two of them, Xavier and Rosalia were able to pull Adriano back from the brink of death, but the continued success of their efforts wasn’t guaranteed. The wounded captain needed a real healer—someone skilled in the art of mending flesh—and he required many other curatives that they simply weren’t able to acquire at the edge of civilization while they were all wanted for numerous crimes.
In his condition, they didn’t dare try to sneak him into the hoard through the sewers, and had Xavier’s keen sense of smell to thank for guiding them to an abandoned cactus farm.
Over a dozen in the area had gone under, and the one he discovered had only been recently vacated. The smell of its previous owners still lingered in the draperies and in the wood.
Xavier rubbed a hand down his face, tired to the bone, drained of all energy both physical and magical. After his most recent accident, shifting so soon had taxed him for all he had.
Rosalia appeared no better. She slumped in a chair beside Adriano’s bedside, head tipped back against the worn cushion. He hated the dark smudges beneath her eyes and the paleness of her cheeks, her golden skin now ashen and sallow.
The abandoned farm lacked goods. Xavier solved the problem of providing food by hunting up a buzzard and roasting the tough, gamey meat. It was better than nothing, and also all that they had.
As much as he hated to do it, he took her aside out of Adriano’s earshot and lowered his voice. “He needs real medical attention. What I did was novice work. It’ll keep him alive. For now.”
“I know, I know.”
Xavier placed both hands on her tired shoulders. “The best we can do is try to fly back to the Moritta camp. With wings, it will take a fraction of the time.”
“You’ve already pushed yourself. Besides, a dragon in flight is highly visible. They’ll see us and you’re in no condition for aerial acrobatics to avoid the army’s siege weapons.”
“I’m not,” he admitted. “But what else are we to do? He’ll die without care.”
“Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here,” Adriano groaned. “I can hear you both just fine.”
Rosalia shot him a sheepish look, worry in her gaze. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. You can include me, you know. I’m not dead yet.”
“You won’t die.”
His wan smile said he disbelieved her, and Xavier couldn’t blame him. He’d seen the wound left behind by the cursed blade and had been surprised when Adriano survived the hour, let alone stubbornly endured through the night. Not much time remained until morning.
“Give it to me straight,” Adriano said when Rosalia settled beside him. “How long do I have?”
When Rosalia’s gaze darted to him, Xavier sighed. “Not long at this rate. I can pour magic into you, but I can’t knit your wounds or restore the blood you’ve lost.”
“And you can’t even pour magic into me, can you? I heard what Rosalia said. You’re weak.”
“Weakened. There’s a difference. This is fleeting exhaustion that I can push through if it means you’ll be among us a while longer. We merely need to find someone who can take over and heal you.”
Rosalia straightened and turned to him, her eyes wide. “You won’t need to fly to the Moritta when they’re en route to come to our aid. Remember what Ahrak said? Watch for his bird and we’ll know they’re on the way. We can’t fly him across the desert now to meet them without putting his and our lives on the line. There’s no guarantee we’ll even see them from above. There’s a reason they disappeared from the rest of the kingdom. They know how to travel these deserts unseen. Adriano needs aid now and you lack the power to do it. It’s best if we both conserve our magic.”
Xavier opened his mouth, only for Adriano to cut him off with a tired wave of his hand. “She’s right. Listen to her. I won’t have you flying me over a great distance if it’ll endanger everything you’ve fought for. Not when the gemstones are already in Lacherra’s hands.”
“Fine. You’re right. Still, it’s impossible to get him to a healer, and even less likely you’ll get one out of the city during a lockdown. We’ll never get him through the sewers. What shall I do?”
“I never said we had to get him through the sewers, and I never suggested bringing a healer to him.”
“Then what are you suggesting?” Xavier asked.
“That you let me