Chapter 12 - A Reluctant Trainer

As Lilith had predicted, my recovery took a further fortnight before I could move freely. Up until then, every inch of my skin sore and stretched to its limits, even the smallest movement felt like torture. It was slow process. Lilith changed my wrappings and applied her healing salve twice a day. Each time the swirling marks came into view I looked down at myself in wonder. They were slowly starting to heal.

When I could finally lift myself from the bed without Lilith’s help, I found my way to the gardens. Still too weak to wonder far, but I needed fresh air. Autumn had definitely set in now, the garden was bare bar a few rows of root vegetables in the vegetable patch. There were a few stray rose flowers still in bloom, the last shows of summer before the winter set in.

The trees surround the cottage had started their transition from green to a whole palette of browns, auburns, yellows and reds. It was beautiful. Leaves floated down from the canopy above settling on