Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(64)

"Kaldill, perhaps she is dreamwalking," I suggested. "You know that can happen."

"Reah didn't," he pointed out. "When they made the attempt to wake her, she woke."

"Look at my sister," I countered. "It took days."

"Yes, but that's different," he huffed and turned away.

In all the time I'd known Kaldill, I'd never seen him weep like this—not even after losing three of his four sons. It made me want to weep, too; I felt Quin had a part to play in all that now threatened the worlds, but Kaldill would likely think that just as I did.

"I'm hoping that time will take care of this," I said. "But let me know if you want me to come."

"Yes. I should get back—Berel isn't having an easy time of it, while Gurnil and Ordin are at a loss. I care not what Justis thinks—he could have avoided this altogether if he'd just said yes. Daragar says the Wise Ones saw no loss of life among his guards if he'd agreed to Quin's plan."

"This is what makes me think she is very important to any solution we may find to our poison problem," I sighed. "We need her. All of us do. The Wise Ones believe that, too."

"It would seem that way, and I'm more than grateful. The combatants will never forget their first sight of the Larentii, with all five Wise Ones and their Protectors arriving as they did and performing a miracle, by their standards."

"What idiot fired that last shot?" I asked.

"Somebody who was so entranced by what he saw—Quin flying above him, as she was—that his finger slipped. At least that's the story I hear. All would have gone perfectly had that not happened."

"You can't always predict the human element, even when they're witnessing something amazing," I agreed. "Poor Quin, pouring out her healing ability to keep people from fighting."

"I believe she only recently realized she might do it," Kaldill shook his head. "Desperation drives strange decisions, at times."

"I can attest to that—more than once," I agreed.

"I should get back and see about Berel—poor child, he's caught up in her and will always be. It's unusual—to find the one you want so early in your life." I watched as he folded away with a sad, confused expression on his face. If Quin were destined to wake again, she needed to do it soon. The King of the Elves needed her.

*

Avii Castle

I woke in Ordin's healing suite, three days after the battle. I was surprised to wake at all; the last things I remembered were brief visions as I fell, numb with pain and unable to move wings or limbs. Whatever had been fired toward me had badly battered my body.

"Thank Liron," Ordin breathed. Berel, who sat on a chair beside my bed, shouted with joy when my eyes turned toward him. I could see what he'd known after I'd been injured—that the repercussions of the blast near me had shattered my bones, rendering me helpless.

I'd been dead after I'd fallen to the ground. Now, that was no longer true, thanks to the many Larentii who'd come. I had no recollection as to where I'd been after my life was restored; I only had memories before my injuries until now, when I woke after three days of unconsciousness.

Kaldill and Daragar appeared almost simultaneously, both smiling broadly at me. The missing one?

Justis.

I wasn't sure what to make of that absence. "What," I croaked.

"Water," Ordin handed a glass to me. My hand shook too much for me to take it; Berel helped me, although Kaldill and Daragar moved closer. Berel held the glass, my shaking hand covered his and I drank.

"Father was really worried," Berel said softly, handing the empty glass to Ordin with a nod.

"What about the war?" I asked, my voice as unsteady as my hand.

"Not yet sorted completely, but at least they're not firing at each other after what happened," Kaldill supplied. "The situation with the leaders is still tense, but the troops want no part of further battle. They saw my dearest one fall," he added. "After you gave your healing to them, they were horrified."

"I want to get up," I said.

"Take this slow, Quin," Ordin instructed. "You've been down for three days, and severely injured prior to that. Your suitors may help you stand and walk for a while, but don't tire yourself. You've only just awakened, after all."

"All right, but I want to stand. I feel as if I've slept on my wings the whole time and they're cramping."

Kaldill and Berel pulled me to my feet, where I rocked unsteadily for a moment before gaining my balance. Taking the first few steps was frightening but I did it, then both held my hands as they stood before me so I could stretch my wings.

*

"Commander Justis, Quin's awake," Dena said, squinting into the early fall sunlight as Justis lifted the heavy, round stone, flipped it over and then bent to lift it again. It was a strengthening exercise, but he'd been doing it constantly for three days.

"I know." The huge stone fell with a ground-shaking thump.

"Aren't you going to see her?"

"Do you think she wants to see me? I almost got her killed."

"You act as if that's the first time it's happened." Dena shaded her eyes with a hand so she could see Justis better. "Jurris told Ardis to kill her when she first arrived. If the Orb hadn't intervened, she'd have died then. Somebody put an arrow through her wing in Fyris," she went on.