Moonbound: The Rejected Healer

n with

fine dust that drifted through the valleys during high winds. The young scout coughed once,

e scratchy but amused. "Or maybe

ra knew

ushstroke out of place. The boy's skin was pale, not in the usual sense, but almost translucent under the glow, as if the light passed through him instead of touching him. His eyes, once full of

diagnostic magic. Her fingers pulsed with faint golden light, spr

. No infections are hiding

ing. Like a lante

near the northern border?" sh

liffs. Didn't see much. A few deer. A weird owl. You know

go al

ere with me. They

But behind his eyes, something flickered. A shadow. Not

nic and instructions for rest

aler who had taken her in weeks ago, a woman with moss-col

energy," Elara murmured. "It

ar. "Three like him in the last week," she said w

nd no one thought

readable. "Because there's no pattern. No vis

ade," Elara sai

wl until the end. But this..." Ysolde

s together. "We shoul

s barely recovered from the last winter famine. They won'

idn't sleep

ss. For the first time since she'd come into her power, her magic didn't have an answer. It could seal wounds. Re

cient, pages soft as breath, ink faded to rust. They whispered of blood curses, plague-bo

assage stop

the shadow between heartbeats. The sickness that

ood we

ng, wooden swords cracking, laughter, grunts of exertion. Elara was

d the yard, Renna was

hm, mouth open in a silent cry. Dust clung to her t

seconds, pressing her palms to the girl's temples. She

med int

o

night. This was spiritual. Deep. A creeping void pulsing from Renna's v

er palms. Her magic glowed stronger, trying to cou

dropping to a crouch. Her

he demanded. "W

brow. "This isn't an infection. It's not an injury.

iso

N

ur

to a whisper. "Maybe. But if it is,

her fists. "H

her gaze.

urvived

e's watch, her breathing shallow but steady, he

notice the tea someone left for her. All she could see was the

She brought more candles this time. More books. S

n, conf

ly a century old. Hidden bet

r

that eats. We lost twelve before we understood, dark magic, woven

hands

no simple

s cra

built i

claws or arrows. A

n the candlelight

oy. Bryn. Ho

ainst her wrist, seeking t

, not for th

was only th