Page 72 of Into Orbit
‘You’re stressing Willow out,’ the voice continued ruthlessly, ‘and Elswyth needs daily healing because she’s stripping her throat raw singing to you. The Forest is wilting again because it misses her. So pull yourself together, Ash. We need you back.’
I’m trying, I wanted to say.I’m trying my best.
‘I know you’re trying,’ the voice said, as if she’d heard me. ‘I know you’ll be fighting with everything you have.’ There was a rustle and the bed dipped, as if she’d sat down on the edge next to me. I tried to turn towards her – I wanted to bury my face in her lap and never surface – but all that happened was that my throat gave a low, rasping groan.
‘There you are,’ she said, satisfied. ‘Hear me, elf-boy. We’re here, and we’re waiting for you. Willow is back, and we got your dragon’s head. Come back. Come back to your family, Ashton.’
I tried. I tried to force my eyes open, tried to reach for her, but the black took me instead.
The next time I woke, the room was silent.
I listened for a few minutes. I could hear the soft inhale and exhale of my breath. Softer still, my heartbeats. From further away, muffled thumps and scrapes and shouted commands – the hangar.
I wrenched my eyes open, and this time, it worked.
I could see a moss-lined ceiling; with great effort, I turned my head to the side. There was a moss-covered wall, and an open door; a diffuse light spilled through. In my line of sight, a desk with a screen gone blank, and a fair head pillowed on crossed arms, a beloved face frowning in sleep.
‘Will,’ I whispered.
He stirred but did not wake. I forced myself to focus on his features, on his neat nose and lush lips and wide jaw. On the thorn-lined cheekbones I loved to kiss and the furrowed brow I wanted to smooth and the temples I loved to trace with a fingertip when I brushed back a silky curl.
I tested my arms. I bunched my fingers in the blanket, one hand after the other, then practised lifting each one. I could get each of them around an inch off the bed before I had to let them fall again.
‘Not good enough,’ I croaked.
I gathered every ounce of strength I had, then wrenched one across my body, the momentum turning me half on my side.Good.With both hands braced on one side, I could push against them.
I pushed myself up, then collapsed immediately down. I growled, the sound rasping and raw, tearing my throat, and tried again, leaning my weight forward as I did.
My torso slid off the bed, leaving me half-on, half-off the sickbed.
I grunted, my hands hitting the cold lab floor. I swung my hips so the rest of my body would follow – and ended up in an ungainly heap.
At least I’m out of the bed.
‘Ashton?’ Willow’s voice was sleepy and amused. ‘What are you doing?’
I tried to rearrange my twitching limbs. ‘Getting up.’
‘And how much success would you say you’re having?’
I bared my teeth. ‘I’m out of bed, aren’t I?’
‘Here.’ Willow bent down and scooped an arm around my back, getting me into a sitting position with some difficulty. ‘Green gods, you weigh more than an oak. Back up you go.’
He hauled me back up onto the bed but left me sitting on the side. I was naked and the lab was cool; I shivered, so he pulled my blanket around my shoulders.
‘Will –’
‘Shh,’ he soothed. ‘Your throat will be raw. Are you hungry? Thirsty?’
I shook my head. ‘They took you. They took you, and I left you there.’
‘Don’t talk nonsense,’ he said. ‘You didn’t leave me anywhere.’
‘I knew which ship you were on,’ I rasped. ‘I took down the other, but Ileftyou on that ship.’
He stroked my face. ‘And why did you leave me, Ash?’
