Page 49 of Blood of Ancients

“We all have the same thing in mind, Dagny. Just tell me, can you help her?”

Dagny swallowed hard. She looked pale and unconfident. “I-I’m only an acolyte, Grim! All the doctors are out—”

“Move aside,” I snarled, pushing past her and Grim to get to Ravinica’s side, surprising them both. I leaned in, took one glance at the wound and where it was located, and calculated in my head.

“The Hel can you do, elf?” Grim asked.

A second later, a new voice joined the chaotic chorus.

“The fuck is going on here?!” It was Ravinica’s wild, arrogant mate, Sven Torfen. Wearing a hospital gown, bare ass in the still air. “I’m down for a day and a half, just ready to leave, and you assholes can’t protect her even for that long?”

Grim shoved him aside. “You’re not helping, wolf!”

As the room fell quiet, all eyes on me, I bloodied my hands near Ravinica’s wound, ripping open the fabric. I felt around and said, “I don’t think it’s hit vital organs, thankfully.”

“What are you, some kind of elven shaman?” Grim asked.

I ignored him. “She’s lost a lot of blood.”

“No fucking shit, elf!” Sven roared. “We can see that!”

I spun to Dagny, who was biting her nails, terrified. “Show me to your wares, Deen Dagny.”

She blinked, opened her mouth to speak, and then nodded. Tugging my arm, she shuffled over to another room. At one end was a glass case, locked, with pill bottles and vials behind it.

I broke the glass easily with my elbow, reached in, and shuffled around. Dagny looked on, gawking, as if worried how much trouble she was going to get in for my little display.

To assuage her fears, I said, “In Alfheim, I am atorar’tis.” I rooted around, grabbing things I’d need. “A . . . teacher. I have a specialty in botany, mycology, and herbalism. An extensive knowledge of alchemy. It is how I saved the Leper who nearly died from poisoning. It’s how I will save Ravinica from the same.”

“S-She’s been poisoned?”

I nodded gravely. With one arm bundling a cornucopia of bottles and supplies, I took the smaller girl by the shoulder and stared into her mismatched eyes. “Do not fear, Dagny Largul. No one, even the spirits and gods, will keep me from saving Ravinica.”

She gulped, nodding swiftly. “I wish I had your confidence.”

“I can’t do it alone. We will build your confidence while we work. Can you aid me?”

Dagny gained her composure, her light-and-dark hair flopping as she nodded fiercely. “Ravinica is my best friend, Corym. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

Chapter 15

Ravinica

I WOKE TO A POUNDINGin my head, a dull throb behind my eyes. Letting out a raspy groan, my voice hoarse from disuse, I opened my eyes to find a number of people surrounding me, looking down at me from above.

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