Page 114 of To Fight and To Fold

"Important work, if you ask me," Aaryn said. "How about I visit the healers after I go see Carissa?"

"Yeah, you go check in there. I'm going to find Vaelen on Claw Hold, make sure the madwoman has slept."

Aaryn squeezed Thea's hand in support, sensing her worry despite how casual she tried to make it sound.

"Go see her. Good luck."

Aaryn drew in a deep breath and knocked on the door to Rolim's home. It felt much different, newer, heavy, compared to the other times Aaryn had knocked on Carissa's door. When Aaryn had been naive and unaware of what was really going on beyond their castle walls.

Now it was basically a stranger that answered the door. Carissa's peach hair was a mess, and not from a good night's sleep.

"Hi," Aaryn said meekly. "Want company?"

Carissa nodded, pushing the door open, and walked away. She slumped into a chair at a table, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. "No word of him?" Aaryn guessed.

Carissa's gaze was sharp as Aaryn swallowed and took a seat.

Rolim's home was decorated just how she’d imagined: an ex-bachelor's place of residence with new touches of femininity—flowers in a glass jar bowing under the weight of time—and lives intertwined—two pairs of slippers by the door, a colorful blanket stitched big enough for more than one body.

"Vaelen will find him," Aaryn told her. And she had faith in that, more faith than she'd had in anything, even Evergale.

"I hope so," Carissa whispered. "And if not…" She drew in a deep breath, yet did not look any calmer when she exhaled. The spark in her eyes instilled fear in Aaryn, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why. An unsaid sentiment lingered. Aaryn didn't know what it was, and she was too afraid to ask.

Instead, Aaryn retrieved them food, because Carissa did not seem to intend to do so for herself. And then Carissa got tired of her hovering, and she was promptly dismissed.

That, at least, seemed very Carissa.

Aaryn found herself in the healer's tent, expecting a flurry of chaos. Instead it was quiet, calm, and organized: jars and salves and supplies stored immaculately, voices quiet as they moved from person to person, seeing to everyone who needed help.

They placed her on salve duty, and Aaryn walked the nearby grounds with supplies to clean and dress shallow burns, and to direct those hurt to the right druids.

She saw to a grumbling elf woman, and an older human man with a kind smile, and an energetic teen who didn't even seem to notice the burn on her arm. "That's a real dragon," she murmured, practically vibrating.

Dragons were so rare and few now that some people went their entire lives without seeing one in flesh and scale, and only just then was Aaryn reminded of this. In Evergale, Aaryn had thought they were lucky. But here? They were downright spoiled, with a dragon around every corner.

The day passed quickly, Aaryn revisiting the main tent for more salve or bandages every so often.

Once things got settled, once the new refugees found their place, then Aaryn could awaken her magic. In the meantime, she wanted to help. She could help, now.

She was mulling these thoughts over as she made her way through the ever-thinning crowd of those seeking care. It was a familiar shine of pale green hair that caught her attention, bringing her feet to a halt.

"Runa?" Aaryn asked.

The guard looked up, but she didn't look like a guard any longer. No sign of Evergale's crest, or even her armor. Instead she wore plain clothes, and it struck Aaryn as odd, like she was seeing something she wasn't meant to.

"Aaryn?" Runa asked, eyes widening. She stood and bowed before stopping halfway and shaking her head in embarrassment. "Sorry, habit. You're here. But⁠—"

"I should be the one asking that," Aaryn breathed. "Are you alright? What are you doing here?"

Runa embraced her with one arm, warm and familiar even though Aaryn couldn't remember ever hugging the guard before.

"I was visiting my parents," she said as Aaryn studied her for injuries. It wasn't hard to find them.

Aaryn remembered now. Her parents, the fishermen. "In Skymore," she said in awe. "Are they alright? Where are⁠—"

Runa nodded. "I managed to get them on a dragon. They're fine."

"You're clearly not," Aaryn said, motioning to her arm, which was covered in seeping bandages.