Page 122 of Reaper's Quest

Grabbing an old, discarded mug someone had left in the room, he blew dust from its interior and filled it with honey ale from one of the nearby tapped barrels. Unashamed of how dirty or used the mug might have been, he offered me the drink.

“Did you drag him here all by yourself?” he asked.

I nodded and accepted the drink, my muscles shaking. I needed water, not ale, but I’d presently welcome any liquid.

“How far?”

How far had I dragged Winter?

I didn’t have a good response to that question. The distance had been far enough—more than far enough. But Ihadn’t taken the time to measure the steps or the lengths of the tunnels.

I shrugged.

“Okay.” He peered at the open passage then back to me, giving me one sweeping gaze. “Far.”

Two large men poured in through the pub’s connecting door, Earl in tow.

“What’s up?” one of them asked.

“We have a fallen brother in need of assistance.” Aoes stepped toward the passage, motioning the men to follow. He glanced to Earl at the last moment. “Help Raven up to her room. She needs a wash, plenty of fluids, and rest.”

Earl nodded and shuffled toward me as the three men descended the stairs with mumbled conversation about hidden staircases and the many secrets Aoes kept.

I stood and trudged from the room with slow and labored movements, which matched well with Earl’s no-rush shuffle. By the time I reached my room, the men were carrying Winter down the hall to one of the unclaimed accommodations.

His skin looked whiter, less gray. Frosted, I realized with a slight startle. His elemental magic took claim of his body. Would it freeze his blood? Stop the flow within his arteries?

I turned and followed them down the hall.

“Raven, rest,” Earl mumbled at my back.

Aoes threw open a door and jabbed a point to the bed within, signaling the men where to go.

Then he peeled away from the group and turned his gaze firmly on me. “You need to rest. You look ready to drop.”

I moved to follow Winter into the room, and Aoesstepped into my path, raising his hands to stop my forward motion.

“I need to help him,” I protested.

“You’re no good to anyone in your current condition,” he countered.

A sigh dragged through my body and released through my nose. I was tired, yes, but…

“I just need to splash some water on my face, and I’ll be good.”

“I doubt a little water is all you need.” He grabbed my shoulders and spun me to face my room and the washroom at the end of the hall. “Rest. Wash up. One or both, but go take care of yourself. The healer has already been summoned and should be on his way.”

He shoved me forward, and my feet responded, dragging me three awkward steps. By the time I turned back around, Aoes had slipped into Winter’s room. He closed and locked the door, likely to deter me from following.

He didn’t believe I could help, even after his mild excitement—practically worship—over the healing I had bestowed upon that afflicted woman. How, after that occurrence, could he doubt me? Did I really look that bad? That weak? And why would he trust the care of his best friend to a healer, when a healer had done nothing to better Earl’s state? Or Aldine’s?

Aldine had only improved because of the Killian.

The Killian.

My eyes widened at the thought. I would summon the Killian and convince him to help Winter. Only I had no idea how to summon the Killian.

Maybe Aldine…