“I’m here,” an accented voice spoke from his left.
She was awake. He met her gaze as she knelt in front of him. Ignoring the thumping in his head, he cupped her face. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Let me look at your face.”
But she didn’t look fine. Her normally bright complexion was pale and she seemed to sway, even as she knelt. “Maeryn,” he began, but she cut him off.
“I will look at your injury first, captain.” Her tone left no room for argument.
She inspected his face, her fingers tracing his brow, then down his cheek. He winced at the sting of the wound. Maeryn opened his eye, carefully evaluating it.
“I do not think it caught your eye. You just can’t see because of the blood. We shall address this on the surface, yes?”
“Yes,” he replied, rising and squinting through the burning sensation.
Ava helped Casimir up, draping his arm over her shoulder to support him. Drenched in sweat and pale, he was unsteady on his feet, the use of magic taking its toll.
Raine walked toward the tunnels when Maeryn lurched and stumbled. He steadied her, his gut twisting in concern.
“I’m fine. I just hit my head.” She tried to wave him off.
But she couldn’t walk straight and continued to stumble, sweat on her brow. Raine scooped her up, blinking through the blood, and carried her out of the cavern.
“This is unnecessary,” she stated.
“No arguing.”
“You are injured.”
“So are you.”
He strode on, Ava and Casimir behind them. They reached the entrance of the trap, Raine informing Sabriel they were ready. Vines appeared through the hole in the ceiling. Raine created his own, wrapping them around himself and Maeryn, connected them to Gisela’s, and tugged.
41
They found another cave to rest and treat their injuries. A thorough inspection deemed it free from scorpions and safe enough to settle for the night.
Ava slumped against the wall with a groan, her shoulder throbbing, the bone still protruding from her flesh. Casimir slept on a bedroll beside her, trying to recover from draining his magic dangerously low, and Jareth was working on healing Maeryn’s head injury while Raine hovered over them.
“Would you back up?” Jareth snapped.
“Let me look at your eye,” Imsel attempted, approaching Raine.
“Not until she’s healed.” Raine pointed at Maeryn.
“At least let me wash the blood off,” they tried again, the silver beads woven in their braids glinting in the firelight.
“No.”
Gisela knelt before Ava. “I’m going to pull the bone out, Your Highness. Are you ready?” Ava took a breath. “On three. One…two…three.”
Gisela pulled, yanking the projectile from Ava’s shoulder. White-hot pain shot down her arm while Gisela pressed herhand against the wound. Casimir stirred, as if sensing her pain, and Ava clutched his hand in reassurance, urging him to stay asleep.
Finished taking care of Maeryn, Jareth stood and addressed Raine. “Let me see your eye.”
“No. Heal Ava first.”
Jareth mumbled, rolling his eyes and running a hand through his golden hair.
