Page 209 of Of Masks and Fury

ISI

We flew straight, only stopping briefly, and arrived at Syllavar Court the next day.

The castle’s towers pierced the twilight sky, their familiar silhouettes rising like sentinels from the enormous lake. Mountains cradled the island fortress, their peaks still touched with snow despite the season. I felt relief that we’d finally arrived, but exhaustion and grief had hollowed me out until even coming home felt wrong.

My arms ached from holding Addie against my chest, her head lolling with each beat of Kyreth’s wings. Her breathing had grown shallower over the past few hours, her skin so translucent I could trace the blue veins beneath. Wind had scoured my face raw and made my throat burn from an almost continuous flight with very little rest. Every muscle in my body screamed.

I kept seeing Commander Thorne, lying dead on the ground. The Skathes watching us as we flew away. Our friends disguised as monsters, walking out into the wasteland. The ticking countdown to twenty-three executions.

Pherin huddled against my neck, unusually subdued.

Lakast led our descent to the dragon aerie, Kyreth, Wairen, and Levar flanking us. The dragons moved with the same bone-deep weariness. They were worn out from the brutal pace we’d maintained.

Stable hands rushed into the stalls as we landed, their movements blurring in my vision. I dismounted, and my legs buckled the moment my boots touched stone. Only Trew’s steadying hand kept me upright while I supported Addie’s limp weight.

“I can take her.” His voice rasped from wind and grief, and his touch remained gentle as he eased Addie from my arms and into his own. Her head lolled against his shoulder, and my heart lurched. She looked small and much too breakable.

Gavelle landed beside us. The other companions joined us when we strode out into the hall, their grief mirroring ours.

Trew shifted Addie’s weight, one arm beneath her knees, the other supporting her back. “We’ll take her right to the healers.”

We slowly made our way through the darkness along the path to the castle, using the back entrance. Each step through the corridors felt like I was walking through deep water. My limbs could barely move. Pherin’s tiny claws dug into my shoulder, her body vibrating with distress.

Sister sick,she said.Too sick.

I nodded, unable to drag up enough energy to speak.

The healers’ wing smelled of herbs and magic.

Meren looked up from her desk, her sharp eyes taking in Addie’s condition. Other healers joined us in the open room, but she dismissed them quickly, pointing to one of the empty beds. “Here.” As Trew laid Addie on the surface, Meren rushed to gather supplies.

Trew smoothed my sister’s dark curls from her face. I sank onto the edge of the bed, taking my sister’s hand. Her skin felt paper-thin and cold despite the room’s warmth.

Meren performed a quick, thorough examination, her magic flowing over Addie in waves I swore I felt. Her gaze lifted to study Trew and me after. She searched our eyes, her expression carefully neutral before she schooled it away.

“I’ve only seen this condition once before,” she said, her attention returning to Addie.

My spine stiffened despite my exhaustion. “Who?”

“I believe you know her.” She hurried to a bench lining the far wall to prepare treatment. “She had your eyes and your sister’s hair, and she was half-gone by the time she found me. The veil had been eating her from the inside for months.” A pungent aroma filled the air as she crushed herbs in a stone mortar. “I brought her through. I’ll bring Addie through too.”

My mother, then. I wouldn’t press her while she was helping my sister, but I was grateful she knew how to treat this condition.

I sagged with relief. Trew threaded his fingers through mine in support.

Meren worked quickly, her magic flowing into Addie in steady pulses. Light gathered around my sister’s form, seeping into her skin, chasing away the deathly pallor. She lifted the steaming cup of medicine she’d prepared, supporting Addie’s head while coaxing the mixture between her lips.

Addie grimaced but swallowed, her throat working weakly. Gradually, the tightness eased from her face. Her breathing deepened, steadied. For the first time since we’d found her in the valley, she looked peaceful instead of haunted.

“She’ll sleep now,” Meren said, covering Addie with a blanket. “It’ll take time for her to heal completely, but the worst danger has passed. You can leave her with me. I’ll stay with her tonight.”

Grief rushed through me, and I ached to sob, but I couldn’t break yet. Not until everyone was safe.

Trew’s hand tightened on mine as I stood. He always knew when I balanced on the knife’s edge of shattering.

We’d barely left the healers’ wing when Grayson and Coralee appeared in the corridor ahead of us, their expressions grave. Grayson’s eye twitch had worsened, rapid pulses that betrayed his stress. Coralee maintained her formal demeanor, but concern softened the lines around her mouth.

“Your Majesty.” Grayson bowed stiffly. “We heard you were back.”