Page 13 of Ties of Death

“Eskil and Kettil were found near you, unconscious. And they won’t wake up.”

9

Hope Vanishes

My blood freezes in my veins. “What? Are they dead?”

No, the reasoning part of my mind insists. He said they were unconscious, but ‘won’t wake up’ doesn’t sound much better than dead.

I swing my legs off the bed and stand. The sudden movement makes my head spin, and I sway.

Daenn is at my side in an instant, a strong, sure grip at my elbow and the small of my back.

The dizziness passes quickly, though, so I step away from his hands, pleased when he makes no move to follow me. I can stand on my own. I don’t need him.

“I want to see them.” I don’t phrase it as a request. This man may have the entire clan bowing and scraping to him, but I will neveraskhim for anything.

I pause my stride toward the door as a fresh worry hits me. “Zephyr and her babies, are they...?”

“They’re fine. Aside from Zephyr getting worked up when you collapsed, none of them were affected by the magic.”

I nod, relieved. I’m grateful for the update but unwilling to tell him so.

The walk to the infirmary is quiet but not without tension. Daenn walks beside me, not touching me. We pass manypeople, and they all stop and stare or whisper to their companions. Their attention feels different than it did before. More scowls or drawn brows.

Do they know of Eskil and Kettil?

That’s a silly question. Gossip spreads like water through a porous rock in the clan. Slow or fast, it happens, and it’s inevitable.

The infirmary, at least, is quiet. Deathly still. One healer moves about the cavern, but she stops when she catches sight of Daenn and me. Her eyes flick over me in recognition, but there’s a wariness too.

“Your Majesty.” She presses her fist to her heart and she bows her head.

I recognize her, though it takes me a moment to place her. Erika? No… Annika. Daughter to the master healer; occupations often stay in one family in the gryphon clans. Annika and I used to be thrown together sometimes, as my mother would work in the infirmary when she wasn’t acting as Daenn’s minder. We were never close, despite being close in age. She’s cut her light brown hair, wearing it in a severe short style that no doubt keeps it out of her way while she tends patients.

“How are they?” Daenn asks, his eyes already turned to what I’m focused on: the three beds in the center of the room with still forms.

“No change, Your Majesty. And as you can see...” Healer Annika trails off, and out of the corner of my eye I see her gesture hopelessly to the third bed.

“When did she come in?” Daenn’s words sound distant to my ears. I slowly move toward the beds, unable to look away.

Eskil and Kettil—and the woman, someone I don’t even know—lay as if sleeping, though I happen to know from many childhood memories that Eskil doesn’t sleep on his back, butrather his front, all sprawled out. He looks unnatural in repose like this.

As I stare at them, pure horror grows and spirals within me with each breath. What have I done? They’re not dead, no, but something tells me they’re dying. All three of them look pale. Eskil and Kettil more so than the woman, which implies that it progresses the longer they’re under this curse.

I sense a presence at my back. Daenn, as solid as a wall but not quite touching me. As if he knows I need support, offering it in the only way he knows how in the landscape of our new fractured relationship.

“What do we do?” The words spill from me in a whisper as I step back, pressing against Daenn’s chest, needing to ground myself in something as steady as he seems. There’s a distant stab of hope outside of the maelstrom of emotions assaulting me, but I ignore it as I keep babbling. “I only wanted to be free of you. I thought if I could neutralize your magic, I could leave.”

The hope vanishes, replaced by sharp pain, but thoughmyemotions make no sense, Daenn speaks, his voice as steady as ever.

“For now, you need to rest. You’re still weak. I’ll look into it.”

“I want to stay here.” I need to stay here. Need to keep an eye on them. Except, what if...

My hand finds Daenn’s gloved one and squeezes. “Would staying here make them worse?”

His pause is just long enough to know he’s truly considering the idea. “No, they’ve already been affected. Stay if you must. Don’t touch anyone, though.”

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