There was a basement door at the end of the hallway, and it stood open. The noises came from down there. I lost all memory of going down the steps, but the next thing I knew, I was down there.
Zeddira was on a table. There were medical supplies in here. In fact, it looked a lot like a treatment room, complete with excellent lighting. The blood stood out, bright red in the harsh illumination. When Fellisse cut away Zeddira’s clothes, I saw the gash in his abdomen, deep and oozing. He was so pale, his breathing so shallow.
Over the frantic movement of the guys, I caught Vergis’s eye, and something passed between us. I could tell he knew, had seen with the uncanny death gaze the Lady had given him that Zeddiara wouldn’t survive this.
Are you there? I need you.
I am always here, Rory. The land never moves, even if the people do.
Help him. Please. Like you helped Nokim.
That one is your knight. This man is not your knight. He might take the gift of life and squander it. Or worse, he might take it and use it to harm you.
The scenery shifted rapidly, and I was back in the foggy landscape. It was the scene I’d witnessed already, the two girls running, the men on horses after them.
No! I pushed the vision away, and the basement was back. He’ll… He totally sakkired men like that. You must’ve noticed. Plus, he’s Ink’s brother. Help him!
The presence seemed to consider that. I felt it examine Zeddira idly, almost like you might examine an apple you were considering buying to see if it had brown spots; or worse, a worm living inside.
I will not heal him fully like I would your knights. That would put more strain on you since it is much harder to do with someone who is not your knight. If he is kept here on Earth, I will help his injuries mend.
Fine. Please help him now?
Even as I thought it, I felt the flow of power go through me. It was far more than it took to boil some water or freeze it, far more than it took to slip through the veils around the homestead with Vergis. This one I felt. It was like hyperventilating or almost passing out after you’d run for your life with a monster at your heels.
Vergis’s eyes widened, and then he looked at me. “You did that,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I totally had, but I needed some time out. My knees gave way, and I sat on the ground. I’d have fainted if I hadn’t.
Vergis stepped forward to the table, looking at Zeddira’s still-pale face. Fellisse was giving orders in Lugarra as he worked on his patient, and Nokim and Inkiri were assisting him.
“Sadir. Sadir!”
I looked at Inkiri dazedly. “Huh?”
“I said, are you well?”
I nodded. “I just need a moment. He’ll heal better if we don’t move him back to Aër.”
“You did that?” Fellisse asked. I couldn’t look at what he was doing. There was too much blood involved, and watching any doctor or surgeon work on piecing a person back together felt too much like a mechanic popping a car’s hood and digging around in there with grease up to their elbows. I couldn’t handle it, not if I wanted to keep the pretzels down.
“I tried. Sorry. Couldn’t do more.”
Vergis spoke to Zeddira in rapid Lugarra. Zeddira only had the strength to mumble back.
I heard footsteps on the stairs and managed to turn, though there was a pinch in my temples like a low-grade migraine.
Charles’s face was like a mask. “What’s happening?”
Vergis was already running toward the stairs, then taking them two at a time. He rushed past Charles, but slowed to glance back at him.
“They took Dad. The Koa Esher took Dad.”
Inkiri growled. “Vergis, wait!” He said something in Lugarra, and Fellisse nodded, then Inkiri dashed after Vergis.
I knew what Vergis was going to do. I knew he was going to hop to where Zeddira had been, and when he got where he was going, he would do something stupid. Everything would go even more wrong if Vergis did something stupid.
I was not a runner, and sports weren’t my thing, but I begged the presence to give me running legs, just for a minute or so.
