Looking up, I traced the path they’d taken, descending the mountain from where once a lively town had rested. Now, a hint of black colored the mountain’s peak, warning of the void you’d find in its place.
Gripping my arms, Seraphim whirled me around and pointed at one of the medical tents. “Go see Eleos. You’ll do him good.”
“Is he injured?”
“No.” She said softly, nodding for me to go.
Nervous, I hurried toward the tent, ducking under the rough canvas. My stomach churned as I looked over the patients. One man looked like he’d fallen from the cliffs; his bones were broken in several places. A young girl’s arm was crushed entirely, likely by a horse’s hooves.
I saw one of the people Percy had mentioned: a young man with a soft face whose left arm was completely missing. Even some of his shoulders had been consumed by the void. Faint flecks of white appeared on his tan skin and banded through his black hair.
When he awoke, would he be glad he survived?
Raising my eyes from the dismal sight, I noticed Eleos, who knelt over a young boy, gently talking with him as he set the boy’s broken arm. A horrible snap sounded, and the boy shrieked, all while Eleos quietly commended him for being brave.
I leaned on the tent’s support beam, waiting for him to finish. He wrapped the broken limb and pulled a blanket over the child, ordering him to sit still and rest.
Standing, Eleos ran a hand through his brunette waves. Blood splotched his white robes and stained his pale blue scarf. He glanced in my direction, sage-green eyes tracing over my face like he peered upon a ghost that haunted his every night.
“I’m glad-” I began.
Tripping over himself in his haste, Eleos crossed the gap between us, hesitating just before he reached me. Touching my cheek, he traced a hand down my face before pulling me into an embrace.
Overcome with relief, I melted against him, wrapping my arms tightly around him, fingers curling into his scarf.
I thought I’d lost him. Holding him now, I realized just how much I didn’t want to.
Eleos’ fear ran deeper than mine. I could feel it in his trembling fingers, in the desperation with which he clutched me. No one had ever held me so tightly.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“What for?” I asked gently.
Composing himself, Eleos pulled away. He ran a hand across his eyes. “We need to talk, but-” he looked around. “Not here.”
Nodding, I followed him outside, letting the tent flap close behind me. “I know a bit about healing herbs,” I said. “Want me to help gather some?”
“Good idea.” He touched my shoulder, leading me behind the tents into a patch of woods, where the foliage grew thick beneath the red canopies.
Kneeling, I scanned the grasses, spotting patches of gray-green leaves. Ainwir had plucked these whenever one of us was wounded. Unsheathing my blade, I carefully cut a few handfuls.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Eleos said, crouching by a cluster of wild sage. “Life dispels the Empty. That’s always been true.”
“Not anymore,” I said, “Which means-’
“Even the cities aren’t safe,” Eleos interrupted. “Nowhereis safe.” He stood, staring at me. “I hoped we could fix this. But what if we don’t have time?”
Remembering my flower, I shot to my feet and plucked the pale blue blossom from behind my ear. “There’s still hope,” I promised him, offering the blossom. “Look.”
Brow furrowing, Eleos inspected the flower. “Where did you find that? I’ve never seen one with that patterning.”
Flecks of red dotted the blue, like drops of my blood had fallen upon them. “BecauseImade it,” I said, tucking the flower into his scarf. “I destroyed the Empty. I made a path for Seth and me to escape.”
“You did?” he asked blankly.
I nodded, stepping back. “It’s still there, I think. A little trail of flowers through the dark.”
The glimmer of life returned to his beautiful green eyes. Beaming, he stuffed the sage into his pocket. “Can I see it?”
