“She's strong,” offered Kaleb. “She's going to make it. Thanks to your healing, she's going to pull through.”
Despite all her fight, the girl's future remained uncertain, however. Could Minx keep the girl's organs from failing until the toxins were finally purged from her system? How long would the poison circulate? Could this compound be filtered out through natural means, or could it only be neutralized by a potent antidote? There was no way to know the answers to these questions; the only choice Minx had was to continue her healing regimen.
For nearly an hour, Minx sat beside Alla, tending to her in the field. At that moment, her state seemed particularly vulnerable; Minx felt somehow sure that, if she ceased casting her spell, the girl would die right then and there. She channeled more and more of her energy, doing battle with the toxin until she felt confident Alla was stable enough. Mau joined, too, lending her strength.
The girl, briefly returning to consciousness and feebly pawing the hair from her face, looked up at Minx with weary eyes. Sighing, she looked this way and that for the archers. “W-Where'd they go?”
Minx offered a little smile. “They're gone now. Don't worry about it.”
Alla shook her head and closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath. “No...” she warned. “They'll be back.”
Chapter 15
Careful not to aggravate Alla's fragile state, Kaleb continued to carry her across the plain, Minx and Mau keeping close-by. After the excitement of battle had nearly done the girl in, they opted to take a gentler route to Pandling Grounds, on foot, until she fully regained consciousness.
The day was fraught with scares and close-calls, however.
One moment, Alla seemed about to come to, to open her eyes and walk on her own two feet. The next, she stopped breathing altogether and became limp in the dragon shifter's arms. The group had to stop frequently to administer more healing, and with each successive spell Minx feared the worst. Improvements in the girl's health were invariably followed by sudden complications. She felt like she was playing tug-of-war with the specter of death, and she could hardly keep the rope in her grasp. “Slower,” she urged the others. “We need to slow down, take our time. Too much jostling or hurry and she'll suffer. I need to keep a close eye on her, even as we walk.”
We should just have Kaleb fly us to Pandling Grounds, insisted Mau. It'll take awhile, but if we get her there fast enough, she may survive. You've done a great job, but she needs more healing than you can provide. If we want her to live, we have to hurry there.
It's too risky, replied Minx. It was true; flying to Pandling Grounds would have been much faster. But attempting to keep an eye on the girl and heal her mid-flight would produce other challenges, and Alla's aversion to flying would likely tax her fragile state to the breaking point. The last thing she needed as she fought for her life were additional stressors. As soon as she's made a turn for the better, we'll ask Kaleb to fly us. Till then... we walk.
They covered many miles in this way, stopping every hour or so to assess the girl. Pandling Grounds remained distant as the threat of evening set in, and pausing in a cluster of trees near a small spring, it was decided that they would once again set up a camp.
Again? complained Mau. I don't want to rough it out here anymore. Can't we just have Kaleb fly us to town so that we can sleep in a bed?
Not till Alla's conscious, said Minx. She helped Kaleb start a fire and then sat beside the girl, watching the rise and fall of her chest from behind hooded lids.
This is a lot of trouble, isn't it? Mau curled up next to her, placing her head in Minx's lap. This girl did kidnap me, remember? Sure she's worth all this trouble?
Minx allowed herself a faint smile. The alternative is to let her die. That just doesn't sit well. She is part Fae, after all.
The Faelyr stretched out, enjoying the warmth of the fire. Not too long ago, you were the one who wanted to kill her. What's changed?
I could have lived with her dying by one of my arrows. But what happened back there, with the hunter... If Alla dies, then that guy wins. And I can't stand the thought of it. Minx shrugged. And she still owes us one for kidnapping you. So, it's better to let her live.
Kaleb stoked the fire, running a hand through his locks and peering up at the starry sky. “She seems comfortable, at least. She's no weakling.”
“Of course not,” replied Minx. “She's part Fae.”
“And Dragon,” was the shifter's rejoinder. “But suffice it to say, I think she'll pull through. She hasn't had any more of those serious spells from earlier today. Her pulse and breathing are good, and she's keeping down her water.”
Minx nodded. “I'm hoping... really hoping that she might recover by the morning. We've been in the field for so long now, I can hardly keep track of the time. There's so much happening back home, so many other things we ought to be tending to.” She gulped, trying to force her other responsibilities from her mind, at least temporarily. “As soon as she's well, we have to get moving. There's no more time to waste. That hunter knows about Valry's army. They must be on the move...”
Kaleb nodded. “Of course. As soon as she's feeling better, we'll turn our attention to this army. Your people are in a bind. I haven't forgotten.”
For days now, she had concerned herself with others. First, she and Kaleb had set out in search of Mau—a dangerous quest that had seen them cover a great deal of ground. No sooner had they
