I head to the kitchen, where Renel’s still sitting by himself, Ziven’s standing, and Ferer and his sister are sitting at another table.
I sit by Lidiane and tell her, “If it was a lost case, the nymphs wouldn’t have sent a healer.”
She nods. “I guess.” Nothing in her tone or demeanor suggests she believes Azur has any chance of surviving.
I don’t know what to say, don’t know what she and Azur are, don’t even know if I approve of whatever they have, and yet I can’t stand seeing her so sad.
“Truly, Lidiane.” Then I lower my voice. “It’s a big deal that they’re revealing themselves.”
It’s only then that I wonder why they would do that for Azur, but it could be because of Lidiane or even Astra.
She gives me a tight-lipped smile. Meanwhile, Ziven sits by Renel, who remains silent.
I remember then that Azur’s my brother’s friend, and approach their table.
“He’ll be all right.” For some reason I almost choke, as if for a moment my fae heritage got in the way of voicing words I’m not certain are true.
Renel runs his fingers over his bracelets and stares at his wrists. “Azur? Good for him.” He finally turns to me. “And Tarlia? What am I going to do about her?”
I hate that I don’t have an answer for that, that I don’t have any solution. “We’ll figure it out.”
He shakes his head. “Ihave to figure it out.”
“She’s Astra’s friend. I want to save her too.”
“What about Tarlia?” Astra’s voice comes from the hallway, then she steps into the circle of light coming from the lightstone. “What’s wrong with her? Where is she?”
I’m stunned that she’s up again, and rush to her side. “You should rest,” I whisper.
“No. What’s happening to Tarlia?” she asks again.
“Zorwal,” Renel says, then looks down.
Astra’s face is blank. Right. I suppose she doesn’t even know who he is.
Lidiane gets up. “Listen, all of us are going to have to sit down, tell our stories, take notes, and compare them. I suggest we do it when everyone can get together, either tomorrow morning or tonight, but after the healer…” Her voice cracks.
I nod. We’re all waiting to hear about Azur’s fate.
Astra stands by me and I hold her hand, then she asks, “Is Tarlia in danger?” I suppose it was worry for her friend that got her out of bed.
“Not immediately. But she’s sworn her life to Zorwal.” I point at Renel, then Lidiane. “They know more about him. She’s right that we have a lot to discuss.”
She leans in close and I pull her for a hug, feeling my heart beating fast with so many emotions at the same time. I’m relieved that Astra’s here, and yet that severed head and the threat in the Shadow Lands haunt my thoughts while my sister’s hateful eyes disturb my mind. What happened to her?
I hold onto Astra, still barely believing she’s here, barely believing she survived, and yet my heart still beats fast, fast, fast, overcome with dread.
Astra turns to the hallway and I see the nymph healer coming into the kitchen.
“I was able to stop the bleeding and heal the physical wounds,” he says in the same voice he spoke in my mind, but in a graver tone. I’m surprised that the nymphs can speak.
“But?” Lidiane’s question sounds as if coming from a strangled throat.
The healer glides closer to us. “I did all I could, but now… It’s beyond my skills. Azur has magical poisoning.” He pauses, and I’m not sure if he’s trying to give us time to digest his words or to torment us with anxiety.
Lidiane has her eyes fixed on the nymph, waiting for his conclusion.
Finally, he continues, “Of the worst kind. In a matter of days, perhaps a couple of weeks at most, he’ll become a bloodpuppet and serve whoever stabbed him.”
