lost."
I raised both my eyebrows this time. "And why is that?"
"Because, my dear, if you are looking for Joshua then you must be his Brynhildr, and if that's the case then who am I to intrude on true love." He gave another dramatic sigh then said, "Fly me away before my poor heart breaks within my breast."
Tyra snorted this time saying, "Oh for Odin's sake." She clicked her tongue and flew off and at the same time I turned and flew straight to the two warriors.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Before I began my search for Joshua I had to take care of them.
What I wanted to do was dig within the rubble with my bare hands until I found him. But I had to temper my need and attend to those who needed my help, even while my heart broke, even as I prayed so hard my head began to throb.
I lowered myself beside Lysa and helped Jin's friend unearth her from beneath the stones. He looked up at me. "Sorry about Jin. The dude can never shut up around pretty girls."
Lysa snorted. "Jeff's right. The man still thinks he's walking the halls of his father's palace from five hundred years ago."
I chuckled. "Can't believe I had him pegged for royal." I sank beside Lysa, noting the lack of blood leaking from the wound. "It's going to gush as soon as we get that splinter out."
She nodded, perspiration soaking her dark brown hair, flattening it against her skull in gleaming clumps, proof in itself that she was in an immense amount of pain. "I can handle it," she said as she readjusted her position, lifting herself slightly off the ground. The small movement sent pain skittering across her face. It hurt but she kept control of herself, no shouting or crying. I admired her for her strength.
But, I shook my head. "I can't risk doing that out here. If it hit an artery you'll bleed out way too fast." From the look on her face I could tell she'd already known that. I frowned at her. "Lysa, bravery is one thing, stupidly risking your life to prove yourself is something else entirely," I snapped not caring if I hurt her feelings.
Jeff chuckled while Lysa looked a little foolish. "Sorry. Sometimes I get in my own way." Her cheeks were pink and I suspected it may be more because of her embarrassment rather than her injury.
Then I felt bad. This was hardly the time to be telling people off. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"No. Don't apologize. I needed that." She smiled then pointed at the splinter. "On the count of three?"
I nodded, a little relieved now that she'd brushed off my rudeness. "Yes. I'll break off the front end first. I'm just really worried about it splintering further."
I was beginning to think she needed the infirmary and not my ministrations. But she grabbed my hand. "Just do it before I turn into a weeping female." I was beginning to like Lysa more and more.
I held her wounded arm gently. "Fine, but it's going to hurt."
"At least it's not childbirth, right?" She laughed and I joined her while Jeff looked on, worry lining his face.
In the middle of the laughter I grabbed the end of the piece of wood and broke it about three inches from the wound.
Lysa groaned. "Bitch. I thought you were supposed to count." Both Jeff and I chuckled, which drew a smile from Lysa.
I shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?" Then she raised her eyebrows. "What about the rest of it?" she asked glancing behind her where the splinter stuck about a foot in length.
"Mmmh, let me see," I said and she shifted to allow me to see the back of her arm. "Nasty. There's a bit of blood here but again not too much."
"That's a good thing. I hope." Her voice had softened, probably weakened by the pain. I grunted, trying to think of a way to distract her. "So I suppose it won't work if I pointed into the sky and said 'Omigod look'?"
"Nope."
"Okay. Jeff, can you hold her?" He nodded and leaned forward to hold onto Lysa's shoulder. "No, come around to the front of her, hold her like you're hugging her so you have her body tight. I don't want her jerking in case I can't get it broken on the first try." When he nodded I said, "I'll hold her arm. On three." I counted and snapped the wood a couple of inches away from Lysa's skin.