The captain’s face goes pale. "This way. Follow me!"
She turns and runs. The other knights fall in around us, forming an escort.
The healing house rises before us. It's one of the few buildings that seems mostly intact, though water damage is visible on the lower levels. The white walls are stained with ash and mud. Anastarros temple is dedicated to the healing arts and the gods who govern them.
I hit the entrance and healers turn toward the commotion.
"Please, someone help her!" I call, voice raw with urgency.
The Hlaryan healers see me and several back away instinctively.
But one doesn't.
An older woman with steel-gray hair strides forward. She takes one look at Rhianelle and gestures to an empty table at the side. "Bring her here. Now."
I follow her along with the knights.
She's already clearing the table, sweeping aside instruments and supplies. "Lay her down gently."
My arms feel empty without Rhianelle's weight. The healer begins examining her immediately, pressing fingers to her throat and lifting her eyelids.
Other healers crowd around now to attend to their queen.
"Her pulse is thready and weak," the old healer announces. "I need blankets and hot water. Fetch Lady Siofra. The queen will need blessings."
The acolytes scramble to obey. They cut away her blood-soaked dress to expose the wounds. One of them gasps. "Is that—"
She looks at the bite marks. Fresh ones, still weeping. Then she looks at me.
Every eye in the healing house turns to me.
The blood-soaked vampire standing in their pristine sanctuary. I see the moment understanding dawns. Their expressions shift from shock to horror.
"He bit her?" Several of the younger healers back away from me.
The knights who escorted me move forward, hands on sword hilts.
"Get away from her!" One of the knights draws his blade. He's young, his face twisted with righteous fury. "Monster! Get away from our queen!"
"I tried to heal her," I tell them. "My venom usually works but it's not working."
The older healer holds up a hand for silence. She's examining Rhianelle's wounds again.
"Yes, he's telling the truth. The venom in her system is slowing the bleeding," she says finally. "It's probably the only reason she's still alive. But the wounds are too severe."
"Can you save her?" I ask.
She doesn't answer me. Instead she turns to her staff. "Bring me linen and clean water, not from the flood. Taryn, go and burn sage. We need to cleanse her of whatever dark magic caused these wounds."
"Will she live?" I try again.
This time she looks at me. Her eyes are hard but not unkind.
"I don't know," she says simply. "But you need to leave. You're frightening the others and I need them focused."
"I can't leave her—"
"You can and you will."
