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Friza comes towards me, but I run past her, running toward the castle. She begins jogging with me.
“Why are you running?” she demands. “Where in the Nether were you? I’ve had everyone looking for you and . . .”
“There’s no time for that,” I cut her off. “Where is the healer?”
“How would I know where the healer is? Are you hurt? I. . .” She trails off as if noticing for the first time who and what I carry.
“Gods! How is she with you? I left her in the dungeon.”
“You didwhat?” I bark. We are finally out of the maze. I see some servants gathering, whispering to each other. I don’t have time for this, nor time for Friza and her strange statements.
“You there!” I shout, for all the world sounding like the tyrant humans believe orcs to be. “Get the healer! NOW!”
The servants scatter and I turn to Friza. “I want the healer sent to my chamber now. Pellia will die if we do not get healing magic into her soon.”
“She might have been the one that betrayed you and got you taken . . .” Friza protests.
“SHE WAS NOT!” I yell, not enjoying being countermandedwhen so much is at stake. “She risked her life for me! She is dying because she tried to save me. Now, if I don’t see the healer this instant, I will burn down this entire town until I find him!”
Friza only hesitates for an instant more before shouting out, “You heard the Warchief! Find the healer and bring him to the chamber! Move!”
For the first time, I notice that the orcs that came with Friza have been following us. They scatter like the servants, moving with more speed than the humans, running to find the healer. I would even take his blasted assistant at this point. Someone needs to work on bringing Pellia back. She is slipping through my fingers, even as I hold her tightly in my arms.
While the others run this way and that, I hurry into the castle and bring her to the chamber that we were in just last night, as it is the only room that has been prepared and isn’t sitting under a fine layer of dust. When I enter, I gently, oh so gently, place Pellia’s slack body on the bed. Fear grips my heart like never before. Not when the sirens wanted to kill me as a youth. Not when I found the clan treasures stolen by Lucy. Nothing compares to this moment as I stare down at this brave, delicate human, looking so small and unmoving.
Friza bursts into the room saying, “The healer’s been found; he’s on his way.”
“He better be hurrying,” I growl, rage building in as my helplessness grows. “If Pellia dies I will take it from his hide.”
My second doesn’t comment on my violence, only asks, “How did this happen? How was she there with you? Why is she so injured? We heard a horrific sound coming from the middle of the hedge maze and then . . .”
“It was my death scream,” I say, not looking at her. I sit on the edge of the bed, taking Pellia’s hand in mine. She feels so cold to the touch. I reach out to check her pulse. Still there, but weak, so very weak and stuttering. “Where is that thrice-damned healer?”
“Here! Here, Regent Verrick,” says the man, bustling into the room. He takes one look at Pellia on the bed and makes thesign of the pantheon.
“My gods! Who would do this to the regent?”
“That isn’t important. What’s important is you bringing her back.”
“Right,” the healer says, all business. He steps forward and places his hand on her forehead. “Her spirit is still within, but very faint. I’ll have to work fast. Oh, where is that bothersome assistant? She’s never where I need her!”
“I’ll find her,” says Friza and exits the room. I hear some yelling as she goes, and I know I can count on my second to do what must be done.
Gently, but firmly, the healer says, “You’ll need to leave as well, Regent Verrick. This is delicate work I do and I cannot risk being distracted.”
“I will not leave her side.”
“You will if you want her to live,” he says, more firmly than before. “I will tell you the moment there is any change. But for now, I need privacy, save my assistant to shore up my powers. Please, go.”
I cannot argue with him about it. My presence is doing more harm than good. So I quietly kiss her forehead and murmur, “Come back to me, Pellia. I’ll never ask anything of you again if you will just come back to me.” And with that, I leave the room.
I do not go far. I pace outside the chamber door. Listening with all my strength, trying to see if I can detect any change. If I hear anything amiss, I know I won’t be able to stop myself from bursting through the door.
I could not say how long I paced before Friza returns with the assistant in tow. The half-elf woman disappears in the room and then I am alone with my second.
“You should rest,” Friza declares in that blunt way of hers. “You look like shit.”
“I will rest when I know she is better.” I growl, though I know my friend is right. My limbs tremble even as I pace, but I feel like if I stop moving that I will collapse.
