I enter my sitting room with a large stick as a walking support and find Nash. I want to rush to him, but Shillian is still with us. “Nash,” I say.
“I heard there was an attack.” His fists are balled up.
“There was, but everything is fine. Not much damage was done.”
“Not much?” He glances me over and notices the gash in my dress that shows a piece of cloth tied around my thigh. He growls. “I should have been there.”
Normally, I’d agree, but with the state he’s been in lately, I’m not sure that would have gone over well. “It’s all right. Just a scratch.”
He tightens his jaw. “Let me at least call for a healer.”
“One is on the way.” I sit in one of my less used chairs, putting the walking stick to the side. If I’m going to bleed, I don’t want to do it on my favorite.
He brings another chair over for me to put my leg up on. I hold back a wince as I prop it up.
“You should have seen her in action,” Shillian says. “She was like lightning, acting with a brutal but quick strike.”
Nash nods, not taking his gaze from me. “I know. I’ve seen her.”
A blush floods my cheeks. I glance down to cover it.
A servant enters and says, “The healer is here to see you.”
The healer rushes in the room before the man’s done speaking. She says, “Where’s the injury?”
“It’s not bad. Just on my thigh.” I motion to the affliction that’s tied up below my skirt. With permission from the shopkeeper, I tore a length of cloth off one of her bolts and tied it around my wound after talking with the girl who saved my life.
“Let me have a look at it.” Her voice is calmer now, though still stern. She looks at Nash. “You should leave.”
He clenches his jaw. “I’m her Head Advisor. I have a right to know how she’s doing.”
“Yes, and we will inform you, but for now, you need to exit the room.”
Before he can protest further, I say, “It’s fine, Nash. I’ll send word.”
His face tightens, and I think he wants to argue more, but he leaves the room without another word.
“You should be cautious with that one,” the healer says, barely above a whisper.
“What do you mean?”
Her gaze drifts to Shillian. “If you will permit me, Your Majesty. I need to check the damage.”
“Of course.” I lift my skirt to just above where I tied the cloth that’s now red with my blood but at least not soaked.
She uses deft fingers to untie the knot and release the cloth from around my leg. She prods at the wound. “It’s not too deep, but it’ll still need stitches.”
“She’s going to be all right?” Worry colors Shillian’s words.
“She’s going to be fine.” The healer doesn’t say anything about infection, but hopefully, we can ward that off before it’s an issue.
Shillian’s shoulders fall as if the tension goes out of them. “Praise the sun.”
I’m grateful, but not surprised. I’m more worried about Nash, his reaction, and the healer’s words about him. “Shillian?”
“Yes, dearest?”
“Would you inform those waiting outside of my prognosis? Let them know I’ll be fine. I’m getting stitches, and then I’ll rest.”
“I can do that. Do you want me to come back afterward?”
I try not to wince at the raw hope in her gaze. “No, thank you. It’d be best if I were alone to sleep.”
“What about dinner?”
“I’ll send Inkga for something from the kitchens.”
“If you’re sure…”
“Yes. Thank you. Your help is appreciated.” And her getting away from me long enough to let me think even more so.
“All right. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I give her a smile that I hope looks sincere. “We’ll talk then.”
As soon as the door closes behind her, I turn back to the healer. “What did you mean about being cautious with Nash?”
She studies me carefully, looking deep into my eyes. “If you will forgive me, Your Majesty, that your preference for him is obvious.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I believe you do, though you attempt to underplay it. I understand why. This is dangerous territory. Everyone can see how you feel about him, though you try to hide it. You made it even more clear when he was taken and you fought so hard to get him back. I don’t know how long the council will leave him be, though you haven’t touched.”
At least nobody knows we’ve touched. Still, her comments make me want to never even look at Nash again if it’s going to get him in trouble. “I’ll take your words under advisement.”
“If you care about him, you will.”
She pulls supplies out of her bag, but my thoughts stay on our conversation. What am I going to do? How am I going to do accomplish ignoring him when he’s my Head Advisor? I need to keep things professional.
I’ll have to figure out a way because I won’t risk his life.