While it was a simple exercise to identify the proper responses to the day’s events, it was a much more difficult task to accept them. Whenever Val’s face appeared in my memories, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal that burned deep within my gut, and despite the clear necessity of my actions, I was still saddened by Savitz’s death. The only constant that remained clear in my mind was my hatred of King Virram, and even still, I felt conflicted; while it would have been the ultimate catharsis to finally kill him for what he had put me through, I knew that the innocent citizens of Kaldan would end up suffering more than I had for his death. I will not be made a kingslayer again.
Movement in the wagon refocused my attention on the real world, and I looked to find Marten and Hana carefully stepping around Marin and Lia as they rose for the day. I cracked one eye open and was surprised to find the sky vibrant and pink on the horizon; while I was sure I had been conscious for the entire night, my perception of time was clearly warped by my intense meditation. There was a persistent ache in my knees as I stood up from my cross-legged position in the dirt, and I went through a long series of stretches before returning to the camp.
Before I could join the Corells for breakfast, a loud shriek rang out from the back of the wagon. I dashed ahead and lunged inside just in time to see Marin writhing backwards in panic, clawing at the spot where the bolt had pierced her chest. Her empty eyes scanned around the wagon as her mind struggled to reconcile her last memories with her current situation.
“Marin,” I called out to her, raising my hands in a calming motion, “you’re alright. You’re safe.”
The words seemed to take a few seconds to cut through her daze, and she ripped open the button up shirt to examine her wound. Despite the copious amounts of dried blood on her chest, her probing fingers found the skin unmarred by cuts or scars. She blinked hard, pressing on the spot she no doubt expected to give way to a gaping wound, then looked up to meet my eyes. “Lux? I—I...where…”
“You’re safe,” I repeated, stepping closer. “You’re in the Corells’ wagon, far away from anybody who wants to hurt you. I healed your wounds; you’re going to be okay.”
Her large, olive eyes filled with tears, and she half lunged, half collapsed towards me. I caught her before she toppled to the floor and gently leaned back against a crate, rubbing her back in slow circles. Her hands wrapped around my neck as she cried wordlessly into my chest. After a while the sobbing grew quiet, and she tipped her face up towards mine. “I asked the commander...why he had brought so many men,” she managed to say through her sniffling. “I asked him...to get my sister. She would tell him you weren’t bad. But he just left, and then his men...shot me.”
“Yes,” I said sadly. “It was my fault. They were there for me, and I sent you out to talk to them instead. It was a selfish, stupid mistake. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” she asked, confused. “You saved me. I barely had time to figure out what had happened before you showed up and took me away.” Her eyes scanned my face, full of fear and confusion; it was clear that she was still trying to process the incident as she spoke. “I owe you my life. When you brought me back to the wagon, Lia tried to…” She trailed off and swiveled her head around to look at Lia. “Oh! Is she—”
“She’s fine,” I assured her. “Just out of energy. She tried to heal you, but she passed out before she could finish the job. I took care of your wounds as soon as I got back from...dealing with Savitz and his men.”
“My wounds,” she said absentmindedly, drawing back one of her hands to trace her finger along her collarbone once again. “How did you…?” Her voice faded out as she looked down to observe the healed flesh. She let out a high-pitched yelp as she hopped to her feet and quickly pulled her shirt closed, turning to hide her face.
“I’ll, uhm, I’ll go get Hana to help you clean up,” I offered. Marin nodded vigorously in reply, still looking away. “Alright. I’ll...do that.” I stood and made my way out of the wagon, where I found Hana waiting anxiously at the back flap. “Oh, good, you’re here. Marin is awake, and I think she’d like to get rinsed off and dressed in some more...fitting clothes.”
“Of course,” Hana replied. “Did you happen to find any water while you were patrolling last night? That would make things much easier.”
“I didn’t, but I can still help you on that front,” I said, pulling a silver orb from the last canister on my bandolier. I pushed the needle through the skin and depressed the button, and the orb immediately began to swell. Once it was the size of my palm, I cut the flow of energy and returned the needle to its proper place. “This is full of clean water. If you place it in a bucket and cut the skin, it should give you more than enough to get her cleaned up, but let me know if you need more.”
Hana stared at the dull silver globe with wonderment, then grinned. “Thank you, Lux.” She took the orb and entered the wagon, returning a moment later with Marin, a bucket full of water, and a handful of clean cloth. The pair made their way through camp and
