She smiled and nodded before escorting him to the door. As she watched the little warlock boy return to the castle, she said, “Unfortunately, child, I am sure we will.”
♘— It was hardly a week before the wall broke again. Leo was grooming and readying a horse for Sir Bayard’s hunt when the same hot, violent pain exploded in his belly. He yelped and collapsed, wrapping himself in a fetal position as he trembled. This time it was even more violent and sudden, but since his body already began to adapt to it last week, it went straight to work preparing the young boy to be able to withstand this energy.
Bayard came into the stables chuckling a goodbye to his comrade when he turned and saw the state of his squire. “Leonard!” he called out as he sprinted to the child. Crouching before him, he pressed a hand to the boy’s forehead and quickly retracted it away. “Guardians–you’re on fire. Oy! Someone ready a wagon!”
Within the hour, they were knocking on Healer Claire’s door, an unconscious Leo held tightly by one of Bayard’s guards. The knight was front and center, hand resting on the sword at his waist.
