Page 73 of Once the Skies Fade

I could have simply let the guard take Oryn’s injured body back to the castle on his own, but a pang of guilt pushed me to personally see he made it to my healers. If Matthias could carry him for a few kilometers through the forest, then I could accompany him and ensure his healing.

Assuming he would heal at all.

The wound on the back of his head had only started to heal, as all fae’s injuries did, but not as fast as usual due to the location of the injury. I didn’t exactly know how our healing abilities worked, only that head injuries—injuries that harmed the brain specifically—slowed the process significantly, making it almost impossible to recover without a healer’s help.

“Will he be okay, Ami?” I whispered from the foot of the bed where I stood, watching our senior healer dress his wound.

Silently waving her sister, Brit, over to help her, she didn’t look at me as she answered. “I wish I could say definitively one way or the other. Had he arrived sooner, I could possibly give a more confident estimation, but… At least that general did what he could and got him to you when he did. He could have left him there to die, after all.”

I pushed aside the image of Matthias’s cocky grin, biting back my frustration that Asher had let his goading get to him. Whatever happened between those two, they damn well deserved it after acting so immaturely.

I nodded crisply to Ami. “Thank you, truly. Anything you need—anything he needs—it’s yours.”

Allowing myself one quick look at Oryn’s sleeping face, I pivoted away and headed toward the exit.

“I will keep you informed of his condition should it change, Your Majesty,” Ami said.

I didn’t look back as I called over my shoulder, “Any updates should go through General Marlowe.”

I had nearly made it to the door when our third healer, Jocelyn, stepped in front of me. Her big brown eyes searched mine with such an intense concern, I couldn’t help but look away, focusing instead on the shelves beside the door, stocked with all manners of herbs, oils, mortars, and bottles, somehow seeming less creepy than the stash at Minerva’s cottage.

“Is the tea helping?” she asked quietly, though I couldn’t fathom why.

I nodded, still averting my eyes. “Yes, thank you. It has been such a blessing.”

“And you’re still able to use your powers, yes?”

Slowly I met her gaze, silently debating how much to divulge to her. “I am.”

“No noticeable differences?” she asked, her brows twitching as if they couldn’t decide whether to raise or lower.

I shrugged casually. “Seem easier to control, which is nice.”

“Good, good,” she muttered, wringing her hands in front of her. “I’m glad it’s helping. If you need anything else, or if it stops being effective, do let me know, yes?”

“I will, of course,” I said, lightly dropping my hand to her clasped ones. “Perhaps you could use some of that tea yourself, Jocelyn?”

“I’m fine, Your Majesty. Just nervous about this tournament, is all. I doubt this will be the last injured male we see before this is over.”

“They knew the risks,” I said, hoping to reassure her somehow, but my voice sounded as empty as the fake smile I wore.

“Of course, I know that,” she said, nodding several times before sliding out of my way.

“I will have the general come check on Oryn later tonight after this trial ends.” My eyes widened, as if suddenly realizing the time of day, and I swung my glance over to the clock on the wall. The sun would be setting soon, if it hadn’t already.

“Go,” Jocelyn urged, gently nudging me out the door.

By the time I stepped out through the castle doors, the sun had already retreated below the horizon. Isa, standing alone on the stairs, offered a wan smile when our eyes met.

“No sign of anyone?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not yet, but it only just set. They have a bit of time.”

It was another ten minutes before someone stepped out of the forest onto the main road and began jogging toward us. Graham. Even from here I could see his triumphant smile beaming.

I dug my elbow into Isa’s arm and whispered out of the corner of my mouth, “He does know there are no bonus points for arriving first, right?”

Isa chuckled lightly. “I’m sure he assumes he’s the only one to finish at all.”

---