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The glow dimmed as their power faded away. Savida squealed, unable to contain his excitement, and bounced around. We laughed, half relief, half amusement until we looked at the patient.
I gasped and stepped back.
His white, thinning hair turned into a lock of blond. His skin looked plumper. Scars and wrinkles were faded, and even his body was more muscular rather than the skin and bone he was before.
“What have you done?” Daithi exclaimed.
We had more than healed him. We had turned back time itself.
We stared at the protector in silence, waiting to see if he would awake after our healing had given him back years of his life. But he didn’t move. His chest rose and fell evenly, and I saw the green threads humming with health. But he didn’t wake.
“Perhaps we should leave him to rest longer,” Alcor suggested in a whisper, and I nodded. We moved quietly back down to the meeting room.
Laurence was awaiting news and looked up from his phone as we walked in. “How is he?” His expression wasn't hopeful but resigned, expecting the worst.
“He is … stable. He should be awake soon.” Alcor seemed the most confident in our healing, whereas Savida looked confused, and I felt shaken.
“You did it? He’ll live?” He stood up from his chair, making it screech against the wooden floor, his mouth agape.
Alcor nodded calmly. “I believe so.”
“We have vastly underestimated the power otherworlders have,” Laurence said simply and offered us his hand to shake. “Thank you. The council will want to thank you too when they come back.”
Alcor held up a hand and, with a grimace, told him, "He is not fully recovered yet, and we don't know if he will relapse."
The grin didn't slip from Laurence’s face as he shrugged and said, "Either way, I appreciate what you've done despite how you’ve been treated.” His eyes flicked to the clock. “The task team leaders should be arriving soon. They are setting up base here until we can find a more secure location.”
“The task team leaders?” I asked.
Laurence nodded and picked his phone up from the table. “They are the ones with agents from each team on reconnaissance missions to look for the dragon.”
“I’m glad they’re moving so quickly on this,” I remarked, appreciating that other councils would have debated this for weeks before taking action.
The sooner we can get rid of this dragon, the sooner I can get to Thos and the girls.
“Do you want tea or anything while we wait?” He moved past us toward the door.
“None of us ate our morning meal, so we would appreciate sustenance,” Savida said cheerfully.
Laurence’s eyes widened slightly, “I think breakfast is still being served downstairs. I’ll show you, and we can bring some stuff up for everyone.” He walked toward the door, Savida trailing after him, asking about the food options.
I settled into a chair, tired and drained after pouring power into the protector, and allowed myself time to calm my thoughts.
Closing my eyes, I sent a prayer to my gods for the safe return of Clawdia and Charlie. I also hoped Baelen was safe with his army and that the shadows who attacked him were dead. The thought of anything bad happening to them gutted me.
A knock sounded at the door, and my eyes popped open. Alcor was seated quietly next to me, and Daithi was leaning against the opposite wall, but none of us moved to answer the door.
From outside the room, I heard Laurence greet his guests. “Come in, come in.” Footsteps sounded in the hall. “The council hasn't arrived yet, but we have other guests who have healed the protector.”
“Must be the task team leaders,” I muttered to Alcor, and he nodded, his blue ringlets bouncing with the movement. And then they froze as he stiffened as the group entered the room.
Two large males walked in, one with dark hair and silver streaks styled to perfection and the other with muddy brown hair that was just as messy. I couldn’t tell from a glance what kind of otherworlder they were descendants of, but I assumed we’d learn that upon introduction.
Three females followed behind them—a pale-skinned and lithe akari, who was flashing her fangs as she yawned; a purple-haired, curvy woman; and a dark-skinned brunette. I couldn’t identify their heritage either.
I couldn’t see anything that would make Alcor freeze, and so I whispered, “Do you know them?”
He gave a short sharp nod and his fingers tapped anxiously at the table. “The girl with the purple hair is Arabella.”
