Page 61 of Warrior’s Lady

"Bring blankets, strips of linen to bind his wound, and some warmed ale," Rhiannon said with authority, though fearing the residents would ignore her as they always had.

Much to her surprise, two women stepped forward. One brought a mug with her. The other, thick woolen blankets that she settled about the man's body. A third woman placed a pile of linen next to Rhiannon, who tied long strips tightly around the man's body, trying to stop the flow of blood. When that was done, she brought the rim of the mug of ale to his lips. "Drink." Her gaze slid to the floor beside the man, then to Orrin's watchful gaze. "If we cannot heal him, is there anything we can do to make him more comfortable?"

"We could use the Charm Stone," Violet said.

A collective gasp echoed through the hall. All eyes turned to the little girl who moved to stand beside the dying man.

Orrin knelt, staring into her face. "What do you know of the Stone?"

"Mummy told me stories. She said our family had a duty to heal our people. That when the time came, I should not fear my destiny."

Orrin's eyes turned hard, expressionless. "Using the Stone could be dangerous for anyone. More so for a child. No one wants you to bear the same burden as your mother."

"The Stone is good," Violet protested. "It's the bad men who want it who are dangerous." She tugged on Rhiannon's hand. "I know where Uncle Camden hid the Stone."

Rhiannon knelt beside Violet, studying her determined face. "How do you know where it is?"

She lifted her chin with pride. "I watched him hide it in the chapel after you helped Charlotte deliver her baby."

Rhiannon startled. The packet she had delivered from Mother Agnes had contained the Charm Stone? Had she known at the time, she would have been terrified. Rhiannon frowned. The bishop had demanded the Stone from her before she'd nearly been burned alive.

The Charm Stone.

Was that how Charlotte and her baby had survived the difficult birth? Rhiannon's gaze dropped to her feet. Was the Charm Stone also the reason her burns and blisters had healed so quickly?

Over the years she'd heard of the magical healings performed throughout their country, but she never thought they were true.

Apparently the stories were real. As was the danger to Violet if she used the Stone to heal this man. "Nay, Violet. This isn't a good idea. Especially not while your uncle is away."

Violet pulled her hand away from Rhiannon's. She frowned down at Rhys. "I can help you. But you must promise to never harm anyone ever again."

"I … promise." Rhys' fingers trembled as he raised them from the floor, trying to touch Violet's hand. But he was too weak. His dirty and bloody hand collapsed against the stone of the hearth.

Rhiannon met Orrin's gaze, registered the uncertainty there. "Lord Lockhart will not like this," Rhiannon said.

"I will bear his displeasure if he does not," Orrin said. "Lady Violet, show me where the Stone is hidden."

Rhiannon followed Orrin and Violet up the stairs and down the hallway to the chapel. The chapel's three narrow windows sent streams of hazy light into the small chamber. Violet crossed the room, and the play of sunlight and shadow shifted on her form as she approached the wooden crucifix that hung against the far wall. She slipped her fingers between the wall and the wood, and pulled out a small parcel wrapped in linen.

Violet unwrapped the sacred stone, allowing the linen protection to tumble to the floor. She held her prize from a short silver chain. At the end dangled a silver circle. A small bloodred stone at the center winked in the filtered sunlight as if in greeting.

Was the Charm Stone a prize worth dying for? Rhiannon stared at the Stone, transfixed.

"It has always amazed me that something so small can hold so much power," Orrin said, reaching for the Stone.

Violet tugged the Stone out of his grasp. "We need to help the man."

"Do you know how to use it, Violet?" Rhiannon held out her hand to the girl, lending her more support than guidance.

"Mummy never showed me. But I have to try." Violet took her hand.

Anxiety filled Rhiannon as they made their way back to the great hall. A low rumble of sound greeted them when they reached the chamber. Rhiannon paused at the bottom of the stairs. The room had filled with people come from all corners of the castle. They conversed with each other excitedly.

Violet's grip tightened on her hand. She buried herself in the fabric of Rhiannon's skirt. "Why are they here?" she whispered.

"Curiosity I would imagine." Rhiannon kept moving slowly forward. "It will be all right. Keep the Stone hidden."

From across the room, Mistress Faulkner spotted them and hurried to greet them.