R A I D E N
Pain shot through my chest like fire racing through ice, sharp and unrelenting. I sucked in a ragged breath and opened my eyes.
At first, everything was blur, colors bleeding into one another, shadows twisting and melting at the edges of my vision. My head throbbed violently, and the taste of iron stung my tongue. Then the scents hit me: herbs, smoke, something pungent and medicinal. My eyes focused, slowly, painfully, and I realized where I was.
My room.
The Seer and two healers were bent over a table, hands moving quickly, mixing some thick, dark potion. Steam curled upward from bowls and vials, carrying the sharp, bitter smell of crushed herbs. My memory slammed into me like a fist: I had blacked out.
I pushed myself upright without hesitation, ignoring the scream of pr
