The King's Questioner by Nikki Katz

Author:Nikki Katz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

CHAPTER

15

The prince grunted and shoved at the animal with his free hand. His hand found the sword hilt, and he plunged it farther into the cat. The animal released Cirrus’s arm and pitched forward, its chest heaving with whatever few remaining breaths it had left.

Cirrus moaned and rolled to his side. He released the sword to grip his arm, his fingers reaching around his bicep. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead as Kalen and Luna ran over to help.

Luna gingerly eased off his overcoat, the sleeve now nearly shredded. Blood soaked through the arm of Cirrus’s shirt, staining the black material an even darker shade. She glanced at Kalen. “We need to get his shirt off, too.”

Cirrus flinched away.

“Knock it off,” Luna said as she grabbed at his hand.

“I’m cold is all.”

“The cold will feel good. Now let me examine it.”

Kalen propped Cirrus into a sitting position, and Luna worked quickly to unbutton the fabric and pull it off the good arm. She slipped it over his shoulders and peeled it slowly down the other arm. Deep, angry punctures stared back at them.

She gripped the shirt and tore it into shreds of fabric before binding them around the arm. Cirrus’s jaw tightened, but he remained otherwise still. “Do you have to be so rough?”

“I want to stop the bleeding,” said Luna “I’m sorry it hurts.” She dug in her pockets and pulled out a vial of bright-yellow liquid. “Take a swig of this, it will help with the pain until we get to town and have someone look at the wound. I would leave the arm exposed, too, as the cold will help with the swelling.”

“You are insane.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but it’s actually proven that cold therapy quickens the healing.”

“Healing? Are you sure you don’t mean death?”

“I doubt you’ll die before we reach Servaille, but whatever you desire.”

He shoved his unwounded arm through the sleeve and attempted to drape it over the shoulder of his wounded arm. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it one handed, so his cheeks and ears reddened while Luna bent over to help him.

“Thank goodness you didn’t hurt your leg.” She rolled her eyes.

Kalen put out the fire and cleaned off Cirrus’s sword before returning it to its scabbard. He soothed each of the horses and gave them water. Luna mounted her horse, and Cirrus stood next to his. “I might need some help here,” he said, his jaw clenched in pain.

It took some maneuvering and a couple of grunts from Cirrus, but finally they were ready to depart. The road wound through the forest, offering them occasional glimpses of the pale blue sky above. They finally reached the edge of the mountain, and the path cleared to showcase the valley below and the peaks on the other side. The horses plowed ahead to a switchback and turned the corner.

There in front of them, built into the cliffs, stood the city of Servaille.

With scylee birds circling above and below, it looked like a miniature snow village sold during the winter holiday season at the marketplace.

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