Chapter Thirty-One
Beyond Repair
Paloda sat in her bed, propped up by pillows. Several layers of blankets lay like weights over her lower body. A fire crackled in the fireplace beside her, filling the room with stifling heat. Still, she found herself shivering.
A pot of herbs hung over the flames. The air was thick with their pungent odor. She did her best to breathe deeply, but her body seemed to betray her. No matter how hard she tried, her breathing remained short and shallow.
A bead of sweat slid down her cheek, landing on her chapped lips. She licked the salt away without noticing. Her gaze was fixed on the needlework in her trembling hands. She winced as she accidentally jabbed her finger with the needle. A bead of blood formed slowly against her skin. She reached for a nearby ha
