“He probably scratched his arm on a briar in the forest. There is no need to check on him,” Heidel answered. “Now, can we leave the subject of my brother alone and concentrate on what is more important? This is what we know of the creature so far—it has stolen the fairies’ stone and prefers removing the eyes of its victim.”
“Yes,” Prince Terminus answered, “and we know that the bloodthorn beast had reason to take our stone.”
“And,” Rolf added, “we know that the phøca removes the eyes of its victims.”
“You also said that it’s a shape changer, which means it would have an easy way of hiding its identity,” I said.
“So, which one is it?” Heidel asked. “A bloodthorn or a phøca?”
“Or none of them,” Brodnik said.
“Or a mix of the two?” Rolf added.
“I believe it was the bloodthorn who killed this man,” Esmelda said, “and I believe he did it to send us a message. He knows we are looking for him.”
“I agree,” Terminus said. “It must be the bloodthorn who did this.”
“If that is so,” Rolf said, “then how do we find him?”
“Or her,” Heidel added. “It could be in any form.”
“My ring is the key,” Esmelda said. “Whoever this creature is, he will be searching for my ring. He may not be able to activate the stone without it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“No, it’s merely speculation on my part. However, the larger stone is not complete without my ring.”
“If that’s the case,” I said, “then the ring puts you in harm’s way. Perhaps you should hide it.”
“No,” Prince Terminus said. “There is nowhere safe. Let me wear the ring instead.”
“No, Brother. The ring was gifted to me. This is my responsibility.”
“What if I wear it?” I said. “My magic is strong enough to defend the ring if necessary.”
“Are you sure?” the princess asked.
“Yes. You can’t use your magic to cause harm, but I can. If the beast comes after me, I’ll be prepared.”
The princess hesitated, as if trying to make up her mind, and then handed the ring to me. I slipped it on my finger, feeling its weight and magic as it mingled with mine. Its presence caught me off guard. This was a raw power, alive and viscous, and very aware of me.
“Olive,” Prince Terminus said, “the ring is too dangerous for you to wear. Please, let me be its keeper. We have already burdened you enough as it is.”
“No, Brother,” the princess said. “I trust her to wear it. Besides, you cannot use your magic for defense—you know that. It is better to let her wear it.”
He looked as if he wanted to argue but held his tongue.
Glancing at the entrance to Kull’s chamber, I wondered why it was so quiet back there. At the rate he was bleeding out, he could be dead in three minutes. For goodness’ sake, why aren’t they checking on the man?
“Can’t we check on him now?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure he’s not okay.”
A smile spread across Heidel’s face, as if something had just dawned on her. “That is a perfect idea. Olive—you must go and check on him.”
“Yes, you!” the two Wults pitched in. “You must go to him, Olive.”
“Me? Why me? Why can’t one of you check on him?”
Heidel stood, grabbed my hand, pried me from my chair, and then pushed me toward Kull’s chamber.
“But… no! I wasn’t volunteering myself—I thought perhaps it should be one of you.”
“She is a healer, isn’t she?” Brodnik said to Rolf.
“Indeed. This is the only solution. Her Majesty will be pleased that we didn’t let him perish.”
“Will she?” Heidel said as she looked over her shoulder.
The two Wult men chuckled. “Perhaps she would be happier if we left him to his misfortune.”
“Yes, perhaps she would,” I answered. My hands, slick with sweat, trembled as Heidel pulled me the rest of the way to the door. I ground my teeth and dug my heels into the floor. I would not go into that room with that man. I refused.
“He… needs… your help,” Heidel grunted as she pushed me.
“No he doesn’t!”
Heidel grabbed the hanging vines that formed the door, moved them aside, and peeked through the opening.
Kull lay passed out on the floor in a large pool of his own blood. He did not move, nor did I see any signs of breathing.
He’s dead. We’re too late.
Chapter 6
Heidel, her eyes wide with shock, stood beside me as we gathered around Kull in the light of the fairy flowers.
“Is he dead?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.” I fumbled my cell out of my pocket and gave it to her. “Call nine-one-one.”
“Who?”
“Just push the numbers. Tell them we’re at the festival campgrounds and your brother is unconscious. Ask if he can be life-flighted out of here.”
She probably didn’t understand half the words I’d said, but it didn’t matter as long as she relayed the message.
Kull lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood, his skin so pale it looked gray.
Stupid, stupid, Kull. Why had he let himself get this bad? And what had happened to him in the first place?
“Kull, can you hear me?” I said as I knelt beside him.
He’d covered the wound with strips of white gauze, but the blood had soaked though the bandages. I carefully moved the gauze and found muscle and tendons where his flesh had been sliced open. He’d possibly damaged his brachial artery, and if that were the case, it wasn’t good.
This hadn’t been caused by any thornbush.
Instinctively, I grabbed more clean bandages from a bag near the bed and began wrapping them tightly around the wound. The blood only trickled free, making me hope that I had more time than I thought. Or maybe he’d bled out already.
My hands trembled as I grabbed his wrist to feel for his pulse.
Why was I trembling? From fear? Why did I even care?
Behind me, Heidel yelled at the phone, but I was beginning to believe it was too late for help. I couldn’t
