The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“But the child, Your Highness. Her injuries are
significant, and her vitals are not conducive to life. Even if
your wife can ease pain and heal bones with her touch,” the
Healer said, his rejection of such an ability clear. “The child’s
injuries are far beyond that.”
“We shall see,” Casteel answered.
I inhaled sharply as we walked through the gate. There
were so many people huddled together in the small garden.
My throat dried as I struggled to make sense of what I felt
from them. I…I tasted bitter panic and fear. It soaked the air,
but what raised the hairs on my arms was the intense,
scalding pain coming through my senses, painting the blue
sky a maroon, and darkening the ground, tainting the
flowers so lovingly cared for. It fell in endless waves of acute
agony, like dull razor blades scraping against my skin.
A pale-skinned man turned as he dragged his hands
over his head, tugging at wheat-colored strands. Shock and
the bitterness of horror punched through the choking pain.
His panic was so potent that it was a tangible entity as he
stared at Casteel.
“I didn’t see her, Your Highness,” the man cried, looking
over his shoulder. “I didn’t even see her. Gods, I’m sorry.”
He staggered around and then toward the group. “I’m so
sorry.”
Casteel spoke softly to the man as Delano moved
ahead, shouldering through the crowd. I heard the sound of
gulping cries, the kind of sobs that stole the breath, and
most of the sound.
“I brought help,” I heard the father say. “Do you hear
me, Marji? I brought someone who is going to try to help
you…”
My stomach lurched as I saw the limp body—a too-small
form clutched to the chest of a woman on her knees, who
shared the same auburn hair. The father crouched at the
child’s head. It was the woman making those ragged,