Shunati moved to the next patient. Ti had been skin successfully. Although he was closer to two months from shedding, he’d be fine. He and Dae had been taken home. The trolls had attacked. There had been numerous wounded. Shunati, or one of the others, healed them so they could go out and fight more. He hated that. And he hated not being able to heal them completely. In order to conserve their strength and help more soldiers, many of the more seriously wounded were healed just enough to not be critical. They were then passed to Sapphire or another helper to patch up. Andy was helping mages regain their strength. “Queen Deyama?” Shunati heard him ask. Shunati looked up in time to see his queen pass out in Andy’s arms. She’d spent too much magic using a taki-sphere to bring the Elven army. They must’ve taken care of the trolls in Erilu. Vor was brought in a moment later, badly wounded and looking almost as weak magically as Deyama was. The healer supporting him allowed him a moment to help Andy revive her. After Andy was done strengthening both, the healer brought Vor over to work on him. Shunati finished with his patient and went to Vor. “Let me help him. He’s my cousin.” He requested. The healer nodded and went to another patient. “What did I tell you I’d do if you got yourself stabbed again?” Shunati chided his cousin, referring to the time Vor had been stabbed in an effort to convince his cousin not to give up healing. “You said you’d always be there for me.” Vor grinned. That was nowhere near what he’d said. “You’re lucky they need fighters, no matter how bad they are,” Shunati told him as he healed him. Deyama joined them while a healer took care of the burns she’d received being revived. “Are you all right?” She asked. Vor nodded. He wasn’t yet, but soon would be. “What are you doing here?” He asked. “Someone took our children. I had to make sure they were safe.” The building shook. Ann swore and announced Lyra had destroyed a section of the building. Shunati told the two of them to rest a few minutes before going back to battle and moved to another patient. He shut out the battle and focused on healing the wounded. He was vaguely aware that Andy, Pt’this, and Ann had each left, but he was focused enough on his own task. He couldn’t say how long it was before he heard one of the dragons give off a mourning cry that was echoed by the others. He counted. Six cries. It wasn’t a dragon. Who was it that died? Then Sapphire was crying “mad dragon”, saying all of them had lost control. They all would become mindless beasts and kill everything in sight. Soldiers started pouring in for safety. “Get the patients back!” Shunati cried. “Make room.” They all started moving the patients. The place would be crowded with soldiers soon. There would be more injured, those burned by the dragons. Then he saw them bring in Andy and Ann. Andy had been stabbed and leaned on a healer for support. Ann was carried. His blood went cold. She was one of a few here whose death would cause that reaction from the dragons. He sent the best army healer to attend to Andy while they brought Ann to him. He examined her. She’d lost a lot of blood, but more serious was her magic. She’d used up every last spark of it. She would never wake. She was in a wizard’s trance and the only way to revive her was with an infusion of energy, but she needed to have at least a little bit of her own to be able to assimilate it. She didn’t even have that. Still, he healed her wounds and restored the blood loss. “Can you save her?” Emeton asked. He shook his head. “It would be kinder to end it now,” he said. She’d be having nightmares in there, horrible, unspeakable nightmares. She’d eventually die from lack of food and water. Emeton shook his head. “Not yet. We’ll talk with Nim and Pt’this. Those two might know things no one else does.” Shunati nodded. “I’ll talk with the elves. Maybe someone knows something we could try.” **** That’s what they did. There were several things they tried, including forbidden magic. Nothing had worked. Ann would never wake. Now, Shunati sat in a room with those they hadn’t had the strength to fully heal. Even he was spent, all his healing magic used up until he rested and allowed it to regenerate. He was exhausted, but he wasn’t ready to rest yet. Most of the worst injuries had been brought to him. Reading that many horribly wounded, not just seeing the wounds, but knowing what was going on inside and the pain they were experiencing, threatened to overwhelm him. He had to keep busy to keep from thinking too much about it. Someone entered. Shunati didn’t look up. It was most likely someone coming to check on a friend. He would’ve never guessed he was that friend. “How are you doing?” A familiar voice asked. He looked up. “Sinta? What are you doing here? Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I came to check on you.” “But why are you here?” He pressed. “I thought you weren’t supposed to leave the valley.” “Oh, that. I was checking on the kids when Princess Ann brought them here. I stayed to help. Neither Rejenn nor Cesni speaks much Elvish.” “It’s good to see you.” He meant that. “Are you okay? You look terrible.” He told her about all the soldiers he’d healed. Then he told her about Ti and Ann and how she wasn’t going to make it and all the things that he’d felt from all of them. He was crying by the end. She pulled him to her, and he indulged in a comfort he’d rarely felt since he was a child as she held him. **** Sinta held Shunati, at a loss for what else she could do for him. He had experienced so much, and now he was physically and emotionally exhausted. If she had to guess, he was probably drained magically too. She went to an empty bedroll and lay with him, holding him until he fell asleep. Then she slipped from the bed and went to see if she couldn’t finish the cleaning he’d been doing. Vor slipped in. “How’s Shun doing?” He asked softly. “Not so good. These last couple of days were too much for him.” “Where is he?” Vor asked. She pointed. “Sleeping?” Vor was surprised. “Usually after something like this, he doesn’t sleep for days.” “I lay down with him until he fell asleep. I used to do that when Pisha had nightmares.” “It’s pretty amazing.” “How about you? How are you?” She asked. “I’m surviving. I wasn’t hurt too bad. And I didn’t read all those soldiers.” “Well, don’t expect me to hold you too. You’re pledged to my best friend. If you need to be held, you talk with her.” “I wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise. Actually, I was thinking of maybe going home with the army. How do you think Deyama would feel about that?” “Talk to her.” “I’m going to,” he assured her. “I was just trying to get an idea of what to expect.” “I think she’ll appreciate it. She loves you. Go talk with her. I’ll keep an eye on Shunati.” Voramini nodded. “Thanks.” Then he left. **** Sinta lay next to Shunati when he woke the next morning. He remembered her lying down with him but knew she had gotten up at some point also. He smiled, glad she was back. He propped himself up on an elbow to look around. All the patients slept. Darkham sat watching over them. He slipped from the bedroll and went to him. “Did you take my shift?” He asked softly, sitting next to him. Darkham shook his head. “Sinta watched the patients. She said she had as much healing ability as you did last night.” Shunati frowned. “She doesn’t have any healing ability.” “And neither did you last night. You were completely drained.” Shunati nodded. “Good point.” “And she knows more about patchwork than most of these idiots we’ve been working with.” “That’s not hard. Most here don’t even think to put on a bandage.” “I know. Prince Remtani wants me to go back with them and train them.” “Are you going too?” Darkham nodded. “I’m thinking about it. The further away from Grywell, the better.” “Aren’t your wives to Grywell?” Shunati asked. The way the dwarf talked, he got along well with both of them. “And their mothers,” Darkham said grimly. “But it’s not family, it’s just Grywell, the clans, the customs.” “So we're both leaving behind loved ones to be away from our people and their ways,” Shunati said. “So we are.” Darkham agreed. “I’ll give you a hand with the army healers if you teach me some of that patchwork you know,” Shunati offered. “You need to know patchwork? You’re one of the strongest healers I’ve met. I think only my old partner Lyni was stronger.” “And Lyni didn’t use patchwork?” Shunati raised an eyebrow. “Of course he did. Most of what I know, either I learned from him, or we developed together.” “Good morning,” Sinta join them. She put an arm around Shunati kissed him. That surprised him. Elves usually didn’t display physical affection in public. “How are you feeling?” “A little better. Sleep helps.” He was still emotionally raw, but he wasn’t exhausted. “You still need to take it easy. I can see it in your eyes.” “I’m only doing my job.” He shrugged. “I’ll be okay. It just takes time.” He reached up to brush the hair from her face. She pulled away and frowned, grabbing his wrist. She pulled up his sleeve, exposing the tattoo. “What is this?” She asked. “You didn’t have this in Erilu.” She looked rather unhappy. “It can be removed. One of the dragons has drawing as an addiction. He was going rocky on the way here so I let him do this to keep him from going mad dragon. I wasn’t going to keep it.” “Okay then.” She relaxed some. “I take it you wouldn’t like it if I got one long-term.” Shunati guessed. “You aren’t thinking about getting one, are you?” “I toyed with it but if you don’t like it, I won’t.” Darkham laughed. “Not even married and she’s telling you what to do.” “Shut up or I’ll freeze your voice box.” Shunati threatened. “Do it, round-ears. I’m a healer too,” Darkham challenged. “You might be stronger, but I can still undo anything you do to me.” “You two behave,” Sinta scolded. “You have patients.” “Woman defending you.” Darkham chuckled. “At least my woman is here,” Shunati taunted. “Okay, that’s it.” She grabbed the tip of his ear and pulled. “You and I are going to get breakfast for these people.” She dragged him out of the room. **** Shunati was doing a bit better. They’d left Dragon Castle a few days ago and were traveling back to the humans’ palace in Sen-gan. In an effort to help him, Sinta had spoken to every healer there to see what helped them recover. She then collected everything she could to help make a potion that did help him some. But it wouldn’t help him with Ann’s death. They’d left her at the castle with Andy, Pt’this, and Sapphire. When she passed away, Pt’this would bring them home to Sen-gan. Her parents wanted her to die in peace, and if she were at the palace, the nobles would come and pay their respects even before she was dead. She’d be aware of this, and it would make the experience that much worse for her. A soldier entered his tent. “Forgive me, Lord, for the intrusion,” he said quickly before Shunati could complain. “You’re needed in the king’s tent.” “What’s wrong?” Shunati asked. The soldier shook his head. “They didn’t tell me, just that you need to hurry.” He hurried to Emeton’s tent where he found not only Emeton but also Nimitinas, Fists, Darkham, and Rejenn. His heart sank, sure Ann had died. Then he saw in the scrying mirror. Ann was awake and sitting up, supported by Andy. She looked terrible, but she was alive and awake. “How?” He asked. “She was just about to tell us,” Nim said. “I drew in magic from a spell I cast. Then I used that as a base and drew in the magic from Lyra’s brand and my tattoo to wake up. Andy and Pt’this helped me more,” she explained. “What spell did you draw from?” Nim asked. “The enchanted fireplace in my room at the palace. It was spelled to light when I was there. Sorry, Dad, I didn’t do a good job of removing the spell, and it froze over. Mom said it was encased in ice.” “Don’t worry,” Emeton assured her. “It’s just a fireplace. It can be replaced if needed.” A thought occurred to Shunati. Andy wasn’t a strong enough mage to cast a scrying spell and Pt’this generally didn’t use magic. “Ann, you’re not the one casting the scrying spell are you?” “Shades, no. I can’t cast a spark. Pt’this is doing it.” “Don’t you start casting,” Nim warned. “Don’t worry. I’ve no desire to go through that again anytime soon,” she assured them. They talked and joked for a while until Pt’this said the spell was draining him too much. Shunati returned to his tent feeling much better. He scried Sinta. “Hello,” he said. “Shun, hi.” She smiled when she saw them. “You’re looking better. How are you feeling?” “Better, thank you for your help.” “I’m glad.” “I’ve also got some great news. Ann woke up.” “That’s impossible.” “That’s what I thought. If I hadn’t spoken to her, I’d never believed it.” “She scried you?” Sinta looked shocked. “No, she can’t cast yet. Pt’this did it. They wanted to let her dad know she was okay. Emeton called us all in to talk to her.” “So she’s going to be okay?” “It sure seems like it.” He nodded. “That’s wonderful.” “Were your parents mad you left the valley?” He asked. “No, they weren’t very happy, but they understood when I explained.” “I wish you could’ve come with us. I miss you,” he told her. “I miss you too. You can come here,” she suggested. Shunati shook his head. “There are patients I need to keep an eye on. I’ll come up when I can.” “I’d like that.” “I’ll talk with Mila when I get back.” “Let me know. I’ll make sure I don’t have to work.” “Oh, that reminds me, I should scry Vor too. Let him know Ann’s okay.” “I don’t know about that,” Sinta smiled. “I saw him heading to Deyama’s room.” It was Shunati’s turn to look surprised. “You’re not saying they…” Sinta shrugged. “I don’t know. I just saw him in there.” “He’ll kill me if I don’t tell him but he’ll kill me if I interrupt.” “Don’t risk it. I’ll tell them,” she offered. Shunati smiled. “Thanks.” “I had Nim remove the tattoo.” He pushed up his sleeve to show her. “He wasn’t hurt that you didn’t want it?” “No. He didn’t like it either. He’s actually an amazing artist. He offered to do one for me while we weren’t moving. I said I didn’t think you’d appreciate it. He understands. He knows elves don’t usually wear tattoos.” “If you want one, I won’t complain,” Sinta assured him. He shook his head. “I don’t need that big of a sign that I’m a round-ears.” He knew Sinta didn’t really want him to have one either. **** Shunati scried Sinta. “Shunati! I’ve missed you.” She smiled. “I missed you too. How have you been?” “Busy. Now, in addition to helping a new queen learn what she’s doing, we’re recovering from the trolls and the elders want safeties put in place. We’re working out what to do. How about you?” “Mostly the same old stuff. Queen Tylan has everything upside down for the wedding. Pt’this and Sapphire are getting married at the same time, so there are even more people here. I’m having to stay in my room when I’m not on duty. There are just too many people. I’m using my spell shield a lot too.” “You can come up here a little while to get away.” She offered. He smiled. “I’d like that, but extra people mean extra work. I even have to patch someone tonight.” “Patch? Who?” She knew he meant a repair to the reservoir a mage used to store magic. “Ann. She apparently did it while fighting Lyra.” “That was over a month ago.” “Her magic is taking a long time to return. She hasn’t done any casting yet.” “Will she be able to?” Shunati nodded. “Eventually, she’ll be fine.” “Good.” “Do you think your parents would let you come down with Deyama and Vor for the wedding?” Shunati asked, hopeful. She shook her head. “I already asked. Deyama wanted to bring me down so I could see you.” Shunati nodded. “I’ll see about coming up after the wedding.” “I’d like that.” “How are Vor and Deyama doing?” “You haven’t talked to him?” “I have, but he’s not very forthcoming.” “There are good days and bad days. They’ve spent a few nights together. She wants him with her when she makes appearances, but there are some days she can’t stand him being around him. She can’t even figure out why.” “Has she talked to a healer? If they are sleeping together, she might be pregnant.” “I’ll mention it to her, but Vor said once they do start sleeping together they’ll be more careful.” “It might also just be her needing time to get past everything. She was angry with him for decades.” “True.” She nodded. “I’m a bit drained from using my spell shield so much. I should rest before the procedure. “Okay.” Sinta nodded. Shunati thought she looked disappointed. “We’ll talk soon, okay?” “Okay.” She nodded again. “Are you okay?” He asked. “I just needed someone to talk to. I worry about Pisha. Her brothers don’t care for her well.” “I can come up and take a look at her,” he offered. Sinta shook her head. “You know they won’t let you.” “What about when they’re not around?” “There’s always at least one of them there.” “Healing potions won’t work after this long. If I knew the extent of her injuries, what hasn’t healed, I might be able to come up with a potion that will help her at least wake-up. Then, she can choose what healing she gets. If you slip it in her food…” “Shunati! I can’t do that. If I were caught, I’d get arrested.” “I’m sorry. I was just thinking aloud. Unless I can examine her, I couldn’t make the potion anyhow.” “It was a nice thought.” “What I can do is give you something that will help with bedsores. Would they allow that?” She nodded. “I think so.” “I’ll send it with Deyama and Vor. If the queen gives you something to give to her, they can hardly complain, right?” She smiled. “Sounds about right.” “Feel it will be better?” “A little.” “If you need to talk more, then you’ll have to scry me. I need to end this spell. If I have to postpone the patching, she’ll refuse to ever have it done.” “I’m okay. I’ll scry you tomorrow, see how things went. You rest.” “Thanks,” Shunati smiled and ended the spell.