Page 120 of Minor Works of Meda

“Come,” the stranger said. He straightened to his feet, sketching phrases into the air. “The mountain is about to collapse.”

I slipped my stinging fingers from the shield and watched it crumble into the air.

Kalcedon lay on top of Oraik, having collapsed there. He pushed himself up slowly and drew an uneven breath.

Oraik didn’t move.

“Oraik,” I said. My heart hammered fast.

“Did I do this?” Kalcedon whispered, staring at his own hands. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to… it wasn’t me. I don’t even know who…”

“We must go. Now,” the faerie said. He closed the distance in two long steps and pulled me up by the back of my arm. Then he grabbed Kalcedon’s shoulders and pulled him up, too.

The faerie moved oddly. Not like a man at all.

“Oraik. Heal him. Have to,” I gasped. I didn’t have enough power. I crouched back down and tried to lift the prince, but he was too big. I couldn’t even get one shoulder off the ground. My whole body felt like it was being pricked by needles.

“Outside,” the faerie male snapped. “There is no time. Come.”

Kalcedon dug his hands under Oraik’s other shoulder. Together, struggling through our chill and exhaustion, the two of us managed to lift his torso up from the ground. Oraik’s head hung limp and unsupported.

Another stone fell from the ceiling. It rammed into the abandoned throne. The oak tree creaked ominously.

“By the stars,” cursed the faerie. He stooped down to grab Oraik’s ankles. Together, we lifted the prince off the ground. “Now move. I’ve brought the door closer.”

Another stone fell, shaking the ground beside me. I gripped Oraik tighter. Every moment it felt like his heavy weight was slipping out of my numb hands. I couldn’t hold on, but I had to. So I did.

We sidestepped towards the opening of the hall. Another stone fell, then another. Dust enveloped us as clattering pebbles rained from above. We reached the corridor.

The door to outside was just in front of us now. The strange faerie shifted Oraik’s feet into one arm and gestured. The door swung wide. We passed through. Even outside the air was slightly chilled, though not barren of power.

“Do not stop,” the faerie said, as I started to lower Oraik. I grit my teeth and took another step, then another, then another.

I heard a terrible groan behind me of rock sliding against rock. Then a crash so loud my ears ached. We kept walking.

“We are far enough,” the faerie said at last. We set Oraik down. The shoulder I’d been holding hit the ground first, harder than I meant for it to. Kalcedon fell to his knees, hands on Oraik’s chest.

“Heal him,” I begged. I fell to my knees and picked up one of Oraik’s listless hands. I could see his chest move shallowly, but his eyes hadn’t opened.

“I…” Kalcedon’s hands shook. He lifted them and curled his fingers. “I don’t know how.”

“Yes, you do. Kalcedon, you know how to heal. Please, help him.”

“I… I don’t even know who…” he said again. Kalcedon shifted his weight back, then rose to his feet and stumbled back a step. A strangled cry choked from him. His words didn’t make sense to me.

“Here,” said the stranger. He deftly wove sigils through Oraik. Spider lines of light trembled on the air, then solidified and sunk into the prince’s skin. Oraik’s lips parted as he drew a deep breath through his mouth.

“Oraik. Can you hear me?” I squeezed his hand.

“Let him sleep,” the faerie said. “His was not a simple wound.” He twisted his neck and hunched forward, then dropped his shoulders. “All lords. I have been a bird too long,” he muttered under his breath.

Kalcedon squatted back down to his heels, face buried in his hands. There was a strange sound coming from him, half-choked, his breath strangled.

I still felt like we were trapped in there, fighting for our lives. But it was over. He was free. I fell to the ground beside him and reached to wrap my arms around Kalcedon.

He stiffened and pushed me away. Had I offended him somehow?

With a sigh the stranger crouched slowly beside Kalcedon, hands clasped behind his back. He peered sidelong at the half-faerie, but did not attempt to touch him.

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