Her attention followed the streams. “Yes, but there is still groundwater remaining deep in the reservoirs of this skyland. There is a system in place to ensure water is accessible in every part of the palace, which is essential for a water queen.”
“What will happen when the reservoir dries up?”
“Our alchemists claim we have several years’ worth of water to sustain the palace, and similarly for the reservoirs of the larger cities throughout the queendom. Thanks to Maryn’s strict laws, of course.”
“What are her laws?”
“Only certain parts of the city have access to the largest reservoirs, with limited and rotating distribution practices. The alchemists believe this has helped slow down the rate of consumption, sustaining parts of the queendom until the curse is finally broken.” We reached a door that led to a cramped, spiral staircase. “Hopefully, we never find out what will happen once the reservoirs are completely gone.”
Down and down a spiral staircase we went, leading to a small, dimly lit corridor. A damp chill ran through me. We approached another door. When Felaf opened it, I stopped her.
“I was actually hoping to speak to him alone,” I said a bit awkwardly. “I’m sure you’ll hear everything anyway, but it would help create a semblance of privacy if you remained out here.”
Felaf didn’t object, despite the curious gleam in her eyes. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
The door groaned open, eliminating any chance of a discreet entrance. Though Raithe would have already heard me coming. I spotted him at the far end of the windowless infirmary with only sconces for lighting, containing six rows of narrow cots on either side of the aisle.
He sat upright with his legs dangling over the far side of the bed. He was bare from the waist up, a sheet tangled around his twisting torso.
I halted. Felaf assured he’d be fine by morning, but seeing his wounds in the flesh made my stomach sour. The long lacerations embedded into his pale skin looked like a Hippogriff had gone rabid on him. The intensity of a single whip from Felaf rang in my ears, and all at once, I was reminded of her power.Theirpower. When I’d stepped between him and Felaf, I was too focused on Maryn to truly get a look at the aftermath of what Felaf had done.
There had been blood. A lot of it.
I was still healing myself, my entire skin uncomfortably taut as I stared in horror.
Ignoring my presence, Raithe attempted to slather a thick paste messily onto his back with a comical amount of difficulty.
I stepped forward. “Is that yarrow?”
He craned his neck to catch my eyes as I neared him. I should have been less intimidated by his presence now that I stood taller than him, with his dark head of cropped curls onlyreaching my chest. He was practically naked with nothing but a linen bed sheet draped over his toned legs. I frowned at his pale, defined torso covered in freckles and glyphs with a sprinkle of chest hair. Felaf had only whipped his back, but he had remnants of lashings along the planes of his chest and down his muscled torso.
Stars, how many did he have?
“These aren’t from Felaf,” he grunted.
I blushed. “I didn’t mean to stare. How did?—”
“Guardians don’t scar after being Chosen. Any mutilations to our body before then stay with us forever.”
Mutilations. His body, now carved with stealth and strength, had endured more than I wanted to fathom. “Yarrow must be massaged into the wound,” I recited. “Where is Gertah?”
“Went to get more of this useless gunk.”
I dipped my fingers into the bowl and scooped up a chunk of the aromatic balm. “Well, no surprise you’re doing a poor job of applying it. May I?”
Raithe peered at me quizzically, not objecting. I brought it to my nose and inhaled deeply. Slightly sweet, but not as strong as the oil version Nahn concocted.
I smeared the yarrow into his lesions. He tensed. “Sorry,” I said, gripping his left shoulder to steady my strokes. “The yarrow should help to numb the pain.”
“I know. It doesn’t hurt.”
“This looks incredibly painful. I imagine as a guardian you still feel things.”
“You imagine a lot.”
Men always acted so tough to their own detriment. With a sigh, I focused on the task at hand and pushed aside my body’s protest for sleep.
“Why did you do it?”
