“Oh, Kellen, our poor cousins. Leaf and Star, that we should be driven to this—!” Petariel said.
Kellen had no idea what he meant, but there would be time later to figure it out. “Come on,” he said, getting an arm under Petariel’s shoulders. “Let’s get you out of here. Gesade and Shalkan both would have my head if I let anything happen to you.”
Petariel laughed raggedly, but it ended on a strangled sob. “The worst has already happened,” he said softly.
Kellen half-carried Petariel back up the passageway. He felt a deep pang of relief to see Idalia and Vestakia both there, unhurt—and quickly focused all of his attention on Petariel, lest his worry for Vestakia’s safety turn into something he must not feel right now.
“Ah, another one,” Idalia said lightly. “The stretcher-bearers will be back in just a moment.”
“I can walk,” Petariel said grimly.
“No you can’t,” Idalia said firmly. “Not if you want to be riding again soon.”
Kellen helped Petariel to lie down among the other wounded. There were several Healers working in the narrow space, and a constant stream of the walking wounded were moving out toward the open air.
Everything was moving so slowly! But that was why the Shadowed Elves didn’t bother with guards, Kellen now realized. They were sure no one could attack them in force.
Once he was sure his emotions were under control, he risked a glance at Vestakia.
Vomit stained the front of her surcoat, and she knelt beside Idalia, obviously dazed and exhausted by the presence of so much Taint. Kellen sighed reluctantly.
“Celegaer needs Vestakia,” he said to Idalia.
“Now?” Idalia asked.
“I’m ready,” Vestakia said valiantly, raising her head. There were deep shadows beneath her eyes, and she looked haggard.
“Not yet. Soon. He told me to rest,” Kellen added, trying to make a joke of it.
“As if you would,” Idalia said, handing him a waterskin. “Are you hurt?”
Kellen shook his head, and drank. The water was warm, but it was unicorn-pure. He felt better afterward.
“I think they threw most of what they had at us. Some of them got away, though. We’ll have to find them,” Kellen said.
“That will be my job,” Vestakia said bravely.
“Come on, then,” Kellen said gruffly, sounding far more brusque than he wanted to. But he couldn’t help it. He felt as if he had no energy to spare for anything.
Idalia and Vestakia followed him back into the cavern.
Celegaer and several of the others were waiting for them just past the end of the bodies. All of them had the faintly stunned air of grief about them that Kellen had noticed before.
“Vestakia,” Celegaer said, seeing her. “Are you well?”
“Well enough to do what you ask of me,” Vestakia answered steadily.
“Then find our foe,” Celegaer said.
Without hesitation, Vestakia pointed—not along the corridor, but at the corridor wall.
“The corridor curves,” Idalia said. “That’s the direction of the cavern village. There will be females and young there,” she warned.
“We can leave none alive,” Celegaer said wearily.
