Free Grogoch [Bedtime Stories 2] by Joyee Flynn Page B

your appearance to me is constant.”
“Actually this is my true form now,” I admitted with a smile. “That hardship was broken when I fell in love and committed myself to one wonderful man.”
“I’m happy for you. Finding your true love is the most wonderful thing in the world.” He said it with such sadness that I knew his heart was breaking. “But watching it fade before your eyes makes you wonder if the joy you had was worth the pain you feel now.”
“Tell me,” I whispered as I took his hands in mine. “I know that that’s the grief talking because you love the queen. What has happened since the last time I’ve visited?”
“She’s dying, Cuidi,” he explained as he led me out of the throne room. His long legs ate up the distance faster than I could walk and I ran alongside him, thinking it would be bad manners to ask him to slow down. “I need your help.”
“I can’t reverse illnesses or save someone from death, your highness,” I reminded him. We’d had this conversation when his parents had died. “I can’t bring anyone back from the dead, or anything along those lines.”
“I know but the healer said you can help.” I was doubtful of that but I was willing to humor him given his despair. I’d listen to any halfcocked idea if that’s what he needed. He dragged me up the stairs and to the royal suites. My chest hurt when I got a glimpse of the queen. She looked and even smelled of death.
“I can’t fix this,” I said gently as the king let me go. “I am sorry, but this is beyond me.”
“But it’s not,” the royal healer replied with a smile. I didn’t know the man’s name but I’d seen him before and knew the royal family trusted him. I waited for him to explain. “Whoever poisoned the queen destroyed the herbs I had that would cure the ailment. But I was able to salvage a few seeds. We need your magic to instantly grow them so I can give her the cure.”
“Oh, sure, I can do that!” Yeah! The queen wouldn’t die after all. The man quickly handed me the seeds and pot of dirt. I hurriedly planted them and focused on their growth, digging deep inside for the strongest magic I had. There wasn’t a moment to waste. When the sprouts appeared I looked to the healer. “I need to water them and how big do you need them?”
“About four times that size at least,” he answered as he poured water on the dirt. I nodded and went back to work. I went a little overboard, thinking that there couldn’t be too much of the herb when we needed it. The healer looked pleased and immediately started brewing up some tea that would heal the queen. As we waited I sat on the side of her bed.
“This will be over soon,” I said gently as I took her hand in mine. She nodded and drank what the healer offered her from his hot tea. I saw relief in both their faces the moment she was done as if knowing the worst was now over. “You’ll be just fine tomorrow.”
“I knew you’d make it in time. Thank you for always being a loyal friend, Cuidi.” She gave me a tired grin. The king and the healer were talking in hushed tones. I wasn’t sure about that but I never was selfimportant enough to think I should be privy to personal issues. “I hate to ask for more from you but I must.”
“Anything I can give you I will, you know that,” I said fondly. I wasn’t a lover of women but the queen had a special place in my heart like a little sister.
“This was deliberate, Cuidi. I did not accidently ingest this poison.”
“I know. I was told you were poisoned and the remedy—” And just like that the hint she was giving me filled my head. The threat was still out there and it probably wasn’t simply the queen whoever the criminal wanted dead. “I will do everything in my power to figure this out.” My tone changed to that of an oath and she nodded.
“Thank you. My husband was grieving so much for me that I was scared they’d get the children while we were distracted.”
“Healer, come here,”