Firebrand

“Is it Karigan?” she asked anxiously. “Is she worse?”

A line of concern creased his brow. “Her cough has subsided, which is good, but she is not well. There may be some corruption of one or more of the wounds, but I am watching closely. Of course, I speak only of the physical wounds.”

“Just the physical . . .” Estral murmured. She closed her eyes to steady herself. If what she had experienced in Nyssa’s workshop had so traumatized her, she could only guess how it would be for Karigan, who had been the object of the physical torture.

“The wounds of her body, and those of the mind, will take time to heal, and both will leave scars.”

“That does not sound good.”

“No, it is not good, which is why I am reassessing how we should proceed.”

“I thought you didn’t wish to move her.”

“I do not plan to.” He gazed steadily at her. “I intend that you ride Mist to the encampment of Captain Treman and report to him what we know of the Lone Forest, and of our predicament, and what Nari told us about the king. It may be he can send some aid, maybe even the mender who may have different herb lore that will help the Galadheon.”

“I won’t leave her,” Estral said. “I can’t. Even on Mist, that journey would take over a week.”

“It is best that Captain Treman hears from one of his own people who is also held with esteem for her status in her realm. Nari and I will keep watch on the Galadheon. My healing skills are more developed than Nari’s, but I believe hers exceed yours.”

Estral scowled. It was all very logical, but her feelings about the situation were not. “I—” she began; then they both glanced in the same direction at the same time. Karigan, wrapped in a blanket, was dragging herself out of Enver’s tent and across the ground.

“Galadheon!” Enver cried.

“Karigan!”

Karigan ignored them and kept crawling. Enver was beside her before Estral could even react.

“Galadheon,” he said, “you will reopen your wounds.”

She kept crawling forward with single-minded intent until he grasped her shoulder.

“Karigan,” Estral demanded, “what in the hells are you doing?”

It was unclear whether Karigan was really aware of them. Her feverish gaze was focused straight ahead. “I need to . . .” she murmured.

Estral and Enver exchanged glances.

“Need to go back,” Karigan said.

Estral knelt in front of her. “What are you talking about?”

Sweat dripped down Karigan’s brow, and she looked up at Estral, registering recognition. “Back to the forest. I need to go back.”

“Why?” Estral asked. “You need to rest.”

Karigan tried to struggle out of Enver’s grasp and looked almost angry. “I need to get the king.”

Estral glanced at Enver. “She’s clearly delirious.”

“Galadheon, you must return to the tent, recuperate,” Enver said in his gentle voice.

“No.” She struggled against the hold he had on her, then lay on her stomach, exhausted. “No, no, no. I am not delirious.” Her eye started to close. She blinked, fighting the exhaustion.

Enver gathered her into his arms, handling her delicately as if she were very fragile.

“No, no, no,” she murmured. She pounded on his chest, but it was more like a feeble pat. Then she cried out in pain as he shifted her.

“I am sorry,” he said.

Estral followed him into the tent and watched as he settled Karigan back onto her bedding. When she lay on her stomach once again, she fell limp as one dead. The helpless feeling washed over Estral again, and she wanted to weep.

“I am not delirious,” Karigan insisted in a weak voice. “They have the king. I saw him, and Lord Fiori, too.”

Stricken, Estral could only gape.

“Must free the king,” Karigan murmured.

“Galadheon, you must rest; then we can discuss it, yes?”

With a surge of strength that defied rationality, Karigan pushed herself up. “Don’t placate me. Must get him out of there.” Then she collapsed into the blankets and whispered, “I can’t leave him, too.”

Estral stumbled outside. Her father and the king in Second Empire’s hands? And Karigan injured and feverish, thinking she could crawl into the Lone Forest and rescue them. In her mind, she’d left Cade behind and she could not do it again. Estral slowly sat down by the fire. Mister Whiskers came over and rubbed against her elbow.

Nari soon appeared, took one look at her, and asked, “What is wrong?”

“Karigan says Second Empire has the king and my father.”

Nari looked off into the distance and murmured, “He is no longer with Slee, then.”

Enver emerged from his tent. Estral twisted around to face him. “She wasn’t delirious, was she? She really saw my father. And the king.”

“No, not delirious,” Enver said.

She didn’t tell me they were there while we were being held, Estral thought, so Nyssa couldn’t get it out of me in case Second Empire was ignorant of who they had. She shuddered. “What are we going to do? We can’t just leave them there in the hands of Second Empire.”

“I think not,” Enver agreed.

Estral was relieved. As an Eletian, Enver had no allegiance to Sacoridia’s king. He could say it was not part of his mission, that he was not required to get involved. He could have abandoned Estral to do as she would, and continued on his journey to find the p’ehdrose.