not accustomed to being told what to do, she jumped to obey because she had never really been in a true battle and he had. There was too much at stake to waste time arguing.

  They started working in pairs to untie the rookies as quickly as they could. There were dozens of them, spaced out among the trees for as far as they could see. The wounds were still bleeding; this was a fresh attack. So fresh, in fact, Cian decided to run through the area to make sure it wasn’t still happening. He was back within a minute. “Tadhg, I need you to go get Mac. It would be quicker than taking all of them to her.” Tadhg was gone; he ran faster than Jenny thought he could. She was learning all kinds of things.

  “Ava and Jenny, you are stronger together. Stay within a few feet. If it comes to a fight, do so back to back. Understood?”

  They nodded. The pull had eased when they arrived on the scene, but the concern associated with it was growing stronger. Ava blurted out, “This shit is not over.”

  Cian met her eyes and held them for a moment. She could feel the heat that started in the dojo seep into his words and she shook with a chill. He nodded. “I know.”

  She went back to working the chains. When the last one fell, the rookie turned on her as if she was the one who beat him and tied him up.

  “Hey, dumbass! What are you doing?” She felt a little bit bad ab
out knocking him down, but not whole-heartedly. It was second nature for her to protect herself, and unlike when she faced Cian and lost, Jenny’s nearby presence made her stronger. Even though he was face down in the dirt with his arm twisted behind him, he wouldn’t stop resisting. She feared it would snap if she applied any more pressure. “It’s like the dude is in a trance.”

  Cian approached and picked him clear off the ground like it was nothing. Then he ran away, out of sight, carrying the man with him.

  Ava turned to Jenny. “We have to stop untying them. They’ve been brainwashed or something.”

  “What can we do? They’re hurt, they need help. Tadhg isn’t back with Mac yet. Can we heal like Sheridan can?”

  “How the hell would I know? We can try.” Ava felt helpless. It was a disgusting feeling, and she hated it.

  That’s when Jenny saw a shadowy being. The sun had set and everyone was cloaked in blackness, but this one was new, dressed in all black, and moved almost as quickly as Cian just did. Then more appeared, the space surrounding the beings was covered in liquidy shadows.

  “What are these things?” Jenny’s voice was rising in fear.

  “How should I know?” Ava was busy trying to size them up. They were up to something nefarious, but she couldn’t tell what. Several scenarios crossed her mind, but of one thing she was sure. This was going to turn into an ugly brawl.

  “Ava, will we even be able to hurt or kill these things?” Jenny’s voice shook as if she had just witnessed a ghost.

  “How the fuck do you think I automatically know these things? Stop asking me stupid questions and help me plan an attack!” Ava had her game face on. Jenny knew that she had never been in a battle either, but the warrior in her was ready for the challenge. Jenny’s main concern was protecting the innocent guardian’s strapped to the trees.

  “When the other protectors get here, let’s form a barrier so these things can’t release any more brainwashed rookies, or worse, kill them.” Ava nodded. As they started toward the trees full of guardians, the forest started to move. “Ava, look!”