Allied (Ruined #3)(46)

He was going to Olso.

With Aren.

There was still time to turn back. He could apologize and say that perhaps the blow to the head had been harder than he thought, because he’d temporarily lost his mind. Aren wouldn’t try to make him stay.

Galo let out a long sigh. He wasn’t going to back out. As much as the logical part of the brain was screaming at him, he couldn’t ignore the little voice that said Aren needed, and deserved, his help.

“Let’s stop here,” Aren said after they’d been riding at least an hour. “There’s a stream over there, and we should let the horses rest.”

Galo nodded gratefully. He needed the rest as well. He hadn’t slept much the past few days. He’d been busy racing messages between Aren and the Lera soldiers.

Aren dismounted his horse, then took the reins from Galo and led both horses to the stream to drink.

Galo slumped down against a tree, letting out a breath as he pressed his palms against his throbbing forehead.

Aren grabbed his pack off the horses and opened it. He pulled out a clean rag and poured some water on it, then grabbed a jar from the bottom of his bag. He walked to Galo and sat down, lifting the rag to his head.

He stopped suddenly, hand still poised. “Do you mind? We should clean it so it doesn’t get infected.” He held up the jar. “It’s a salve to help heal the wound.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

Aren pushed Galo’s hair back and wiped the cloth across the wound.

“You came prepared,” Galo said.

“I had nothing to treat my burns after fleeing the Ruina castle,” Aren said. “I’d never needed anything; Wenda Flores or Olivia healed me the few times I was injured. Now I always have a bag packed with medical supplies.”

Galo winced as Aren dabbed the salve over the cut above his eyebrow. “Olivia didn’t heal your burns after you rescued her?”

“She couldn’t. You can’t heal an old wound. The window is very short.”

“And you can’t heal at all?”

“Sadly, no.” Aren scooted back and lifted his shirt to examine his own wound.

“Do you want help?” Galo asked.

“I’m fine.” He grabbed a fresh rag and began cleaning the cut. “It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

“What?”

“That Olivia can heal and I can’t. She has no interest in healing anyone.” His next words were quieter. “Your power is a gift, but you have to choose what to do with it. My mother used to say that.”

Galo didn’t know how to respond, and silence stretched out between them as Aren finished tending to his wound.

“Why did you come with me?” Aren asked softly.

Galo let out a short laugh and leaned his head back against the tree. “Because I’m crazy?”

“That was my first guess.” He paused. “You don’t really even know Iria, do you?”

“I think we’ve spoken maybe five words to each other.”

“So . . . ?”

Galo stared up at the sky, black in between the tree branches. “Mateo says I have to save everyone.”

“Is that true?”

“Maybe. A little. I was a king’s guard, it was my job to save people. Or protect them, at least.”

“True.” Humor crept into Aren’s voice. “Are you going to protect me, then?”

“It seems so.”

“You should sleep,” Aren said, pulling a blanket from his pack. He tossed it to Galo. “I’ll watch.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll need to sleep more when we get closer to the Olso border, so my powers are sharp. And you look ready to pass out.”

Galo tucked the blanket under his head as he lay down. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Aren said quietly. “For coming with me.”

“You’re welcome,” Galo said. “Do you think Iria is expecting you to come?”

It took Aren several seconds to answer. “I don’t know. I told her I would, but . . . I don’t think she’s going to be happy to see me.” He said the second part quietly, almost to himself.

“Why not?”

“I was going to leave her in Lera and go with the Ruined. She was really mad.”

“You’re going to break her out of prison. I think she’ll come around.”

“Would you?”

“Yes.”

Aren looked at him skeptically. “Seriously?”

“Of course. You had a really tough choice to make. You couldn’t just abandon the Ruined to Olivia. Not when you’re the most powerful one.”

“The most powerful one,” Aren repeated under his breath, almost like he didn’t believe it. “This is crazy, isn’t it? Going to Olso right now?”

“Yes. But I’d do the same thing. Obviously.”

“I guess that means you’re crazy too.”

Galo smiled as he closed his eyes. “I guess so.”





TWENTY-TWO


CAS BURST OUT of the castle door and ran down the dirt path. The sun was setting, and he shielded his eyes as he squinted at the main gates. Four guards stood in front of them, matching terrified expressions on their faces.