Page 25 of Father of the Wolf

“Now, Dàn.”

Before the thought faded, Dàn’s body arched in a massive seizure. His heart began to pump, and blood flowed from his wounds, flooding from his throat.

The blood gradually slowed. Rath figured both Sgrios and Dàn himself were working hard to save his life. Sgrios worked to heal the fatal slash to his throat. Dàn was probably slowing his breathing and heart rate to give Sgrios time to work.

Rath quietly began the healing chant used in more formal ceremonies without knowing if it would help or not. The chant gave him something on which to focus. A purpose.

Sgrios concentrated on Dàn’s torn flesh, pouring his energy into the healing. His energy was so strong it manifested as waves of bluish light that soaked into Dàn.

As Rath watched, a thin, red mist formed and swirled over Dàn’s injuries. The strange mist instantly healed all minor cuts and bruises it touched, lingering and coiling for long minutes over more severe knife wounds and broken bones.

Was the mist part of Sgrios’ healing? Or was it Dàn’s work? Rath couldn’t tell, but he planned to ask them later. It was certainly nothing he had ever seen before.

Rath looked up and saw Reultan and Díon returning, and he used his abilities to remove the blood from Dàn to diminish the amount of gore at the scene. That was within his power and would make Dàn’s recovery seem more plausible.

Reultan and Díon approached without interrupting and joined in the chant. A look at Reultan’s face showed Rath he didn’t believe Dàn could be healed.

The healing continued for most of an hour. The progress was obvious. Soon, the wounds were only thin white scars. Dàn breathed normally, his body relaxed as if asleep.

The red mist still wrapped itself around him, comforting and protecting, yet menacing.

Suddenly, without warning, Dàn’s body arched in another long, hard seizure. The mist spiraled over him in agitation. Tiny red sparks flew toward Sgrios, who was holding Dàn still. Pulling his hands away, Sgrios bellowed, “Rath! Call him, now. He must wake up.”

“Dàn! Wake up Dàn!” Rath shouted mentally.

Another seizure hit Dàn. Moments later, it passed.

Dàn’s eyes opened and for an instant, he met Rath’s gaze. He appeared calm, as always.

Then a third seizure hit Dàn. He howled in anguish. The mist wrapped tightly around him, in comfort, while sparks continued to flash in all directions. When his body slackened this time, he lay limp and whimpered with each breath. “Please, send them away. I don’t want to be seen like this.” His stricken voice flowed into Rath’s mind.

Then Rath realized Díon and Reultan were staring at Dàn in shock and fear. Díon was pale and his face was beaded with sweat. Reultan had backed away and gawked at the spectacle.

“Both of you!” He roared in fury at their callous behavior. “Go!”

When they only looked at him in surprise he growled, “Set up a camp near the stream.”

When they still didn’t move, Sgrios gave them a low threatening growl that sent them hurrying away.

Dàn cried out softly despite his obvious attempt at restraint. His loss of composure bothered Rath more than anything else had. Dàn had not uttered a sound during all the abuse they had suffered. In fact, he could remember only a few times that Dàn had reacted to pain at all.

“Dàn? What can we do to help?” Rath asked.

“Nothing,” he answered silently as he struggled to sit upright.

Rath reached for his arm, intending to help him. His hand was still inches away when scorching red sparks bit into his fingers, burning them deeply. He yanked his hand back with a yelp of pain. Dàn fell flat again.

“Guess I could have warned you.” Sgrios showed him his own singed hands.

“What’s happening to Dàn?” Rath rubbed his reddened palms, focusing his weakened energy to soothe the pain from them.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sgrios said. “What does Dàn say?”

“Not much. Haven’t you asked him?”

“No. He is too weak to talk aloud, and I won’t inflict myself on him with mental contact.”

“Oh.” Maybe he should try to get some answers from Dàn. “Dàn? Do you know what’s happening?”

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