"What is she doing? Is she okay??" Aodh asks quickly, his scolding forgotten as he hurries to Ljuba's side.
"She's fine," I sigh as I release the spell holding her wrists. "The tea I gave her has made her throat sore. The cough will subside in time."
Reaching to squeeze Winifred's knee, both to her get attention and to offer some comfort after Aodh's outburst, I gesture for the bag of hetbs for the next tea I need to prepare. As I set to work on that, I make a point to turn so Winifred can't see my lips moving.
"Aodhagen, is it?" I ask before the boy nods and then confirms with a yes. "If you ever talk to Winifred like that again, I'll break your legs." I smile slightly as I tilt my head toward him. "Do we understand one another?"
"Yes," he responds again after a moment, his tone surprisingly lacking in any emotional response. I falter at that, immediately blaming my blindness on his lack of concern.
"Or, if you don't value your legs, perhaps I'll simply forget which herbs it is your 'sister' needs to get better," I shrug as I return to my work. "Or maybe I'll accidentally grab the wrong ones. I am blind, after all."
"I'm sorry," he forces out before his tone levels out as he frowns up at Winifred, his voice turning a little more sincere. "For snapping at you. I can get a little defensive when it comes to Lju."