Page 64 of Of Blood and Fire
I quickly unclipped my packs, sword, and bow, and dropped them to the ground, then, using the frayed rope that still dangledfrom the neck harness, climbed down as far as possible and jumped the rest of the way. Pain shuddered up my legs and my ankle twisted slightly. I swore softly and limped under Kaia’s hovering form.
Right, I said to her,lower a few more feet.
She did so. When her gigantic claws were within touching distance, she extended her leg a fraction more and, with surprising gentleness, placed Kele into my arms. This close, her face was a fucking mess; bone was visible through the remnants of her right cheek, and a shallower but no less nasty-looking wound cut across her closed right eye. Thankfully, there was no sign of bubbling around any of the wounds, which suggested enough rain and seawater had washed across her skin to deactivate the acid and prevent it from causing deeper damage. If that hadn’t been the case, it was doubtful she’d even have a face left.
Whether she’d be able to ever see again was another matter entirely.
Need go now, Kaia said.Need see Gria.
You can’t go back through that smoke—the riders will be waiting. Give me a few minutes to take care of Kele, then I’ll talk to Garran and see what the situation is over the mountains behind us.
While the height of the mountain above the palace level wasn’t any barrier to the drakkons, against the somber black stone that made up the mountain’s slopes, their bright colors would make them conspicuously obvious.
Need hurry.
Will.
She landed the minute I was clear, tucked her wings in, and proceeded to glare—and puff smoke—at the soldiers crowding the courtyard’s entrance.
Seriously?I added,Stop terrifying the locals.
Is fun.
Maybe, but it’s not helping our cause for acceptance.
Don’t need their acceptance.
I motioned the medics and stretcher bearers over.You do if you want them to stop hunting drakkons.
She harrumphed but curtailed both the glare and the smoke.
Maree, a rotund woman with a wicked sense of humor and a booming laugh, hustled forward first, undaunted by Kaia’s closeness. She was an exceptional apothecary, though her true skill lay more in divining what was happening within the body to provide a clearer roadmap for those who healed and repaired with magic or knife.
She sucked in a breath when she saw Kele’s face. “Nowthatis going to take some repairing.”
“But it can be repaired, right?” I said, unable to entirely keep the concern from leaching into my voice.
“Anything is possible these days with magic, luck, and a skilled surgeon.” She patted my arm. “We’ll take good care of her, don’t you be worrying about that.”
“Let me know when she regains consciousness.”
“I will.” She paused. “Once you report, come see me about that head wound. I’ve got a few salves that should stop the scarring and enable the hair to regrow.”
“Could you just send them to my quarters? I’ve no time?—”
“Self-care is a necessity, not an inconvenience, young woman.”
I smiled. “And regrowing a patch of hair is less of a necessity than ensuring I have enough food and shamoke in my system to fuel the next round of battles.”
Her sniff suggested she was unconvinced by my argument. I smiled and added, “Please.”
“Fine, but I’ll send a few refueling potions along with the salve. Make sure you take them.”
“I will. Thanks.”
She motioned to the medics accompanying her. Kele was taken from me, placed on the stretcher, and then hustled away. Maree padded beside her, holding Kele’s hand, already beginning her medical divination.
I sucked in a breath, then turned at the sound of footsteps. Garran, with two guards a couple of paces behind him.
