Page 85 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)
It was his turn to look away, working his jaw as he appeared deep in thought.
“My father and brother cannot love, either. It doesn’t mean that any of us lack empathy or don’t wish for our wives to be happy, but the matter of our hearts seems to always develop into a problem, no matter our efforts.
It creates a barrier we cannot overcome.
We have often wondered if that is part of our curse—to always fail at marriage. ”
“As a result, you can’t find happiness, either,” I surmised.
“Precisely.”
I took his hands and squeezed them. “At least we are discussing it and finding ways to work around it. I’ll try not to resent you for something that is out of your control.”
Most especially after he rescued me and freed me from my curse, I owed him that much .
“Thank you.”
My stomach rumbled, providing the perfect distraction. “I think I’m ready for food now.”
“I’ll get it myself and return soon,” he said, leaving the room quickly. Something told me he needed a moment to himself to come to terms with everything. We were both entering uncharted territory.
Rummaging through the chest at the foot of my bed, I found my preferred drab garden clothes.
I took them to the bathing chambers down the corridor, quickly washed up and brushed my teeth, and then put them on before returning to my chambers.
I wanted a proper bath, but it would have to wait until after I took care of my plants.
My desperate need to tend to them took priority, and I’d end up dirty again anyway.
Darrow brought us both a plate, and we ate in silence together.
I sat at my window seat, balancing my plate on my lap, and he did the same, sitting on the chest in front of my bed.
It was a companionable silence, yet loaded with so many unanswered questions.
I would save them until things were more settled.
After finishing, we dropped the plates off in the kitchen before heading to the garden. Rynn already waited for us at the archway. I took a deep breath before entering, telling myself nothing could change what happened before. All I could do was clean up the mess.
I walked inside and took in the chaos that reigned everywhere.
Dead, withered plants lay strewn across the stone path, along with a few that struggled to hold on a little longer.
The magic surge I’d sent that night had most likely allowed them that much of a chance.
I could almost feel them crying out to me for help now, and it broke my heart.
They’d had to wait days for me to return.
There was an awful stench of decay and rot, but I tried my best to ignore that.
Clearing my throat, I looked at Darrow and Rynn. “If you two can handle the cleanup, I’ll take care of the survivors.”
“Anything you need, Aella,” Rynn said, blue eyes full of sympathy.
Darrow nodded .
I went to the fallen crunchertrap first. Half the petals with their sharp teeth were missing from the flower and most of its leaves, but it still lifted a little at my approach.
The poor thing had fought a good battle.
I traced its roots, which extended just beyond the side of the path and found it had dug in there.
“I’m going to get you back into your home, okay?”
It lay still as if that was its way of giving permission.
First, I went and grabbed a trowel and special mulch from the back, carefully stepping around the debris.
Next, I went to work at the place where the cruncher trap had been before.
They’d always been proud to be guardians of the entrance, and I wouldn’t take that away from my remaining one.
I loosened the dirt, mixing the rich soil within it.
There were plenty of dead and decaying bugs mixed within that it could absorb through its roots until it could eat a proper meal again.
After finishing, I lifted the limp plant, extracting its roots with care. It trusted me completely and didn’t fuss. I kneeled and settled it into its preferred home, holding it upright. The plant was too weak to stand tall on its own.
I closed my eyes and began chanting a special spell my mother taught me right after I gained my magic.
My power flowed through me into the crunchertrap.
With each line I recited, its color returned, and it grew stronger until it didn’t need my help anymore.
The stalk was thicker and stronger, and the start of new petals peeked from the center.
Within a few days, it would likely improve to almost as good as before.
The spell had given it a substantial boost to grow faster.
Rising to my feet, I caught Darrow piling fae body parts onto the walkway. There were a shocking number of them. “How many soldiers do you think died in here?”
He dropped a booted foot into the pile like a piece of rubbish.
“My estimate so far is ten. The tractvines are still consuming five of them, but your other plants ripped apart at least as many. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are quite a few soldiers in the infirmary with missing parts who managed to escape as well. ”
Rynn was quiet as she gathered the dead flora in a separate location. I appreciated that she took care of each one despite the fact they had no life left in them. The survivors in my garden behaved calmly with me here and gave my helpers no trouble. For that, I was grateful.
I moved on to the others who were struggling and gave them similar treatment to the crunchertrap. Once finished, I watered all the plants and performed any immediate special care they required. It was exhausting, but more than anything, I needed to help them. I could rest and finish healing later.
Darrow used my wheelbarrow to remove the body parts, though I had no idea where he took them.
Some questions were best left unasked. I directed Rynn to put her pile in the compost bin I kept just outside the garden entrance.
It was situated there so that servants could dispose of various waste that benefited my garden.
It took about three hours before we had accomplished all we could. My body ached, and I struggled to stay upright from still-healing injuries and heavy use of my magic, but it was a small price to pay for my garden. The plants had given their all for me.
I looked at Darrow with tired eyes. “Do you think I’ll be able to come back for them sometime soon?”
“Yes.” He looked around with a hint of pride, which surprised me.
“Once we’re settled, we’ll find a new location for your garden, but I already told Ulmar that he is not to bother you when you come back to tend the plants or do anything to the garden in the meantime.
Still, I’d prefer you come through your private portal and avoid him altogether.
I’ve already put up a ward that prevents anyone other than us from entering. ”
“Okay,” I agreed. He’d thought of everything while I still scrambled to find some semblance of order in the chaos. It was daunting after all I’d been through in recent days.
I swayed on my feet, my exertion catching up to me.
Darrow swung me into his arms. “If I hadn’t known you would protest, I would have stopped you from pushing yourself so hard. I’ll take you back to your room where you can bathe and change. Briauna will be up shortly to do a final healing and bring you food. ”
“You can put me down, Dare,” I said, wiggling in his hold.
He quirked a brow. “You’ve worn yourself out. Rest and save your strength because I would like to return to Porrine in two hours if possible.”
I sighed and glowered at him even though I knew the trip to my room would be painful if I walked it myself. “Fine, but I want it noted that this is bullying behavior.”
“Whatever makes you feel better about me carrying you.”
Rynn watched us with amusement. “I’ll, uh, go pack.”
“Take only what you can carry,” Darrow said, turning his attention to her. “We will come back for the rest in a few days.”
Neither of us argued with that plan. Despite the unknowns before us, we were ready to leave this place and all the bad memories with it. I only hoped it wouldn’t take long before I could remove my plants and put them somewhere they could be happy and safe.