Page 86 of Stormvein

“No one … touch me.” I add a pained cough for added effect. “Shadow and Voidcraft … keeping infection contained. Foreign touch … breaks concentration.”

The healer looks uncertain, her hands already reaching for her supplies. “Lord Torran, I need to clean the wounds properly. The infection?—”

“Nearly killed me already. Only shadows … holding it back. Trust me …”

The request serves multiple purposes beyond preserving the lie. It establishes a boundary that will prevent any accidental discovery of my healed state. It also reinforces the narrative that my condition is critical, despite surviving this far. And most importantly, it creates space for privacy.

Lisandra studies my face for a long moment, then nods. “Very well. Ilystra, leave your supplies with Ellie, in case she needs them.”

The healer clearly wants to protest by the way her eyes dart from Lisandra to Ellie to me, then back to Lisandra, but she respects the chain of command.

“I’ll come back in the morning.” She arranges her medicines on the bedside table. “These need to be applied every few hours. The fever must be brought under control.”

I hold the appearance of semi-consciousness until the room has emptied of everyone but Ellie and Varam, then I send out my awareness to the passageway outside, noting who lingers outside the door, who questions the departing healers, and who carries news through the rest of Stonehaven.

Once I’m certain no one is going to come back in, I drop the illusion. My breathing returns to normal, my expression sharpens from fevered confusion to alert, and I sit up.

“That was too close,” Ellie whispers. “Ilystra would have seen through the illusion if she’d unwrapped any of those bandages.”

“She’s persistent. We’ll need to keep strict control over anyone who enters my quarters until I’m ready to let everyone know I’m healed.”

Varam leaves the bedchamber, and I hear the lock being turned in the main door before he comes back. “I’ve sent the team who came with us to rest, but asked four to remain outside as guards. They’ll rotate every four hours. I’ve also told them no one enters without me, Mira, or Ellie present.”

“Good.” I rise from the bed, and am about to walk into the main chamber when Ellie’s voice stops me.

“You should put some clothes on if you’re planning to walk around.”

When I look at her, her eyes are staring down at the ground, a faint blush staining her cheeks.

“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Not the point.” The words come out as a low mutter.

Suppressing a smile, I change direction and cross to the dresser, selecting a tunic and pants and pulling them on quickly.

“Better?”

She glances up at me. “Yes.”

I laugh softly, and leave the bedchamber, crossing straight to the maps on the wall, studying Stonehaven’s layout.

“Lisandra and the others are going to have questions,” I tell Varam. “They’re going to want details of the rescue. How you found me, my condition during transport, what I might have revealed under torture.”

“What should I tell them?”

“The truth, mostly. You ambushed the convoy, found me near death, and barely managed to keep me alive during the journey. As for what I revealed … you don’t know. Perhaps hint that Sereven spoke freely, believing I was too far gone to remember or repeat his words.”

Varam’s eyes narrow. “Suggesting you have information that might identify our traitor.”

“Exactly. Watch their reactions. Note who becomes defensive, who asks for specifics, and who tries to steer the conversation elsewhere.”

“Do you think the traitor is one of the Veinwarden leaders?” Ellie asks.

“Yes. Sereven will have no use for someone who doesn’t have access to the information he needs. Whoever it is, they will attempt to verify what they’ve learned.”

“And when they do?”

I lift my head, and meet her gaze. “When they do, we’ll have them.”