Chapter 38: Thessi’s Mate Gamble
Garnet POV
The first thing to do was create a space for healing to begin. Garnet and Jiro all felt it. Garnet and Thessi had a lively chat about how to restore Casuhill to full health.
Garnet asked, “Is it possible that his tree has been affected by whatever the poison is? You said it was the essence of stinkweed, yes?”
“It looks vibrantly healthy,” Thessi said. “But of course, it would help if we could get near it to actually take some samples and test them.”
Dirge and Jiro prowled around, both scanning the ground for fallen leaves or fragments of bark they could use. Even collecting those might cause Casuhill to trap them like insects between panes of glass. They combed the area in their desperate search, avoiding the thorns, while Thessi caught on and winked at Tulaska and Roslynn, who circled Casuhill while shaking their medicine rattles in a slow, steady rhythm that mesmerized the guardian.
Calyx peppered Casuhill with questions. “How long have you been a guardian?”