“His situation is dire.” She opened her satchel and pressed coarse, ragged dressings into my hands. “Keep it covered and make haste.”
“If we race forward, it may rip his wound open further.” Fyn yanked at the stray hairs that fell around his face.
“It will.” She sighed. “But if you don’t, he will not make it through the night.”
Her words left me empty. My hope had been frail—what little remained was ripped away.
Fyn’s eyes set upon mine—a silent pact passed between us. We would do whatever we could to get him there. I nodded.
“Thank you. We will send supplies your way as soon as we are able. The prince will not forget your kindness,” Fyn said.
The healer placed her hand over Lioran. A flicker of white light flowed from her fingertips over the wound. The bleeding slowed. She fell back.
“I’m too weak to do anything further.”
Lioran fell as Fyn tried to bring him to his feet again. He swung Lioran’s arm around his neck.
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold him on the horse.” I instantly regretted my words. It seemed so selfish to even think on my pain considering his.
“You’ve done more than enough. I’ll take him on my horse,” Fyn replied. “You’ll ride Veylar back to the Heart.”
I didn’t know how to command Veylar. With gritted teeth, I used the last of my strength to hoist myself up onto the saddle. “Guess it’s just you and me,” I whispered to the stallion. “Let’s get him home.”
He resisted me when Lioran was wounded and bleeding. He could have resisted me still, but he gently swayed with my touch.
Lioran’s eyes half opened. His focus sharpened as he looked at me. I wasn’t even sure if he saw me, or if he heard our words at all.
“Fy…Fyn.” Lioran’s words were low and broken.
“Save your energy,” Fyn warned as he pulled Lioran up into the saddle of his horse.
“Take…care…of… Ae…Aelira,” Lioran groaned.
My heart caught in my throat.
“I know the plan. It will be done. Now please stop talking,” Fyn scolded as his muscles clenched.
Lioran’s gaze met mine for a fleeting moment before his eyes closed again.
Time wasn’t on our side.
If we weren’t fast enough, we’d lose him.
Chapter 11
Gold and pink hues skimmed the horizon. Lush green filled the path once more, like we had exited one room and entered another. The warm wind thrashed against my body, keeping me alert.
Veylar darted forward. Our pace was dangerous. Lioran’s body slumped against Fyn. For hours he moaned and shifted in the saddle, but in the last hour, it all stopped.
The once even beat of Veylar’s hooves floundered. His ears drooped, but he pressed on as if the bond between them were deeper than my command.
“Follow the river to the right!” Fyn hollered. “We’re almost there.”
As we rounded the corner, racing alongside the river, an enormous stone castle glimmered in the last flicker of sunlight. Massive trees arched over the castle and entwined themselves through a city built upon the forest.
Fyn let out a startled groan, tugging me back into the moment.
“Veylar will take you the rest of the way!” Fyn yelled.
