Page 143

“I think I’m going to be sick,” said Lora. She turned her face away, one hand covering her mouth.

Korvel remained near the door, but his eyes had fixed on Elowynn’s hand against Caelyn’s wrist. He was watching too closely. Watching the frost retreat every time she touched him. Watching the black veins beneath Caelyn’s skin dull when she leaned close. Watching the astrylite lanterns steady whenever Caelyn’s breathing slowed beneath her palm.

Elowynn saw him watching them when she lifted her head, letting Caelyn rest his own on her collarbone.

She had no room left to care what Korvel thought.

Alyra set the last bloodied shard onto a folded cloth beside her and exhaled slowly.

“We need something clean.”

Without hesitation, Elowynn gathered a handful of fabric from beneath the skirts of her gown.

“El—” Lora began.

Nobody finished the protest when she grabbed the knife Alyra had set nearby and sliced at the fabric with a sharp movement.

Elowynn was too focused. She didn’t care about the dress. It was ruined, anyway. Blood and ash stained the bodice and hems, but the underskirts were still clean enough for now.

Another strip from the silk underskirt followed. Then another.

Several suns earlier she had spent an absurd amount of coin on the gown because Lora insisted the Council gala demanded something spectacular.

Now she was slicing it apart without a second thought.

Alyra accepted the strips and immediately began binding the wounds across Caelyn's back.

“This won’t hold long if he keeps moving, but I am not sure what choice we have,” she said, securing another length of silver fabric around his shoulder. “And infection is likely to set in if we don’t get it cleaned.”

“Then we clean it,” Elowynn said.

“Uh… with what exactly?” asked Lora.

Elowynn snapped her eyes up. “Korvel! Give me your flask.”

Blinking once before reaching beneath his coat, Korvel produced a polished metal flask.

“This is an extraordinarily expensive vintage.”

“Congratulations. Give it to me,” she demanded, her hand outstretched.

With some unintelligible words muttered under his breath, he handed it over.

Elowynn snatched it from his hand as Lora gaped at him.

“So that’s how you were always so composed and relaxed during those stuffy events.”

Korvel gave her a helpless shrug and turned back to his post near the door.

Meanwhile, Elowynn had uncapped the flask and poured a generous amount over the worst of the wounds across Caelyn’s back, right over the bandages to keep them soaked with the alcohol.

Caelyn jerked upright.

“VIGIL TAKE ME!!” he growled between clenched teeth.

“Hold still!” she hissed. “And do not say that!”

“Elowynn—” he groaned, a sob almost cracking his voice.