“I was afraid the magic was never going to let you out of the cave,” Jallina said. “That breaking the Spine broke you.”
I turned to Doctor Symi. “I’m not the first one to be injured, am I? That’s why there is so few painkillers.”
Doctor Symi nodded. “That’s correct. I have been treating wounds of all terrible kinds as I’ve come up on the train. Whatever those… weapons are, they are destructive. We’ve lost many innocent people already.”
“Eighteen days…” I looked at Drez, who just nodded.
Jallina cleared her throat. “Doctor Symi will have to cut into your leg to get the bullet out.”
Roran let out a breath. “Gods, I didn’t want this to happen.” He looked at Drez. “You’re a spy for Kimber. I need you to be a spy for all of us. I need to know everything about these weapons and why we weren’t told about them.”
Drez nodded sharply. “Of course. I have a lot of information already gathered.”
Doctor Symi clapped his hands. “Out. Out, out.”
“Everyone?”
“All of you. No one needs to be in here but the nurse and me. Head out. Go help at the shield. There are many things to be done there.”
Roran cleared his throat. “I can help with the pain, Doctor.”
“Not as well as I can.”
We all turned to find Dorian standing in the doorway. He took long strides into the room to stand by me. “Doctor, I’ll stay. I can help Mistress Kimber block the pain.”
“Can you?” Doctor Symi seemed intrigued.
“All strong wielders can,” Roran nodded.
“I need more of you around since our painkillers are gone. Honestly. If you can spare anyone who is strong enough and has the skill, I have people who need the relief.”
Roran nodded. “I’ll spread the word. Strong magic and stronger stomachs.”
“Thank you,” he said.
Taking Jallina’s seat and my hand, Dorian whispered in my ear. “I will do what I can to stop the pain for you, but this is going to hurt like hell.”
“Just take it out and make sure I can heal well.”
Doctor Symi smiled and headed to the bathroom to scrub his hands. “My dear, this is a simple fix. You’ll be fine in a few days. I’ll be right back.”
Dorian looked worried, nervous even. I squeezed his hand. “Are you going to be okay with this?”
“I’m going to teach you how to use magic to block the pain. It’s a very strange, uncomfortable feeling to detach from who we are to deal with it, and that’s why we don’t use it as much as we could.”
“That wasn’t my question.” I stared at him.
“I’m not okay with this,ilati.” He stroked a thumb over the skin of my hand. “I am pissed beyond belief that you fulfilled your destiny and were rewarded with a grievous injury from vampires. I guess they…”
I waited for him to finish, but it was clear he wasn’t going to. “I will be okay alone if you want to leave, Dorian.”
“No.”
For reasons I didn’t understand, he needed to take a moment to himself. I didn’t intrude. I just kept breathing through the pain I had been enduring the entire time.
Dorian’s eyes snapped to mine. “You’re already in pain. Let me teach you.” He smoothed the messy mass of sandy brown waves with a careful hand. “Close your eyes. Breathe slowly.”
I was already trying to breathe slowly, but with his hand there, it seemed easier. He spoke softly. “Find a thread of magic, yellow or orange, and follow it slowly. Bring it down to the pain and weave a small pouch with it. You should be able to see the pain there, tiny little threads of blue and red.”
