Rune followed Palmer.He wanted to stay with his brother, but he also wanted to know what was happening.He didn’t like how worried Palmer looked.
“I tried telling him that it would be best if he saw another healer,” Palmer murmured.“He refused.He says that he trusts me, and I don’t think that’s warranted.”
Rune frowned.“I don’t see why you shouldn’t be trusted.”
“I’m going to do my best to help him, but I’m not a dragon healer.I’m sure that if any of them saw him, they’d understand what’s going on and would be able to help him more easily and faster.”
“Is he in danger of dying or of getting seriously injured?”
Palmer hesitated, then shook his head.“I don’t think so, and I won’t let things get that far.If I can’t get answers today or tomorrow, I’ll have to ask for help.”
“You do that.I’m sure that Twig will understand.He might be young and a little naïve, but he won’t put himself in danger.I guess he just trusts you to find out what’s going on with him.”
“I don’t understand why.We don’t know each other that well.”
Rune shuffled his feet.He couldn’t exactly tell Palmer that he’d been talking about him to his brother.“I’m sure he’s heard about you,” he said instead.“And I don’t think he’s wrong to trust you.”
“I hope not.He’s going to be fine here for a while.Shall we go to the library?”
“I have a few books in mind,” Rune told him.He might not be useful for much, but he’d made a point of making lists of medical books so that Palmer would have an easier time finding them.It was the only thing he could do while Palmer was researching.It made him feel useful.
He wasn’t sure what Killian had been thinking, assigning him to Palmer, but he suspected it was a mix of not wanting Palmer to be alone for hours at a time in an isolated room in the palace and wanting to give him legitimacy while he looked over the books.Since Rune was with him, it was a sign that Killian had authorized him to be there.He could’ve chosen any of their siblings, but he’d chosen Rune, and that meant something.Since they were dealing with Twig, it meant even more now.
The walk to the library felt familiar.They’d done it a few times now, and they fell into a routine that felt easy.Palmer grabbed a few books and dropped into his seat, while Rune went hunting for more books that could be useful.Once he had a good pile, he brought it back to the table Palmer was sitting at and dropped them onto it.Palmer looked up with a smile, reaching for the book on top of the pile as Rune did the same to hand it to him.Their fingers brushed together, and for a second, both of them froze and looked at each other.
Rune had no idea what was happening.He wanted to grab Palmer’s hand, but he reminded himself why they were here.
Twig needed help.He was sleeping in the infirmary, and they were waiting on the tests Palmer had ordered, but they needed answers.Thatwas why they were here.
Rune pulled his hand back.“Sorry,” he murmured
“It’s fine.Thank you for the books.”
Rune nodded.“Of course.I hope you can find something to help my brother.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Rune prayed that Palmer was right.Either way, they had work to do.Rune might not be able to help much, but he could read these books and try to find something that resembled the symptoms Palmer described.He already had several illnesses in mind.
He grabbed the book from the top of the pile and cracked it open, settling in for what he suspected would be a long afternoon.Palmer was already absorbed in his reading, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Every so often, he’d make a small sound, like a hum of interest or a frustrated sigh, and Rune would glance up to see if he’d found something.The library was quiet except for the sound of turning pages and the scratch of Palmer’s pen as he took notes.Rune tried to focus on the text in front of him, but his mind kept wandering back to Twig, pale and exhausted in the infirmary bed.He’d looked so small and vulnerable, and it made Rune’s chest ache.
“Here,” Palmer said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence.He slid a book across the table toward Rune, his finger marking a specific passage.“Does this sound like what Twig described?The fatigue, the shakiness?”
Rune leaned forward to read, grateful for something concrete to focus on.If they could just find the right answer, everything would be okay.It had to be.
Chapter Five
––––––––
TWIG WASN’T PALMER’Sonly patient.As much as Palmer wanted to only focus on him and his illness, he had other people to see.Maybe it would be good for him.He’d been obsessing over what was going on with Twig since the dragon had walked into his infirmary, but obsession wasn’t good in medicine.It wouldn’t help him solve the mystery of Twig’s illness.
He hoped he was doing enough to do that.
He and Rune spent every minute of free time reading books.Palmer had brought up asking other healers to help several times, but Twig had refused, as if he truly believed that Palmer could do this.Palmer was grateful for the trust, but he didn’t like seeing Twig so weak.
Hewasgoing to talk to other healers.Even if Twig didn’t want them to examine him, they could give Palmer tips and hopefully identify the illness plaguing Twig.First, though, Palmer had another patient to check in on.
