Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

Magda eased herself down by the fire as Anna watched the old woman’s every move. John’s healer and friend looked like she stepped out of a fairy tale. She was a healer—some would say witch, others demon. The woman was skilled in herbs and he had no fear of her.

“It will take more than those men to kill me.” She wiped her eyes. “We lost so many. All those too sick to travel. I could not save them. I should have listened to you and moved them sooner.”

He laid a hand on her arm, the skin soft as velvet and wrinkled with age.

“You were right not to move them, you cannot have known we would be betrayed. ’Twas Archie.”

“He will get what he deserves in the next life. ’Tis said you took him down with one strike of your blade.”

“Denby’s blade. I thought it fitting. I will kill Denby and every man who was there. I will track down and find them all.”

“After you are safe.” She patted his knee. “Forty are safe and in hiding.” Magda paused, making John wonder what was coming next .

“The ones who survived. They all know who you are. That you are one of the Thornton brothers.”

“Do they despise me?”

“Why would you say such a thing?”

“Why? A noble who pretends to be like them, who kills, ransoms, and steals from other nobles? They must think me a hypocrite.”

“They love you more. That you would give up your birthright to live among them. They consider you one of them.”

John ran his hands through his hair. The feelings within made it hard to speak. He pretended to wipe dust from his hose to give himself a moment to trust his voice would not waver.

“Wearing the mask let me be another person. The bandit of the wood. Now…I am simply John Thornton. A man with no title. My presence puts those around me in grave danger. I no longer have anything to offer.”

Anna and Magda protested at the same time.

John held up a hand. “Let me wallow for a while.”

“There is no need,” Anna said. “You are a good person. I can think of so many people who would not have done anything to help those less fortunate. People who walk by and pretend not to see what is right in front of them. I am proud of you.” Anna leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

He pulled her into his lap, twining her hair through his fingers. He never tired of looking at the colors, feeling the silkiness against his skin. John needed to see his people with his own eyes to know they were unharmed. Needed to hear each one say they wanted him by their side. If they would accept, he would bring each one to Blackmoor to rebuild their lives.

“Where are they?”

Magda looked to Anna, who met her gaze without flinching.

“I trust her with my life.”

The old woman nodded. “We are in hiding near the border. ”

“Nay, Magda. ’Tis too close to the fighting. Send them to Edward. He will take them in.”

She scowled. “You cannot. You have been gone, not wishing to hear of your brothers. I respected your wishes. But you do not understand. Your brother will take Denby’s place as advisor to the king. He cannot harbor outlaws even if one of them is his brother.”

“How do you know this?”

“You ask me this after all our years together?” She turned her palms up, looking at the lines. “I know. Heed my words, John Thornton. Your brother will become even more important than he is now.”

He blew out a breath. “Then send them to Blackmoor. Unless you have foreseen my death and the destruction of my home?”

She squinted at him, a crafty look in her eye as she took his and Anna’s hand in hers.

“You will be a great leader to your people. They will make a life at Blackmoor.” Magda turned her gaze to Anna. “You have lost much, child. You are young. The child should not be the parent.”

The old woman stared into the fire. John saw the questions on Anna’s face as she watched every move Magda made.

The healer came back to herself. “The choices you both make will determine your destiny.” She pressed her palm to his cheek. “Blackmoor will stand with you as its lord.”

“Will you come? Live at Blackmoor and be its healer?”

“Aye. I’m getting too old to sleep in the woods.”

They continued to talk, Anna sitting there quietly, listening. When John looked over later, she had fallen asleep. Magda caught his look.

“She is not of our world.”

“Nay. She is from the future. I believe her. The tales she has told me.”

“There is someone waiting who she cares for a great deal. A man she yearns to go home to. The only reason she wishes to leave you. ”

“Her father. He is very ill, and without her wages, he will be homeless.” John wasn’t sure he wanted to know: “Can she go back?”

“Who knows what the fates decide? You love her.” Sharp, piercing eyes looked into his heart. “She is the first woman you have ever truly loved.”

John gave her a sharp look.

“She sleeps. Do not worry; she does not hear us.”

“I do love her. More than my own life. But I cannot tell her. She must make her own decision to go back or to stay. If she could go back and did not because of me, she would grow to hate me later.”

Magda patted his face as if he were a small child.

“You are a good man. And you are well matched for each other.”

Magda rolled up in her cloak and went to sleep. John didn’t know how long he stayed up staring into the fire. When he woke in the morning, she was gone.

Anna rolled over, stretching. When she sat up and looked around, she said, “Where is she?”

“She’ll go to the others. And a few at a time will make their way to Blackmoor.”

“Will they be in danger?”

“They are used to being unseen.”

“I can relate.”