Page 33 of Dishonor Among Thieves
“I’ll get something to help,” Gia said. “I’m not a healer, but until Odile’s back, I’ll do what I can.”
“Brother,” Rain said somberly. “What do you make of this?”
I busied myself dragging an armchair to Elgit’s side but listened intently to their conversation.
“Elgit was in and out of clarity when we found him. He mentioned Haeloc and, specifically, fangs.” Neo’s voice was hard, emotionless. “After Haeloc disappeared, he must have gone to the goblins seeking replacement fangs. But why?”
“Whoever extracted Haeloc’s fangs may not have wanted to punish him. Perhaps they used the fangs to control him… Some sort of magic? If that’s true, how would another set of fangs stop that?”
Neo rolled his neck and groaned, closing his eyes to his private pain. “I don’t know. But I am certain now that Haeloc’s disappearance is connected to magic. There’s no other explanation for his escape from you the day you freed me. His connection to the goblins has cost them their lives. Gimbra, Vlareq… Two dozen or more of them massacred by Haeloc or someone who wanted Haeloc dead.”
“That means he back.” Rain’s voice hardened with hatred and possibly fear. His nostrils flared as he gritted, “I never should have doubted you, brother. We should have posted someone at Haeloc’s manor the day we rescued you.”
“I don’t think one vampire could have accomplished what we witnessed tonight—even with the aid of magic. Something more is behind the massacre of the goblins.”
A cold chill slithered up my spine as images flashed past my eyes. What kind of monster could do such things? And why?
Rain’s voice lifted as he demanded his brother leap to action. “What if Haeloc has returned to his manor this very moment?”
“We can’t run all over the Realm every time we suspect Haeloc has set foot on his own property. Or that of our allies. We need a strategy. We have no idea what type of trouble Haeloc has brought down upon himself or what alliances he’s made.” Neo’s weariness seemed to abate as another emotion replaced it: determination. “That’s why I rode out to Fish Head End. To secure a permanent guard at the godforsaken place. Unfortunately, my old friend Trond had no interest in babysitting an abandoned raider’s lair.”
As I gripped Elgit’s now-cold hand in mine, the brothers both fell silent. I assumed they were considering those larger forces, the deeper evil that could wield magic to end dozens of innocent lives—those of the goblins and their megadrile moles.
At least some of the pieces were falling into place now. Haeloc must have been the one who’d imprisoned Neo, and the job he’d sought to fill was a guardian or spy. Posting someone at Haeloc’s manor in case he returned. Instead, Neo had returned from Fish Head End not with a guardian, but a thief. A thief he’d married.
Antonia and Gia’s return to the sitting room halted the brothers’ muted conversation. Rain and Gia together removed the filthy, blood-stained cloak from Elgit’s body while I washed my hands using one of the buckets of water Antonia had brought. Then I set to work drenching rags with clean water and wiping Elgit’s face and hands.
I slipped my hands beneath the gray, wrinkled flesh of his neck while Gia dripped a tonic into his mouth. He grimaced at the taste, but his dry tongue slid back into his mouth, and he seemed to swallow it down. She peeked at the wound in his belly, the look on her face revealing how truly hopeless the situation was. Nonetheless, she covered him with a very thin, soft length of cloth and tucked a fresh blanket lightly over his belly.
“Feed him water using this.” Gia handed me the small metal spoon with a tiny pouring spout she’d used to give him the tonic. “Flynn’s brother made this for Odile, specifically for administering small quantities to sick people. Give him water very slowly, just a few sips at most at a time. Even if he seems to be dying of thirst, giving him too much too quickly will make him sicker.”
I nodded and took the spoon, admiring the unusual design and craftsmanship.
“The tonic I gave him is only to ease the pain. I’ve picked up a bit from my sister over the years, but any real healing will need to wait until she sees him and can concoct something to treat the infection.” Gia worried her lower lip with her teeth. “These injuries may require a surgeon,” she said. “But I…I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Antonia said lightly. “Odile is the healer. She’ll know, and the lot of us would just be wasting our wits standing around in the dead of night trying to come up with a plan before she’s back. Let’s do what we can do, and beyond that, may the gods guide us. And him.”
I searched Gia’s face for any information she had but wasn’t willing to share. Like whether she was certain already that Elgit’s injuries surpassed anything her sister could heal. “Has she ever treated one like him?” I asked. “A goblin?”
Gia shook her head. “Not that I’m aware. But bodies are bodies. Goblins may manipulate magic, but they are made of flesh and bone. If he’s to be saved, Odile will know what to do.”
Ifhe was to be saved.
After offering Elgit just the tiniest bit of water, I set the spoon back on the butler’s cart and reclaimed his hand.
Gia squeezed my shoulder and gave me a kind look. “Why don’t you get some rest? You must be exhausted.”
I shook my head. “I’d prefer to remain with him.” I looked to Antonia, who was stoking the fire and ordering Dale to move furniture so that Odile would have room to move freely around the carts she’d supplied once she arrived. “May I stay here?” I asked. I’d slept here once already. I’d not miss a night in a luxurious bed that I’d never experienced. Besides, I couldn’t imagine that Neo truly meant for me to share his room.
Antonia looked from me to Neo and back. “The lady of the manor should do as she desires.”
Neo nodded. “Bring all the bedding from my room down here.” Rain helped him strip off the filthy, heavy scale armor. I couldn’t help but watch as the coat was removed, revealing nothing more than a thin shirt underneath that was likewise damp with Neo’s sweat and Elgit’s blood. “Ourroom,” he corrected as Rain handed the intricate leatherwork to Dale. “Draw a bath in our bedroom, please, Dale.”
Antonia left, going upstairs to gather what she could while Dale scurried away with the coat of armor in his hands. I was so tired, so consumed by the dying figure before me, I hadn’t the energy to thank anyone. I reminded myself I was a member of this household now. I’d have time enough for that. For now, my attention returned to my charge.
While I held fast to the weak hand in mine, Neo drank a mug of water, refilled it and drank again, and then handed it to me. “Drink,” he said. “I’m going to clean up. Don’t weaken yourself with caregiving, or you’ll be of no help to this soul.”
The fact that Neo hadn’t worn padded armor beneath the more decorative scales of leather made me believe he truly had not anticipated that we’d encounter any danger at the sanctum. His long hair had fallen partly free of its binding. Loose strands stuck to his face with sweat, dirt, and blood. His body was impressive, the planes of his chest sculpted and muscular. I tried not to look at his thighs, still clad in the leather leggings, but my mind did briefly wonder whether he’d fully undress right here in front of everyone. I tore my eyes from his weary body and focused on our small, fragile patient.
