Before I can stop myself, I smile, biting down on my lip. He wants to see me again. The woman at the desk opposite mine looks over, raises an eyebrow at me, and I duck my head behind my computer like a teenager.
I consider waiting before replying and then decide that I’m too old for games and tap out a reply.
Hi, Flint. I probably should have called instead of popping by unannounced. We’re slammed here too, with all the treaty prep. Coffee sounds great. We’ll talk soon. Carla.
I read it back, decide it sounds normal and not desperate, and send it.
I put my phone face-down on the desk and force myself back to the memo.
The rest of the afternoon disappears under a pile of tasks. Robyn does the senior nurse briefing at four. I sit in to take notes. Then there’s the surgical briefing at five. By the time we wrap, I have ticked off almost everything from my list. The last two items will hold until morning.
I’m exhausted. It’s seven. I’ve been here for twelve hours excluding my lunch break, where I didn’t actually take a break.
I’m just packing up my things when the overhead intercom crackles to life.
“Code Red. Incoming. Code Red. Incoming. All available trauma staff to the hangar.”
I freeze.
Code Red means a critical dragon shifter is being airlifted in. The frontlines have been quiet for days. Most minor shifter injuries are handled at the smaller clinics. A Code Red means something serious enough that they’re skipping the clinic level entirely. Perhaps one of the dragons got injured in training. That’s rare. We had one last week. We normally only get a couple of those a year. It can’t be another one so soon…surely.
I drop my bag back on my chair and head for Robyn’s office at a fast walk.
She’s already coming out, white coat flying behind her, iPad in hand.
“What is it?” I ask, falling in beside her.
“They haven’t told me yet. The call came in two minutes ago. A chopper is six minutes out.”
“From where?”
“From the south coast.”
“The one that faces Mistveil?”
“The very same,” she tells me.
“Do you think it’s someone from the frontline? Surely not.” I shake my head. “The peace treaty has been signed. We aren’t at war anymore. The borders are supposed to open tonight. If a Red was injured by one of our guys, that could mean the end of the ceasefire.”
Just then, Robyn’s cell starts ringing.
“This is Dr. Keller,” she says, her eyes on me. “Yes…yes…okay.” She makes a noise of agreement. “I understand. Yes…I got it, Councilor. I will do.” She ends the call.
“What?” I ask, my eyes wide.
“It’s a Red.”
“Ohhh shit. A Red is coming here now?” I say in a shrill voice. “We’ve never treated a Red before. This is a nightmare.”
We’ve never treated one because they are killed outright if they try to cross the frontline. That’s obviously changed with the peace treaty now in place.
“Shhhhhhh.” She puts a finger over her lips. “A Red Dragon got a little overzealous about the borders opening and tried to cross the frontline early. When our guys tried to stop him, he made a run for it, and they took him down. In light of the treaty, they didn’t kill him like they normally would, but he is injured.”
And there it is. I was right.
“How bad is it?”
“Bad enough that he can’t shift back into human form. This could destroy all of the negotiation efforts. We’ve been asked to treat him…quietly. I want only emergency personnel in the hangar. They are all to be briefed on the delicate nature of this situation. Draig Island cannot know about this, or it’ll become headline news.”
