~ 3 ~
Struggling to breathe, Daegreth battled an intense pain in his chest. Am I dead? Am I in hell? As his thoughts coalesced into clear patterns, his eyes fluttered opened. He blinked hard to focus on his surroundings, recognizing he was inside a room. Vindrake’s vile presence still pervaded his mind, so he wasn’t dead. Not yet. However, gauging from the pain, his body was severely injured. Surely I will die soon. Perhaps holding my breath will hasten my passing.
“Ah, so you’re awake.” A black-haired man with intense green eyes fixed in a scowl spoke while pushing on his chest.
Daegreth groaned at the searing agony, jerking against his bindings, unable to budge even a finger-width.
“I know that hurts, but you’ve lost a lot of blood, and I’ve been unable to stop the bleeding.” His deep scowl became almost sympathetic. “You should make your peace with God.”
“Why?” he croaked.
“What do you ask me? Why can’t I save your life? Or why should you make your peace with God?”
“Why are you helping me? Please let—” His words cut off; the bloodbond wouldn’t let him ask for the release of death.
“I’m a healer. I’ve sworn to help every man, no matter his allegiance or his actions. Judging is a matter best left to God.” His eyes widened. “Your eyes are brown?”
“Yes. I was Sun Clan, but now I serve Vindrake and Water Clan.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth.
The deep furrow of the h
ealer’s brows lessened slightly. “That is a shame. Since you have Vindrake’s bondmark, I cannot release you. Still, I will do what I can to save your life. And if I cannot, I pray your passing will be easy.”
The healer’s face danced before Daegreth’s eyes as they filled with unshed tears. Even the man’s rough tending and harsh words were the kindest actions aimed toward him since before his best friend’s untimely death. Yet he didn’t even deserve that small compassion. He closed his eyes and waited to die, certain the fires of hell would not be as hard to bear as Vindrake’s presence inside his consciousness.
A sudden image invaded his mind—a young man on the roof as he lost his footing and fell, sliding toward the edge. His eyes popped open, spying the healer who’d turned to leave.
“Wait… There was a boy on the roof with me.”
“Yes.” Black bushy brows bunched like dark caterpillars over the healer’s squinting eyes. “What of him?”
Daegreth tested his blood fealty. Would it allow him to ask the boy’s fate?
“I simply wondered if the boy lives.”
The caterpillars arched high. “Yes, he lives. In fact, I understand you collapsed on top of him, preventing him from falling off the roof.”
Daegreth’s heart leapt in his chest. He’d done something good—something contrary to Vindrake’s wishes. Though it was an accident over which he had no control, something good had happened because of him. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
“You smile at this? Did you want the boy to survive? Were you not attempting to kill him at the time?”
His mouth curved itself into a sneer, and the words of fealty sprang unbidden to his lips. “I freely and gladly serve my master, Vindrake. I want only for his will to be accomplished.”
The healer’s scowl returned. “As I thought. What is your name, young man?”
“I am Daegreth, servant of Vindrake, the ruler of Water Clan.”
“Daegreth, take my advice. Make your peace with God, for I’ve done all I can do for you.”
As the healer moved to tend another wounded man, Daegreth’s face relaxed in a smile. The pain was intense, but he welcomed it as a herald to the anticipated death to come.
*****
Alora peered from the hiding place between two wood-sided buildings. She could see warriors engaged in battle but no sign of the wendts.
“Are you sure the wendts are here, Jireo?”
“Of course I can’t see them, but I heard their screeching. And I saw one Stone Clan warrior carried off.” He turned his head away, swallowing hard. At least she hadn’t witnessed that horrible event. “I’m going back to find Wesley and get my blade. You no longer have need for me, correct?”