Page 25 of The Dragon Queen

Mywholechestthreatenstocavein.

"Grandma,"Delayniesays,risingfromherseat.ShetouchesMariutza'switheredhand. "Ember'sheretoseeyou."

"Who?"Mariutza'svoiceisraspyandweak.Sheliftsherhead,andhereyesdartaboutuntiltheylandonme.Asmilespreadsacrossherfaceasshedropsherheadbacktothepillow. "Faltine.Iwaswonderingwhenyou'dcome."

Thepressureonmyribssqueezesharder.Mariutza'smistakenmeformymothermorethanoncenow,butitneverbecomeslesspainful.

Delayniegesturestothechairshe'sjustvacated,invitingmetosit.Ifeelbadfortakingherspot,butshe'sfidgeting,clearlyrestless,probablygladfortheexcusetogetupandmovearound.

AsIsit,Iinchtheseatalittleclosertothebed.Tryingtohidemyworry,Ikeepmyvoicesoftandlow. "Heythere,Mariutza.Howareyoufeeling?"

"Me?"Mariutzalaughsandcoughs,smilelinesappearingaroundhertiredeyes. "Rightasrain,dearie.Rightasrain."

"ReadytotakeonanotherdozenShadowDragons,"another,deepervoicesays.

Istartle,surprisedtofindLordRooklurkinginadarkenedcorneroftheroominatotallynormal,not-creepyway.

Iswallowhard. "Sorry--Ididn'tseeyouthere."

"Youweren'tsupposedto."Mariutzapatsmyhand. "Pitchlikestobedramatic,youknow."

Mystomachdips.Pitch.Myfather--LordRook'sbrother.

Rook'sbrowspulltogether,pained. "Yes,"heagrees,though. "Healwaysdid."Heturnshisattentiontome. "Howareyoufeeling?"

Ishrug,thenechoMariutza. "Rightasrain."

Rookchuckles,butthere'snohumorinit. "Itwassignificantmagicwecalledupontheotherday."

"Nokidding."Myfingerstwitch,wantingtotouchthestill-raw,nakedskinofmywristwherethebracerusedtobe,butImanagetostopmyself.Ipulldownthesleeveofmyjacketinsteadandforcemyselftolookaway.

Mariutza'seyesaredrooping.Shelookssosmallandhelpless.

Ireachforherhandandtakeitinmyown.Somethinginsideofmecracksopen. "I'msosorry."

SorryIwasn'tabletodefeattheShadowandAirDragonsthatattackedusfaster.SorryIlostthebracer,andsorrywehadtoleaveinsuchhaste.

Sorrytodraganoldwomanwho'sspentyearsofherlifeinaShadowDragonprisonintothisconflict.

Just--sorry.Foreverything.

Myeyesmistover,butbeforeIcangiveintothemiseryswampingme,Mariutza'shandturnsoverinmine.Iliftmyhead,herbonyfingerssqueezingmypalmwithshockingforce.

WhenImeethergazethistime,it'ssharpandfocused,thefogofexhaustionutterlyerased.

"Ember,"shesays,hervoicestrong.

"Mariutza--"

"You'reoutoftime."

Iknow.Godsabove,Iknow.

"What--"

"Gatheryourallies,"sheordersme.

Ishakemyhead.Whatallies? "Idon'thave--"

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