Queen of Lost Stars (Dragonblade Series/House of St. Hever) by Kathryn Le Veque

finished, the old man came to him with a small cup and handed it to him.
    “Drink this,” he told him.
    Kaspian did but the moment it passed over his tongue, he choked and sputtered. He handed the cup back to the old man, a disgusted expression on his face.
    “What in the hell is that?” he demanded.
    Dolwyd took the cup and set it down on the table, his manner casual. “Rotten tea,” he said. “I have been giving it to you since you were injured. It is what has cured you. Now I give it to you as a precaution since you are determined to go riding out to save a foolish lady.”
    Kaspian made a face as Thomas pulled a pair of boots out from the wardrobe and indicated for Kaspian to sit. “I think I recall that taste,” he said, lowering his body onto a stool next to the table and perching on the edge of it gingerly. “What a cruel man you are to force such poison down my throat when I cannot fight back.”
    It was unexpected humor, mostly to ease Dolwyd’s frustration, and it worked. At least marginally. The old man smiled, briefly, but it quickly vanished. He finished packing up his satchel and tied it closed.
    “I am going to fetch my steed,” he said. “I will leave you with Thomas and meet you down in the ward.”
    Kaspian watched the old physic shuffle out as Thomas helped him pull on his boots. Kaspian grunted in pain, more than once, but the pain was secondary to the thoughts rolling through his head, thoughts on Dolwyd and Madelayne. He didn’t exactly feel up to this duty, but he wasn’t going to let injury and weakness stop him. Secretly, he was glad the physic was coming along in case he needed the old man and his talents. He’d always respected Dolwyd for his knowledge but now he was coming to appreciate him just a little more. Something about this injury was making him come to appreciate everyone just a little more, including Thomas, who had helped him dress. It was a kind gesture from the loyal knight.
    “Dolwyd never left your side,” Thomas said as he finished with the ties on the boot, securing them because Kaspian couldn’t bend over. “He slept on the floor next to you the entire time. I am sure he is quite insulted that you are determined to go after Lady l’Ebreux and not heed his advice.”
    Kaspian sighed faintly. “I must go after her because she kept me alive,” he said quietly, glancing at Thomas and seeing the man’s odd expression. “Aye, I know what she did for me. I woke up and the woman was lying next to me. And I recall the times she fed me, although I thought I was dreaming them until Dolwyd told me otherwise. I would be far less of a man if I allowed her to run away and suffer danger without trying to bring her back. I owe her a great deal.”
    Thomas came to understand all of Kaspian’s motivation in that softly uttered statement. “I see,” he said, standing up and reaching out a hand to help pull Kaspian to his feet. “So you feel obligation to her, then.”
    Kaspian nodded, grunting at the pain in his groin when he stood on his feet. “Obligation and gratitude,” he said. “Moreover, she was Cairn’s wife. I already allowed harm to befall him. I cannot let it befall her.”
    So he felt some guilt for Cairn’s death. It was natural, Thomas supposed, but he said nothing more about it. Time was of the essence and they needed to be on their way. Slowly, he led the man from the chamber and preceded him down the narrow stairs, moving slowly and making sure Kaspian was able to keep his balance, before making their way out into the bailey of Lavister.
    The men were already gathered near the gatehouse, a party of twenty men, along with Ewan. Reece had been commanded to remain behind on guard. The mood around Lavister had been gloomy since the return from Beeston, gloom and doom because of the condition of Kaspian, but once the men saw him emerge from the keep, it was, to many, as if watching Lazarus emerge from the tomb. Everyone was watching, marveling at the