"Well enough to walk to the medical wing. Your time is too valuable to waste on transporting a cadet."
"I'm worried about you, and so is Saphir."
The simple statement caught me off guard. Not "the Shaman is worried" or "it's my duty." Just "I'm worried."
"I did well enough getting out of the temple ruins after the explosion. This trek isn't more difficult."
"I know, but we decided you should preserve your energy." He held out a hand. "Besides, danger lurks inside the Citadel walls. You are too valuable to leave exposed."
I knew that but hearing him confirm my suspicions made it somehow worse.
He instructed me to sit behind him instead of in front, with my arms around his waist to steady myself. It was the same position as the last time I had flown with him, but right after the explosion, I'd been too distraught to notice the way my thighscradled his, or the breadth of his shoulders, or the way his jet-black hair curled slightly at his collar.
"Stop it. I'm in love with Alar. I shouldn't be thinking about anyone else's shoulders or hair."
Still, appreciating Ravel's appearance and his masculine appeal wasn't a crime. I'd need to be dead not to notice how handsome he was, which could happen if I didn't get better.
The bitter thought made me wince. If the medics didn't find a way to help me, I might actually waste away and die.
Onyx launched, and the platform fell away beneath us.
The flight was absurdly short, seconds, really, just straight up a few levels and across to the medical wing's landing platform. I barely had time to register the wind in my face before we were descending again. Ravel hadn't even bothered with flight goggles.
We landed on a wide platform jutting from the Citadel's upper levels. The medical wing entrance was marked by a glowing silver dragon symbol above the doors.
I dismounted and looked around. The platform was clean and well-maintained, with clear markings for emergency landings. Several dragons could land here simultaneously if needed.
"This way," Ravel said, leading me toward the entrance.
The doors opened into a bright corridor that smelled of herbs and astringent. The walls were white stone. Doors lined both sides, some open to reveal examination rooms.
We passed nurses in crisp blue uniforms, a medic carrying a tray of instruments, a doctor consulting with a rider. Everyone nodded respectfully to Ravel as we passed. A few glanced at me with curiosity, probably recognizing me as the Hero of Elucia.
I hated that title more every day.
Ravel led me to a door near the end of the corridor. Before he could knock, it opened, revealing a handsome man with slightly graying temples and kind, smiling eyes.
"Ravel!" He pulled the commander into a brief embrace, clapping him on the back. "It's been too long since you've visited. I feel abandoned."
"It's been busy lately, Garver."
"It always is." Garver turned to me with a warm smile. "You must be Cadet Strom. I'm Chief Medical Officer Garver Thoran."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Chief." I shook his offered hand. "I hope you can find out what's wrong with me."
"I hope so, too." He motioned for me to enter.
The examination room was larger than I'd expected, with a padded table in the center, cabinets along one wall, and a desk in the corner covered with files.
"I'll wait outside," Ravel said.
"Actually, you should stay." Thoran gestured to a chair by the door. "If Kailin requires privacy during any stage of the examination, I can pull the curtain closed."
I hadn't noticed it before, but now that he mentioned it, I saw a blue curtain pulled to one side and a metal track on the ceiling. By pulling the curtain along the track, the physician could enclose a small space around the examination table.
Ravel glanced at me, his eyes asking permission, and I nodded. I didn't mind him being present. He'd been training me for weeks, he'd saved our lives in the explosion, and he deserved to know what was wrong with me.
An older woman entered through a side door. She had steel-gray hair pulled back in a bun and sharp eyes that fixed on me with interest.
