Bound In Darkness
As if she was slowly remembering that the world contained things beyond pain and rejection.
Rowan brought me a cup of tea on the afternoon of the second day. The steam rising from it smelled like herbs and honey, and something else I couldn't quite identify. Something that made my senses sharpen slightly.
"Willow bark," Rowan said, settling onto his stool. "For the pain. Also helps with the inflammation. It won't taste particularly pleasant, but it will help you sleep."
I accepted the cup, and he was right—it tasted bitter beneath the honey, but the warmth was comforting. I drank it slowly, and within an hour, I felt the edges of consciousness beginning to blur. The pain in my ribs faded int