“Ready to go?” he asked. “Where are the others?”
“Ant will be coming,” Amber said, stalwart. “And Silence should have been here already, was he not?”
Fin shook his head. “You three are the first.”
“Well Pits,” Amber said vehemently.
My gaze shot up to the top of the dark cliffs above us.
Silence hadn’t arrived? Where was he?
My heart lurched. Now we had two people missing.
Chapter 28
Fin returnedus to the great hall of Hedgewild. None of us liked leaving the others behind, but someone had to report what we’d found and the crown prince still needed help.
Fin vanished after returning us, going back to the beach to wait for Ant and Silence. I sat heavily on a bench laying my head down on a table. The prince was laid out on another table and Amber and Sparrow then ran in different directions to get the others. Amber had mentioned that Crane knew something of medicines and there was an herbalist in Grovner’s Green, but otherwise… the person who knew the most about poisons… was Midnight and she wasn’t going to be of any help here. Ant could also heal, but he…
I couldn’t think about that.
I was in pain and overwrought with worry for Ant and Silence, yet still my exhaustion won out and I must have dozed, for I woke, sitting bolt upright when I heard a groan.
I looked over at the prince. Something seemed different.
His body is relaxed, not rigid anymore. I think maybe your poison is wearing off.
Auwei was right. He seemed less rigid and when he shifted, groaning again, I knew he was coming out of the effects of my toxin.
I should probably go apologize.
You may want to wait for the others.
No, he’s fine now, we don’t need Crane. I rose, aching and weary, and made the short trip to the next table, slumping down on the bench next to the man.
“Prince?”
He rolled his head over to look at me. His face grew hard. “You’re not going to kiss me again, are you?” His words were a little slurred, but understandable.
“No… and sorry about that. I didn’t know that was going to happen.”
He raised a single brow. I don’t think he believed me. He rolled his head back to look straight up.
“I’m in Elista?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve captured me?”
“No, well, I don’t know. We brought you here to help you. I didn’t know what my poison did to you and in case it was worse than just paralysis, we wanted to help you.”
He nodded. “Why were you in the palace?” he asked.
Ah…what should I say?
Got me, I wouldn’t have talked to him at all. Maverick should be handling this.
Oh… right, yes, that makes sense.
