Victor shook his head and smirked. After that incident, he never complained about me being part of the group.
Finally one of the clan healers came over to check on Victor, and there was nothing encouraging he could tell me. Innes was a thin man in his late sixties. Healer was his unofficial position, but he spent most of his time tending to his herb store. But, dragonborns rarely needed any medicinal help, our bodies could heal on their own. I chewed on my lip, watching him examining Victor whose skin was wet and waxy.
“Well?” I asked.
“I say . . . this is really unfortunate.”
“Is there any hope?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“So young.”
“Come on. There must be something we can do.”
“If we only had some sacred water. The clan warriors went to the temples, but it will take three–four days for them to come back if everything goes smoothly, and they take no breaks.”
“You can’t fly for four days without taking any breaks.”
“I’m sorry. I remember all of you running around as kids. Such a shame,” he sighed and took off his glasses.
Tears streamed down my face and the old man only watched me with a sympathetic smile.
“It’s hard to lose someone you love. I know. I lost my wife two years ago.”
“No.”
“What are you saying, young lady?”
“He can’t die.”
“Well, we all die. We must.”
“No.”
The healer shook his head and walked toward the door.
“Keep talking to him. I’m sure he wants to hear your voice,” he added before disappearing into the dimly lit corridor.
I shifted my gaze to Victor.
Hour after hour, I kept watching over Victor and things did not seem that encouraging. Then finally, the fever subsided, but he remained unconscious. He did not react to anything, no matter how much I tried to wake him up. I looked up at the window, the storm quieted and only a light rain still lingered.
There was no way I could just keep sitting here, waiting and doing nothing. I tugged on my hair, too focused on the darkest thoughts that filled my mind.
There’s no way I can just let you die.
Finally, one insane thought released all the tension. I got to my feet, checking on Victor. His face was ashen with dark under eye circles, pale lips, and hair wet with sweat.
“Don’t you fucking dare. Don’t even think about dying!” I whispered before darting to the door and pushed it open.
The castle was eerily quiet, and I thought about how many times I walked along these walls with different feelings, happy, sad, thoughtful, but never in such a state of complete, overwhelming hopelessness.
I found the door where Alina was staying with Tynan and, without further delay, knocked.
Just a moment later, Alina appeared behind the door. She was still in her flying suit. Her hair hung lifelessly on the sides of her face. She looked tired and agitated at the same time.
“How’s Tynan?” I tried to keep my voice down.
“He’s better. Sleeping. How’s Victor? Did you get any temple water?” Alina asked.
