Wraith(73)

Gabriel hadn’t moved an inch. His eyes were closed and his skin looked even paler but at least he was still breathing, his chest falling and rising. Harsh, guttural gasps emitted from his mouth. I should have been relieved but I felt a pained lurch deep within my heart.

‘If you die,’ I whispered, ‘I'll raze this castle to the ground.’ Then the world – and the goblins – would really know what wraiths were capable of.

I fumbled with the bag, finally opened it and pulled out the bottle from the first-aid kit. When I'd asked Marrock for the iodine I didn’t know what I would use it for. It had seemed like a sensible precaution at the time and if the wee man had been here now, if he had still been alive, I’d have kissed his lips for arranging it. At the very least.

The fact that the iodine inside the bottle was potable was a boon. I didn't know whether it would do Gabriel any good but it could hardly harm him. If this went as I hoped, the healing properties of the iodine would cancel out what the poison had done to him. It wasn't an antidote and it wouldn't work miracles but if it only halted the poison’s effects there would be hope.

‘Gabriel,’ I said softly.

All I received in response was a faint moan, barely audible over the sounds of shouting from the frantic goblins trying to put out the fire below us.

With no idea whether he could hear or understand me, I explained what I was about to do. ‘I’m going to give you something to drink, Gabriel,’ I said. ‘It probably won't taste very nice but I need you to drink it. I need you to do your best because,’ my voice dropped to a whisper, ‘I need you.’

I unscrewed the top of the iodine bottle. Should I give him a few drops or should I throw caution to the wind and dump all the contents into his mouth? Darn it. I gritted my teeth and went for it.

The liquid was almost black and more viscous than I’d expected. At first, I allowed only a tiny amount to pass his lips then I leaned back on my heels and watched him carefully. Nothing happened: he didn't rise up and proclaim himself cured but neither did he choke or cough or die. That might be the best I could hope for.

I bent forward, gave him some more and again pulled back and waited. I let the iodine drip into Gabriel's mouth until more than half the bottle had gone. For good measure, I followed it up with a couple of the old paracetemol to help with the pain.

I stared at his chest. Was it my imagination or was he finding it easier to breathe? I put my ear to his heart; its beat seemed steady, if a little weak. It would have to do – I couldn't delay the inevitable any longer.

I stood up, taking Gabriel's heavy body with me. I hooked one of his arms round my shoulders to make it easier to carry him but I still staggered under his weight. This was going to be bloody hard.

‘Gabriel,’ I murmured, ‘I need you to try and walk. One foot in front of the other. One small step at a time.’

He groaned.

With forced cheerfulness, I said, ‘I'm going to take that as your version of, “Why yes, Saiya, I would be delighted to walk. What a perfect evening for a stroll. And is that a barbecue I smell?”’

He didn't say anything; he didn’t even groan. I steeled myself and shuffled towards the door, dragging Gabriel with me. ‘Come on,’ I muttered. ‘We can do this.’

The shouting from the floor below was increasing in intensity and the burning smell was growing stronger. Maybe I should have felt guilty at setting an ancient building full of extraordinary history alight but I didn’t.

Avoiding the closest staircase that led down next to the burning room, I heaved Gabriel to the stairs at the far end of the corridor. My throat was beginning to tickle. We’d barely managed a few steps when tendrils of yellow smoke snaked their way around us.

Gabriel groaned. ‘Fire,’ he muttered. ‘Not safe.’

Yeah, yeah. I tried to ignore him but he dug in his heels, refusing to go any further. I turned my head towards him, registering the pain in his normally bright eyes. ‘We have to do this,’ I said firmly. ‘The fire is at the other side of the building. We need to get out of here and you need to cooperate.’

He gazed at me for a moment as more smoke filtered upwards. Finally, he blinked in acquiescence. Thank goodness. He couldn’t do much to move himself forward but at least he was no longer resisting.

When we reached the third floor where the fire was, at first I was grateful that the smoke was thick and visibility was virtually nil. Three goblins sprinted past with wet cloths covering their faces. They were less than two metres from us but they didn’t even register our presence. My gratitude didn’t last long. By the time they had disappeared into the corridor, my eyes were streaming and my lungs were burning. I dreaded to think what effect the smoke was having on Gabriel in his already weakened condition. I had to get him out as quickly as possible.

Throwing caution to the wind, I speeded up, holding Gabriel firmly in place. We stumbled down the stairs to the second floor and then to the first without passing another living being. The air was clearer here but that also meant that the risk of being spotted was greater.

I’d just put my foot on the step at the top of the final staircase when Gabriel’s knees gave way and he collapsed. I dragged him back up, using the wall to prop him up, and we slipped down the rest of the way. I didn’t have the strength to carry his weight; our situation was becoming worse by the second.