Page 66 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

Zaria and I watched them and then exchanged a look that said:they are up to something, aren’t they?

I shrugged it off. Jaxus was leaving and I had fresh company for the first time in days. I wasn’t going to complain. As soon as he slipped out, I turned to Nyx.

“You have to make him stop. I’m begging you.”

Nyx smiled and shrugged. “He’s doing what a bonded dragon does when his ryder is vulnerable. Dragon’s hoard by nature. We don’t neglect what is ours to guard, especially when the treasure is threatened.”

“I am not a thing to be hoarded or guarded,” I spat, indignant.

“Not a thing, no, but a treasure? Yes. To him, you are the treasure he most needs to protect.”

“Well, he’s driving me crazy. He won’t even allow me my workbooks. I need to do something productive with my time, even if I can’t leave this bed.”

“Sorry to tell you, nothing I say will change his mind.”

“Can you at least bring me my books? I’m falling so far behind,” I begged.

“Oh no, I’m not inserting myself into this. It’s between you and your dragon. But for what it’s worth, I think he’s right. You need to heal and you work too hard as it is. You could stand to take a bit of time off.”

I fixed him with my most disappointed look. “You are supposed to be my friend!”

“I am being your friend by saying no! Besides, I’ve been at odds with Jaxus too much recently. I owe him this.”

He looked down, seeming to study his hands for a moment, then looked up. “I have apologized to him, but I owe you an apology, too. I was out of line at the festival, and I kept Jaxus occupied with my problems when he could have been with you. If I had just let it go for a day, you wouldn’t need to be in this bed now.”

“It’s not your fault. I would have handled it regardless of who was beside me.”

“Perhaps, but I think more likely, one of us would have scented it and stopped you from getting so close.”

“The real question,” Zaria interjected, “is why was it there in the first place, and how did you not recognize it before you picked it up?”

“That’s the thing, from what I remember, it was a bundle of what looked like marjoram. I wouldn’t mistake it. Even though stupidly it wouldn’t have occurred to me to be cautious of Dragon's Bane, now that I’m a ryder since I never had to be before. I would have raised the alert to protect you and the dragons among us. But it wouldn’t have occurred to me to protect myself. So it must have been disguised. That’s all I can think. Dragon's Banebundled with other herbs around it to conceal it. But to what end?”

“Exactly,” Zaria agreed. “Were they trying to harm festival goers? Or were they supplying it so someone else could use it for Goddess knows what?”

I shook my head. “I know, it’s worrying, I agree.”

“It’s not something you have to worry about. You just need to get better. We are looking into all of that, and we won’t rest until we track the traders down and find answers,” Nyx assured.

“And how did such a small amount make you so ill when I was among tons of it burning and survived?” Zaria wondered aloud.

“I’m thinking because you were exposed every day for most of your life after your bond had been awakened. So, while it kept you sick constantly and certainly poisoned you that day you were brought here after the fires, you have built up quite a tolerance to it. I doubt if you’d have been in my shoes, you’d have had this reaction. You might have had a breathing attack and needed some rest, but not this.” I gestured at myself, weakened and bedridden.

“My bond is brand new and I was vulnerable. If I had to guess, I’d say I inhaled some seed or dust that got straight into my respiratory system and hit me hard.” I rolled my eyes. “But since I have not been allowed to read my chart, I don’t know. I’m just supposed to be a good little patient and rest in ignorance.”

Zaria bit her lip to stop her amusement from showing. “Think of it as a well-deserved break from work?”

I sighed. “If I was going to actually take one of those, I’d at least do something nice, like take a trip back home or something. Not sit here all day being coddled and bossed around.”

“Goddess, healers really do make the worst patients, don’t they?” Nyx laughed.

“Jaxus said the same. I think you are all conspiring against me.”

Just then one of our newer healers, Vanya, came in to do her checks and looked nervously at Nyx in his chair. I nodded encouragingly and she proceeded silently with her work. I watched her. Proud that she was making such great progress since she’d come to the city.

“How do I look?” I asked.

“You’re doing so well,” she said sweetly.

---