*Erik*
Mani wakes, and I quickly lift her to keep her quiet. I take her to a woman in the village and ask her to care for her this morning. I’m in no physical state to do it myself, and I refuse to wake my wife. Anders was right. Her back was injured badly.
Ellie mixed something up for him to put on it, so I can only assume it was the right thing to help her heal. She would know better than anyone else in the village. As I peeked under the bandages, I could see just how deep some of the cuts were. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve any of it.
Her eyes flutter open, the beautiful blue finally peeking through. But when they land on me, they’re suddenly filled with fear.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her gently, trying to take her hand in mine, but she pulls it back quickly. “I
