Page 34 of Luthias

“Aye. Stay back.” A puff of glittering smoke erupted from the hole in the ground. “’Twill only catch us both.”

Emery stood on her toes, trying to see inside the pit. “Are you hurt? What is that smoke?”

“’Tis, ’tis fairy dust. Dinnae breathe the stuff.” He coughed a few more times, and then said in a much drowsier voice, “’Tis a sleeping hallow.”

“Is there a headless horseman in there, too?” she asked as she glanced back at the path. “Look, stay put. I’ll run back to the castle and get some help.”

“Dinnae go,” Callen said, sounding exhausted now. “If I fall asleep...I shallnae awake again.”

Emery suddenly felt a chill race down her spine. “Stop joking. This isn’t funny.”

“I dinnae jest.” A big hand appeared on the edge of the pit, groping the soil for a handhold. “Give me aid, my lady.”

Emery dropped down and grabbed his hand.

“Hold on.” She dug her heels into the soft earth and pulled. Her eyes felt suddenly, impossibly heavy, and she had to swallow a yawn as she yanked on his arm. Finally Callen’s other arm appeared, and he crawled out of the hole and fell beside her.

“You weigh a ton,” Emery told him, and blinked hard. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Callen held up his hand, which had an ugly cut across the knuckles. “Naught ’twill end me.” He used it to cover his mouth as he yawned.

“Why are we so sleepy?” she murmured.

“Hold your breath.” He took hold of her and dragged her with him as he staggered away from the hole, and then fell with her onto the ground. “Cough, hard as you may.”

Emery just wanted to lay down and take a nap beside him, but she forced herself to do as he’d said. More of the sparkling fairy dust appeared in the air between them. Callen finally lurched to his feet and hauled her to hers.

“Running water...’twill shatter the spell,” he muttered to her as he trudged with his arm around her shoulders. “We’ve but to drink.”

Emery felt as if she might pass out before they reached the embankment, but fortunately Callen seemed to be in better shape. As soon as they got close her phobia kicked in, however, and she pulled free of him and shook her head.

“I can’t.” Passing out was bad, but drowning was worse.

“Stay there.” He went to the edge of the river, reached down and filled his cupped hand before bringing it back to her. She sipped a little and nodded as the sleepiness left her. As he stumbled back to the river she felt a little impressed––he should have drank the water first instead of giving it to her.

Maybe he really is just a nice man, Emery thought as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

Looking wide-awake, Callen moved away from her, slapping himself with his hands and shedding more of the fairy dust.

“Don’t breathe that stuff in again.” She glanced down at her clothes, but none of the dust had gotten on them. “How did you know what to do?”

“Anyone who works MacRoss woods kens the dangers of hallows, and how to break such spells,” he told her, and pulled off his leine to shake it out. “’Tis why I told you stay clear of the oak groves.”

The sight of his muscular chest made her avert her gaze. “I thought this was your first time working here.”

“The other cutters warned me.” He came and crouched down beside her. “I could kiss you for helping me escape the thing.”

Her heart sank as she saw his expression. Crap. He’s not that nice.

“You’re not kissing me for any reason,” she said as sternly as she could manage. “I’m not here to dally with you or whatever you’re thinking.”

“You’ll like dallying with me,” Callen said, his voice dropping low as he skimmed his damp fingertips along her cheek.

Emery pushed his hand away. “Honestly, I don’t like you at all right now. Did you plan the whole thing? Did you fall in that hallow on purpose so you could get me alone like this?”

He looked indignant now. “I wouldnae do such.”

“That’s not what it looks like to me, what with the hints about kissing and dallying you’ve been dropping. Anyway.” She got to her feet. “I need to return to the castle before they send out a search party for me. You should fill your bucket and go back to work.” She looked around them. “Where is your bucket?”