Free Flame Thrower by Alice Wade

emotionally in order to move past it and you will have to help her, my king. You will have to be the one to guide her through the pain, so please tread carefully. She is very vulnerable at the moment.”
    “What is it going to take, Edda? Do I need to do anything now?” Ryan’s tone changed from calculated to empathetic the moment Edda called him to action. Ryan now had something to do and he was ready to fulfill that demand.
    “Just watch over her. Stay near and it will mentally ease her mind.” Edda moved as if she was going to walk down the steps, but paused. “One last thing. If I might add, you seem to be very attached to her as well, Sir. Don’t do anything rash because of it. Be careful to make decisions based on logic, not emotion. I can see your love brewing and love makes us do stupid things.”
    Wallace snorted and then barked a laugh that he could no longer contain. “You are wise, Edda!” Wallace choked out. “I just gave him that same lecture! You should come to the palace and counsel him at my side!”
    Edda’s face contorted in revulsion. “No, thank you, Captain. I’m more suited for country bumpkins than I am for your court environment. If you ever find you need help getting through his stubborn head, I’m just a message away,” she jested. Next she pinned Ryan with her motherly eyes. “If you need me, send for me, Sir. I’ll come. I don’t think you’ll need me though,” and she winked. “Love has a way of healing all things, so just let it develop.”
    Ryan groaned and used his strong hands to cover his face in mock annoyance. “Argh, this is not love at first sight! Will both of you stop with this nonsense?”
    Edda laughed and winked at Wallace. “Whatever you say, Sir.”
    “You two seem to be filled with the same wisdom at the moment, so I think we are finished with this conversation?” He looked between the two with an aggrieved expression. “Since I’ve now received this same advice twice?” he added.
    When Edda nodded, Ryan approached and touched her shoulder. “Thank you for coming here. I was afraid to use my own healing skills and push Tillian too far with her prejudice of magic, not knowing where she was from. My fears were confirmed when I learned she was from Folkyn. Your more subtle healer skills are what she needed, not more terror. I’ll see what I can do once she is asleep and, therefore, won’t feel or see the healing.” He sighed, because he dreaded what he’d find broken and how was he going to deal with the searing anger as a result.
    Edda searched his face and smiled a sad smile. “It’s not as bad as you think my liege. She is stronger than she appears.”
    Hearing that didn’t stop his imagination from running wild and Ryan returned her kindness with a half smile of his own. “You were compensated?” He looked at Wallace who nodded. “Excellent. I’ll have a guard escort you and Girdie back to the village now.” While he spoke he signaled a younger guard who approached the small cabin.
    “Bennett here will take you home.” Ryan didn’t even wait to hear whether the healers said good-night or not, for he already moved towards the front door. By the time they could draw a breath, he was inside and had the door firmly shut behind him.

Chapter Two

    Ryan leaned against the door and slowly surveyed the darkened room. Tillian barely registered his arrival, being half asleep and burrowed beneath the covers. He could clearly see her pleasure at sleeping in a warm safe place and tried to envision what she’d been sleeping on if something so basic gave her this much joy.
    The light in the room faded because the fire had died down. Ryan moved there, and fed it some logs before he determined what he was going to do. The creaky floor boards announced his presence, forcing his steps to be softer. His intention wasn’t to stomp around waking her up, so he slowed down and silently squatted before the fire. He needed her to be fully asleep before he