Warsong (Chronicles of the Warlands, #6)(62)

He endured until Rafe lead them through the gates, and then he closed his eyes.

It was enough.




Amyu’s gentle hands led Joden into the Healing House. She didn’t question him, or ask him to open his eyes, just calmly put his hand on her shoulder and warned about steps and low doorways. He was grateful for her quiet strength at his side.

There were exclamations, and various people speaking all at once, but Master Eln’s voice cut through the confusion. “Bring him in here, Amyu.”

Amyu moved and he moved with her, sensing the walls of the hallway.

“Joden?” came a shocked exclamation. “Amyu?”

Joden opened his eyes. Lara, Warprize and Queen of Xy stood there in tunic and trous, confused and anxious.

Behind her, Joden caught a glimpse of an old woman lying on a bed, staring at the ceiling, with others standing around her. There was something familiar about that profile, something— The old lady turned her head, taking them in. Her eyes reminded him of the Ancients.

A soft exclamation from Amyu and he was being tugged further down the hall, to the door where Eln was standing. Joden caught a last glimpse of the old woman as Lara shut the door and followed them. “Joden?” she started. “How did you—”

“Questions can wait,” Eln said, ushering them in. “We need to see to injuries first. On the table, Joden.”

Joden pulled up short, jerking Amyu back.

Eloix lay on the table, her back wounded, raw and festering. Master Eln stood over her with a handful of bloodmoss, his face grim. Amyu knelt by Eloix’s head, and yet she was guiding him in. Master Eln was behind him.

Yet they were there, at the table. Master Eln plunged his hand into the wound, and the bloodmoss withered away.

Joden reeled back, swaying. Amyu moved to support him, even as Master Eln moved in from the other side. Lara’s hands were on his back.

“Joden?” Amyu said, her worry clear. “What are you seeing?”

“Y-y-you tried b-b-bloodmoss on El-l-loix?” Joden closed his eyes, and shook his head, willing the image away. But the vision was still there.

“Amyu told you?” Eln sounded resigned. “I’d hoped it would counteract the poison of the wyvern sting.”

Joden watched as Eloix plunged her dagger into her own throat. “S-s-she didn’t let you g-g-give mercy.” he looked at Amyu.

“She considered me a child,” Amyu said, her brown eyes open and staring at Joden. “And I did not tell you that.”

Joden was shaken, but he caught the glance that Lara and Eln exchanged.

“Let’s get him on the table before he falls,” Lara said. “We can start on answers then.”




Amyu pressed herself into a corner of the room, and watched as the two healers examined Joden. She was grateful that their focus was on their patient, but she knew her reckoning for her actions was due. Any delay in that was welcome.

Still, for now all that mattered was Joden.

“Sweet Goddess,” Lara frowned as they stripped Joden of the white cloth, little more than rags now. “What happened to you?”

The healers were looking at his body, only Amyu was focused on Joden’s face. His expression was one of pain and sorrow. “I-I-I,” he grimaced as he tried to force out the words.

Lara froze. “Joden?”

Master Eln was pulling down bottles and jars from his shelves. He looked over his shoulder with raised eyebrows.

“Joden doesn’t stutter,” Lara said grimly. “At least, he never has before.” She turned, and those fey blue eyes pierced Amyu like an arrow. “What happened?”

Amyu tore her gaze away, and looked at Joden. Joden sighed, then nodded his permission.

“I went into the mountains, searching for airions,” Amyu started.

“We will speak of that later,” Lara’s words were crisp and firm, but without heat.

Amyu nodded. “I failed. I’d just decided to give up, when I…” she hesitated, then made a decision. “When I saw a flutter of white. I climbed higher, and—” she kept to the essentials of the tale.

Lara and Eln listened in silence. Amyu couldn’t tell if they believed her or not, but that mattered very little.

“That is all I know,” Amyu said finally.

“Let us check you over,” Eln said. “And treat these cuts. Not much we can do about the bruising…”

With relief, Amyu saw that they were going to drop the issue for now. They went over Joden’s body, using bloodmoss and ointments and various creams.

Finally, Master Eln stepped back. “Well, you are clearly in a weakened state. You need food, water, warmth, and sleep.” He hesitated. “There is no sign of a head wound. Do you remember any blows to the head?”

“N-n-no,” Joden managed, and tried to continue, but Master Eln cut him off.

“And you say that the stammer started before the fall, is that right? Are you sure?”

“Y-y-yes,” Joden took a breath. “I-I-I wo-wo-wo—”

“Joden is a Singer,” Lara said. “He’s never had trouble with speech before this.”

Joden started again. “I-I-I—”

“Well,” Master Eln talked over him. “The convulsions are a concern. When did the first one occur?”