Page 109 of The Silent Mountain
I force my eyes open, looking directly into Ros’, her eyes have returned to their usual color.We did it?
You did it,she says.This was the bravest thing you have ever done.
But it has hurt you too, and your abilities,I mutter.Maybe you would have preferred to die… But I couldn’t let it kill us, Ros, I just couldn’t.
I prefer to return to Favian, to our mate,she says.I am a royal wolf, and I am strong. This is nothing! We will learn to adapt to our handicap. We have always done it, haven't we?
Right,I say, trying to talk myself into having hope that this will work out.As a female warrior, we know how it is to be creative and learn how to use our strengths.
You did the right thing,Ros says quietly.It might be terrible for us for a while, but we will make it through this.
I close my eyes again, allowing my consciousness to be dragged away from the space in my mind that I share with Ros and back into reality. When I blink my eyes open, I look directly into Elio’s tear-struck face.
He notices immediately that I am about to wake up. “Alana,” he blurts out. “By Aengus, you are awake.”
“Elio,” I whisper, my voice raspy. I expect to be in tremendous pain, but it looks like Ros has stuck to her promise and started the healing process immediately. There is a dull ache remaining and a phantom pain of there once having been a limb. I also notice my head is nestled on something soft, and I am covered with something that looks like Elio’s jacket. One glance at Elio shows me he is only wearing his shirt; he must have used everything he had to make me comfortable. “Help me sit up, please.”
Elio helps me in a sitting position, my back leaning against the wall now for balance. Then he hugs me. “I am so glad you are awake,” he confesses.
I hug him back with my right arm, not quite confident enough to move my left. “Thanks for being there for me,” I say.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” he says. “That was so brave. Is the dark magic gone?”
“Yes, it’s gone, and Ros is back to normal.” I take a moment to realize that I am indeed not feeling the side effects of the spell anymore. In a way, I was incredibly lucky that it wasjustmy hand these Goddess-forsaken rats bit.
Taking a couple of shaky breaths, I finally find the courage to take a look at my arm. To my surprise, it’s neatly wrapped in some fabric and secured with some bands. “You did first aid?”
“I cleaned the wound,” Elio explains. “I wanted to make sure that there would be no infection, then I used parts of my sweater to dress the wound. It’s not the best work, but it should do.” Noticing my curious stare, he flushes slightly. “I learned a lot about these things when I was on the run with Maggie and Theo. For a while, we hid in a human town. It’s not the first severed limb I have seen, though it’s the first time I was there during the action.”
“Amazing!” I exclaim. “You never mentioned that. You need to tell that to Favian. That’s some amazing skills.”
“It’s not much,” he says, but I can see how happy he looks at my words.
“How did you clean it?” I ask. “There was no clean water here, was there?”
“I was carrying a bottle with me,” he says. “Theodor always makes sure I have one on me in case of an emergency. I just forgot about it.”
“You little dunce,” I say with a smile. “You amazing, gifted little dunce.”
Elio grins and sits down next to me. “Do you think that would make Favian proud?”
“He is always proud of you,” I point out.
“I am just so scared of not living up to my rank,” Elio admits. “I know I am lacking. While on the run, I couldn’t train or educate myself. Sure, Maggie and Theo did what they could, but we didn’t have a lot of options. There has never been a dragon prince as uneducated and untrained as I am.”
“There has never been a dragon prince as brave and with as much resilience as you. You survived in unspeakable conditions, your life constantly under threat. But you kept fighting every day, and you survived. That’s your strength, Elio. You survived what not many would have done. Fighting and education can still be learned, and you clearly have the tools for that, but no one can learn to be brave like you.”
“You really believe that?”
“Yes, and I know for a fact that Favian does too.” I smile at him. “He loves you so much. He constantly wonders how to support you and how to make sure you are happy. He wants you to live the best life possible with all the good things you deserve. He loves you and just wants to see you happy.”
“Do you think he would mind if I broadened my education about healing?” he asks. “I did study a bit with Cassie, and I just…”
“You have a talent for it,” I say, raising my mutilated arm that has been able to heal thanks to Ros, but also thanks to Elio, making sure it stays uninfected. “I am sure Favian will support you in whatever you decide to do.”
“And what now?” Elio asks.
I cast around, eyeing the room we are in. It’s the same as before, filled with the ashes of the rats and the cold of the night settling. It’s freezing. “We need to move,” I say.
