***
After eating the supper Glynis brought her, Neste wondered if she could walk all the way to the fountain to meet Elen. Her friend most likely hadn’t been there last night after the accident, but maybe she’d attempt to meet Neste tonight. Neste waited until Glynis was busy cleaning up after supper in the kitchen. Slowly, with a great deal of pain, she worked her body off the bed and stood, leaning heavily on the crutch.
As she moved down the hallway with a great deal of scraping and thumping, Neste hoped her mother was asleep. Panting with exertion, she crossed the great room and struggled with the heavy oak door. Sweat dripped into her eyes and slicked her hands, making it difficult to hold the crutch. When she reached the broken front gate, Neste admitted defeat.
She slumped against the gate post and whacked the gate with her crutch. Something fell off the gate. Curious, Neste crouched on her good leg and picked it up. A white garlic flower. Elen had been there. Neste smiled and held the stem in her good hand as she struggled back into the house.
Elen the dreamer didn’t really care about her earth skills. Neste knew her friend cared for the plant because it was important to Neste. For the same reason, Elen had placed the flower on the gate when Neste didn’t make it to the fountain. She slipped the flower into the tankard in her room and fell into bed.
Wings Over Tremeirchson Page 15