Death Wind (Elven Alliance #3) - Tara Grayce Page 0,112

if he did not this time?

If Farrendel reached through the heart bond, he could feel a faint crackle of his magic, even with the stone still inside him. If Prince Rharreth tried anything, Farrendel would be ready.

The human surgeon cleared his throat. “I did not suggest it last time because he was too weak, but we can use ether to numb his senses this time.”

Farrendel shook his head, his nose and throat burning with the memory of the human ether the trolls had used to keep him senseless on the trip to Gror Grar. “No.”

The elf healer shook his head as well. “With the troll using his magic, Laesornysh needs to be conscious to keep his magic in control. It would be dangerous if he lashed out while unconscious.”

“I have an ether that won’t make him unconscious. It will just dull his senses and the pain.” The surgeon gestured to a nurse, and she presented him with a glass bottle.

“No.” Farrendel put as much strength into that word as he could. No more human chemicals. He would rather feel the pain.

Essie’s fingers trailed from his hair to his shoulder as she sighed. “You heard him. Sorry, no ether.”

The elf healer’s jaw tightened, dark circles still smudged beneath his eyes. “My magic should be enough to dull his pain.”

That did not give Farrendel confidence. The elf healer looked like he could still use more rest after all the expenditure of magic he must have done after the battle. Would he have enough magic for this surgery?

As much as Farrendel hated lying there, he had no wish to put this off any longer. It had been three days since his rescue, and he would not regain any more strength until the stone was removed.

“All right.” The human surgeon picked up a scalpel and turned to Prince Rharreth. “Ready?”

Essie’s hand moved to Farrendel’s forehead, her touch soft and warm. Still, Farrendel knew that she would hold him down if he tried to lift his head. She turned her shoulders to put her back to the troll prince, elf healer, and surgeon. “Focus on me, Farrendel.”

He met her gaze and tried not to tense as soothing elf magic flooded into him. He felt the pressure of the scalpel against his collarbone, even if he did not feel the pain.

Icy magic surrounded Prince Rharreth’s fingers a moment before pain surged through Farrendel’s bones.

The elf healer cried out and stumbled back. Prince Rharreth cut off his magic, but not before the full force of it dug into Farrendel’s collarbone. Farrendel could not help a moan.

Weylind was at Farrendel’s side in an instant, glaring at Prince Rharreth.

The elf healer hunched over his hand. “I am sorry, Daresheni. After all the healing I have done, I am not strong enough. I doubt any of us are. We cannot rest properly with all this stone around us.”

In other words, Farrendel would either have to bear the brunt of the troll magic or he would have to wait longer for the rest of the stone to be removed.

Unless...He gripped Weylind’s arm and waited until Weylind met his gaze. He kept his voice and gaze firm. “Fetch Melantha.”

“No. I will not allow her anywhere near you.” Weylind’s jaw hardened, his eyes flinty.

How had Essie ever managed to get their brothers to work together if Weylind had turned this stubborn over every little thing? Farrendel tightened his grip on Weylind’s arm. He had to see Melantha again and reassure himself that she was all right. This was finally his opportunity to persuade Weylind to stop being her guard dog and let her see him. “Fetch her. She will help.”

After what she had healed him from in the trolls’ dungeon, assisting him now would be a simple matter.

“I will send for her.” Averett stepped from the tent so quickly he probably missed the glare Weylind sent after him.

“Are you sure about this, Farrendel?” Essie stared down at him, a wrinkle between her eyebrows.

Everyone, including Essie, expected him to hate Melantha. Perhaps it was understandable since their last memory of Melantha was of her betrayal.

And, yes, her betrayal still hurt worse than the stone embedded in him. Everything was so strained. Painful. If he could erase his memory of her betrayal, he would.

But Farrendel had seen the sincerity of her change of heart. She had expended every last ounce of her strength and magic to make sure he survived until rescue. She had taken physical punishment because she had helped him. They had spent