Raj stood over the creature. Drekken and the dwarf, no longer in his wolf’s form, also walked toward the thing on the ground.
“So that’s a sand demon,” Drekken said, gingerly nudging the limp body with the toe of his boot. It was the size of a hound. It had gray, leathery skin and the remains of tentacles for feet.
The dwarf cursed, calling the creature every vile name imaginable, some words I’d never heard before—and could only imagine what they meant. How many “sons of” and “wifeless mother’s” he spouted about I lost count.
“Dwarf,” I said, cutting him off. “That’s enough. We all agree. Thank you.”
He grunted but remained silent.
“It uses the smoke to hide its true appearance,” Raj said. “They kill with their tentacles, then eat their victims, taking everything, even bone, leaving nothing behind. They’ve killed many travelers along this road, and no one can seem to stop them. They’re vile creatures, and unfortunately, their numbers have grown exponentially ever since the high sorcerer destroyed our city.”
“How far are we from the city?” I asked, flinching at the pain in my midsection, grateful for the darkness so Raj wouldn’t see me grimace.
“Just there.” He pointed at a ridge, and beyond, the faint glow of lights lit the sky. “We’re nearly there.”
“Good,” I said, gasping as the wound tore at my flesh. Sable walked toward me and nudged my shoulder. I held tightly to her reins, not having a clue as to how I would climb atop her.
The others got to their mounts, but all I could do was stare up at the saddle, which seemed much higher than I remembered. With a deep inhale, I stuck my foot in the stirrup and attempted to climb up, but my midsection felt as if it had caved in on me—as if I was being stabbed all over again, and with a cry, I fell to the ground.
Stars danced in my vision as I stared overhead, cursing the stupid guardsman for stabbing me, the sand cold beneath my back.
“Gothel,” Raj said, rushing to my side. His eyes widened as he looked at my wound. A large spot of dark blood stained my riding gown. He moved the fabric aside. Every touch sent waves of pain shooting through my insides, but I held my tongue. I refused to let him hear me scream.
“Your stitches have opened,” Raj said. “You’re losing a lot of blood. Drekken,” he called. “Bring me bandages!”
The elf hurried to Raj’s pack and pulled out strips of white cloth, then brought them to Raj.
“How badly is she hurt?” Drekken asked.
“It’s worse than I thought,” Raj said. “She may be bleeding inside.”
The stars wouldn’t hold still as I stared overhead. I blinked to make them stop moving, but it didn’t help. The sound of Raj’s voice faded. I thought he called my name but couldn’t be sure.
A cold cloth dampened my forehead, helping bring me back to reality. The scent of rosewood oil hung heavy in the air. Where I felt pain only a moment ago, I now felt a tingling numbness.
“Gothel.” Raj’s voice brought me back to reality, and I focused on him.
“Yes,” I said, my voice so weak I barely managed a whisper.
“We’re going to take you to the healer in the old city. Hang on.”
I nodded, and he scooped me up in his arms. The warmth of his chest enveloped me, and his taut muscles held me steady. I placed my hand on his chest to keep stable, feeling the beating of his heart beneath my palm. A strong rhythm thumped beneath my fingers.
He lifted me atop his horse, and I threaded my fingers through Tranquility’s mane to keep from falling off. He climbed behind me, pressing his chest to my back, and holding me firmly around the middle, just below my breasts so as not to touch my wound.
“Does this hurt?” he asked, his mouth pressed to my ear.
“No,” was all I could manage.
He kicked Tranquility’s flanks. The horse loped toward the glowing horizon while the others followed us. I grasped Raj’s forearms to keep steady as he held my waist. Wind rushed past, making strands of my hair batter my face. I held tightly to Raj, my consciousness fading in and out.
Keeping my gaze on the lights ahead was my only link to reality. I had to stay awake. If I was losing blood, falling asleep meant I might not wake again. Holding onto Raj’s arms, I blinked slowly, the world fading in and out, the sounds of hooves pounding the sand, echoing in cadence with my heart beats. Tranquility loped with long, smooth movements, not as jerky as Sable had been.
“Almost there,” Raj said, his voice deep, reverberating from his chest.
The lights grew closer. Flames flickered from torches and camp fires. Tents were interspaced among the ruins of a massive city that was nothing more than hollowed-out domes and towering sandstone structures, their windows empty and devoid of life.
Two men wearing rags around their heads and carrying spears blocked our path. Raj pulled back on the reins, stopping his horse. My head spun. Though the wound didn’t ache as badly as it had earlier, I felt so dizzy, it took all my fortitude to keep from passing out.
“Raj Talmund? Is that you?”
“Yes, Babak. I’ve returned, but I need help. This is Gothel. She’s a girl from the south who’s aiding me on my quest to restore our lands, but she’s been injured, and she’s bleeding out. Where is Anahita?”
“She’s in the healer’s tent. Would you like me to lead you there?”
“Yes, straightaway.”
“You frightened us,” the other man said. “We weren’t sure what demons approached us. We’re glad you’ve finally returned.”
“It won’t be a long stay, I’m afraid. We’re journeying to the Ice Mountains.”
The man’s eyes narrowed between
