7
Xia
—
Adan cuts through the air, the expanse of perpetual white zooming by beneath us.
Although it’s exhilarating to ride a dragon, fear of falling quells my enjoyment.
That’s a long way down.
Not only do I have to keep my balance, I have to hold Tess too. My arms strain to keep her in place against Adan. She’s still unconscious, her arms bobbing idly as we fly. I’m consumed by guilt all over again, knowing that it’s because of me why she’s hurt. If Tess dies, I think that would be ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ as my dad liked to say when things went from shitty to Absolutely Fucking Shitty.
If she was in Seca that meant she had turned back after all. It meant she’d come looking for me. How can I live with myself knowing she died because I was too stubborn? That the last words we exchanged with each other were angry, hurtful ones?
Please, Tess.
Please don’t die.
Please don’t leave like everyone else.
I can’t have another person die because of me.
The mountains in Seca are all large, but the one rising up out of the snow in the distance put all the others to shame in size. It’s gargantuan. Domineering. I’m terrified just looking at it as if it has the ability to move and strike me down from perch atop Adan.
As we get closer, I see the ravine dividing it into two. The mountainside is steep and dotted with numerous gaps. Entrances. People crawl along the side like ants on an anthill.
Adan lands on a ledge that leads into one of those gaps. I struggle to climb down off of him with Tess. My years of hefting heavy coils of wire finally pays off. As soon as I have Tess, Adan shifts and swoops Tess from me up into his big, strong arms.
A momentary spike of jealousy hits me out of nowhere. Like someone running up and punching me right in the boobs. Just… WHAM! Fist to tits. There one moment gone the next. It leaves me reeling, seesawing between confusion and irritation.
What the fuck.
This is stupid.
Tess is hurt and Adan is strong enough to carry her.
Adan holding Tess like that should not bother me.
It doesn’t bother me.
At all.
“This way,” Adan says.
He leads me into the mountain. The entrance carries us into a small, empty room made of stone. Then Adan hurries through a tunnel. It’s so dark I have to drag my hands along the rough stone walls to keep my balance. It’s not as cold here as the room we left behind. As a matter of fact, the further we go, the warmer it gets. By the time we’re out of the tunnel, I’m sweating under the heavy furs Adan wrapped around me.
Following Adan’s hurried footsteps, I cast my gaze about wildly, taking in everything. It’s not as dark as the tunnel, but its gloomy in here. The only light source are torches along the wall and firepits on the floors.
On the outside, this mountain is nothing short of threatening. It’s jagged, steep exterior would give anyone the impression it’s the same roughness within. However, inside, it’s as evenly constructed and designed as the Andrak, with walkways, stairways, and rooms. All made out of stone and running along the sides forming a circular gap in the center. Peering over a railing, I look down into a pool of water with steam rising from its surface.
Secan people mill about, eyeing us curiously as we pass. They bow respectfully when they see Adan. I’m so accustomed to the usual disdain from Andrasari people, that I’m a little uncertain how to react when some greet me with smiles.
“Get one of the medics,” Adan orders a Secan male who approaches us. Dressed in a leather jerkin and pants, and armed with a spear, I assume he’s a guard. He bows then marches off quickly to fulfil Adan’s demand.
Huh. So evidently Adan’s an important person around here.
I don’t ponder the thought for too long. My attention is solely on Tess when Adan enters one of the rooms and lays her down on a bed made of thick, soft furs.
Then he reaches for the buttons on Tess’ coveralls and starts to undo them.
“What are you doing?” My voice is higher than it should be.
“She has been lying in the cold for some time and might have developed sickness,” he explains. “We have to remove her clothing and wrap her up to restore her heat.”
“Oh. Right. Good idea.”
Together we quickly remove Tess’ clothing. Once she’s naked, Adan retrieves more furs and wraps Tess up entirely. She looks like a swaddled baby with just her face visible.
A Secan male with greying hair and dressed in a beige calf-length tunic pushes aside the covering to the room’s entrance. Adan stands when he enters and the Secan bows in respect toward Adan before greeting me with a nod.
“Ta Konai, how can I help?”
What?
What?
Konai?
Adan’s the Konai of Seca?
My act of treachery by sleeping with a draki is suddenly magnified tenfold. If I had a mirror, I wouldn’t be surprised to see my eyebrows touching my hairline. My mouth works to form words but I don’t know what to say. For some reason, I feel betrayed. Here I’d believed him to be some random, generous Secan male I’d boned while I was at a low point, soon to be forgotten once I continued on my journey.
But who can forget fucking a High Prince… of a whole damn region?
Get it together, Xia. Focus on Tess.
Adan glances at me then indicates Tess as he speaks.
“From a cursory inspection I believe the human was attacked by a cuhi,” Adan says. “Though perhaps your experienced eye might discover otherwise, Medic Olhun.”
Nodding, Medic Olhun approaches Tess and sinks to his knees beside her, setting his bag down as well. As he begins to unwrap the covering keeping her warm, Tess groans and blinks her eyes open.
I’m by her side in seconds. Her gaze is unfocused, her features twisted in pain.
“Tess, it’s me. It’s Xia.”
“Xia… you’re… you’re alive… thank the god—” Then she gasps out and shivers violently. “It’s cold… it’s cold… ”
Tears prick the backs of my eyes but I don’t want to shed them. I’m tired of crying. I’m tired of feeling so helpless and hopeless. This is my fault. All my fault. I was mean to her and chased her away and she got hurt.
“This is good,” says the medic.
“How is it good? She’s in pain.”
“Yes, but the cold is leaving. Her body fights it from its system.”
We all wait in tense silence until Tess’ shivering subsides. Then her eyes droop as she falls unconscious again.
The medic returns to his task, quickly uncovering her from the furs. He inspects her injuries, frowning at the deep bite marks on her arm and leg. They look even nastier than before, a blackness spreading out around the edges where the skin is broken.
The medic looks over his shoulder at Adan and nods.
“You are correct, ta Konai,” he says with dismay. “We will need a fresh, warm sac to save her.”
Adan nods silently, turning to leave.
“You and your friend are safe here, Xia. I will return soon.”
I stand quickly. “Where are you going?”
Despite the residual anger leftover that he didn’t disclose his identity, I’m still immensely grateful for all that he’s done. I would be dead if it wasn’t for him. Tess would be dead if it wasn’t for him. While I’ve been a useless puddle of tears, blaming myself for Tess’ demise, he’s been strong, capable, and proactive.
“To get the antidote to save your friend.”