Page 85 of The Silent Mountain
Favian rushes to his side. “What happened?”
“I just met Cassie, and she told me to get you immediately,” he pants, taking a few breaths to calm down. “It’s Barbara and Ludwig.”
My heart freezes at his words. “No…” I mutter.
“I don’t know what happened,” Elio hurries to explain. “Cassie was in shock and immediately ran back to help Erin.”
Favian squeezes his shoulder. “Stay here in case someone is looking for me.”
Elio nods. “Of course.”
Favian and I don’t waste any more time, leaving Elio to represent Favian. At the front door, we bump right into Stefan, who wordlessly hands us both two pairs of gloves. A pair of silver ones for Favian and black ones that lead up to my elbows for me.
“What’s that for?” I ask.
“I know I can’t make either of you stay away, so I want you to be protected,” he says.
Before Favian can even reply, Stefan speaks again. “Please, Your Highness, your existence is of the utmost importance to us. The dragons live and fall with you.”
“Fair enough,” Favian says, putting on his gloves.
I follow suit. “What do you know?” I ask.
“Ludwig is sick now,” Stefan says quietly, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
“And Barbara?” Favian asks.
Stefan looks away. “She is in her last breaths.”
None of us can bring ourselves to say anything until I take Favian’s hand. “Let’s go and see her.”
Favian takes a deep breath and nods. He turns to Stefan. “Tell us more.”
“I have only talked to Erin briefly. It seems like Barbara was hallucinating last night. She sawsomething. Erin is not sure if it was a nightmare or the manifestation of something evil. She can’t tell yet.”
Barbara. I haven’t known her for long, but she was my first friend here. She and Ludwig. An irrational part of me wants to believe that Barbara will survive, that there is still something I can do. I don’t even dare to look at Favian, knowing that one glimpse of him will tell me the truth. If Favia is here with him right now, there will be no hope.
I can feel Favian’s hand on my back, a soothing gesture, but it makes my lips tremble. “Anything we should be prepared for?” he asks quietly.
“I don’t know,” Stefan mutters sadly. “Is there ever a way to be prepared for death?”
It’s the most vulnerable he has ever sounded. Favian must have a similar thought because he doesn’t push for an answer and instead continues to lead us to Frederick’s lab in silence. It makes me realize that we don’t have an infirmary yet. Something to plan. Somehow, thinking of work helps.
Fred is already expecting us, an unusual grim look in his eyes. “I am sorry, Your Highness, Erin and I tried everything.”
“Don’t blame yourself. This is not your fault,” Favian says.
“I wish I could have done something, but she just…“ Frederick lets his shoulder hang down.
“Can we see her?” I ask.
“Come inside. Please be careful. We don’t know how this sickness spreads. Ludwig is already infected.”
“But you are not,” Stefan muses. “Neither is Erin.”
“Yes, we don’t understand it either,” Frederick admits.
I don’t want to linger outside any longer. I feel like I owe it to Barbara, but also to me, to go and see her in her last moments. To say goodbye. She was my first friend here. I do feel weird for wearing gloves, but essentially, Stefan is right; it would be reckless not to.
