Page 112 of Thorns & Fire
‘We have to sedate him,’ Dessa said from behind Wren.‘It’s the only way.’
Wren was nodding, already reaching for her belt.
‘I can’t save him.I can’t save him,’ Zavier was still chanting.
Producing a vial, Wren tried to make a move for the prince—
‘You’re not going near him,’ Torj told her, snatching the potion from her hands.‘Does he ingest this?’
For once, Wren didn’t argue; she simply nodded.
Flipping a table to act as a barrier between Zavier and his fellow alchemists, Torj strode right for him.‘Get his mouth open,’ he ordered Cal.
His former protégé did exactly that, holding his charge’s nose until he gasped for air.Torj forced the small vial to Zavier’s lips and emptied its contents into his mouth.
Everything suspended in the air around them fell as Zavier slumped to the floor in Cal’s arms.
Torj didn’t waste any time.He was back at Wren’s side in seconds, scanning her for signs of injury.
‘Are you alright?Did he hurt you?’he demanded.
Wren shook her head, dazed.‘He...he just lost it.One minutehe was telling us how the work on his opus wasn’t going to plan, and the next...’Her hands were trembling.
Torj looked to Dessa.‘Are you hurt?’
Wren’s friend wore a similar expression of shock.‘I don’t think so...’
‘I’m taking him to Farissa,’ Cal said from where he stood by the door, Zavier still unconscious in his arms.Cal’s face was pale, stricken with the guilt that Torj knew all too well.
‘You couldn’t have done anything differently,’ Torj told him.
Cal only shook his head.
‘Tell Farissa we gave him valerian root essence,’ Wren said, voice wavering.‘If she agrees, I think he should be sedated for the rest of the night.’
‘I’ll go with them,’ Dessa announced, following as Cal carried Zavier from the workshop.
Torj watched Wren take in the destruction around them.‘Word of this can’t get out,’ she murmured.‘Both Zavierandme having trouble controlling our magic?The People’s Vanguard would use it to unite the rest of the midrealms against us.’She crouched down in the mess, retrieving Torj’s dagger with trembling fingers and offering it to him.‘I think it’s time I gave this back to you.’
But Torj closed his hands over hers and pushed it back to her.‘No.I think it’s time I taught you how to use it.’
CHAPTER 45
Torj
‘Balance kept is ground never lost’
– The Guardian’s Handbook: Principles and Practises of Personal Protection
‘ITOLD YOUit wasn’t designed for hands as small as yours,’ Torj said, surveying Wren as she held his dagger.‘The weight and balance are wrong for you.’
‘I thought you were going toteach me.Not stand here complaining,’ Wren replied.
‘I will, but you should really use a different dagger.We could get you one made.’
‘I likethisone.’
‘Stubborn woman.’Torj shook his head.‘Show me your grip first, then.’
