“We’re not getting many clear shots anymore,” Wesley explained. “It’s too dark and the square’s too crowded. But at least you can see from here. We can’t get any higher than this porch, because all the other roofs are made of thatch and too slanted to stand on.”
“We’re just waiting up here in case another wendt shows up,” said Brian.
“Something weird is going on, though,” Wesley added. “About ten minutes ago, it’s like all the Water Clan guys got a second wind. Still, I think we’re winning. There aren’t as many people fighting as before.”
Alora scanned the area, but she couldn’t find her soulmate.
“Do you know where Kaevin and Jireo are?”
Wesley lifted his shoulders. “They’re hard to spot. All the other Stone Clan warriors have on those light-colored vests. I haven’t seen Kaevin or Jireo for the last fifteen minutes. Your uncle’s been ferrying wounded to the healing house in the wagon, with the help of some of the locals. And evidently these Water Clan guys’ll even attack an ambulance wagon, so Arista’s been riding shotgun with her bow. She got bored once we killed the wendt.”
Brian knelt on the edge of the plank roof, trying to peer over the edge. “They may be fighting under this porch. Or maybe they took people to the healing house.”
She felt another stab of pain from Kaevin, and squeezed her eyes closed, attempting to shut out the sensation and remain calm. I just need to do my job and trust him to do his.
Wesley pointed across the square. “There’re a couple of our warriors who’ve been injured, and the wagon can’t get to them. See that guy on the left side? The one lying on the ground with the leather vest? He looks like he’s dead, but I’ve seen him move a few times. Can you see him well enough to transport him to the healing house?”
“I can get him there.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Laethan. “I can carry him.”
Without hesitation, Alora moved herself and Laethan beside the man, landing as far from the adjacent battling warriors as possible. Laethan knelt beside him, shoveling him into his arms, and she transported them to the healing house.
“I’m going back for more injured,” she announced.
“Are you able?” he asked, raising a single brow.
She answered with nod. Honestly, she wouldn’t have minded taking a nap if she weren’t desperate to find Kaevin. Transporting back to Wesley, she belatedly hoped Laethan wouldn’t cause a scene with Doc.
At least I won’t be there to witness it.
No sooner had she landed than she felt something from Kaevin again... not pain, this time. Terror.
“Kaevin!”
She went to him at once. Ignoring the swords clashing around her, she knelt by his prone figure, a knife handle protruding from his upper back. “Kaevin! Kaevin!”
She bent her ear to his face, trying to understand his mumbled words. “He... kicked me...”
Beside her, Jireo was shouting at someone. “You stabbed him in the back! I should kill you where you stand!”
“It was an accident. I thought he was Water Clan. It was dark, and he wore no Stone Clan vest.”
Looking up, Alora recognized the young warrior... Judaene... the one who’d sparred with Kaevin the day of their big argument. Judaene looked remorseful, though she felt more adrenaline rolling out of him than anything else. Right now, she didn’t care how it happened—she only wanted to save Kaevin.
“Jireo! Help me take him to the healing house!”
The fury on Jireo’s face didn’t mask his stark fear.
Is Jireo’s defender bond warning him? Is Kaevin’s life at risk?
Alora cradled his head as Jireo shoveled his arms beneath Kaevin’s body, and she transported them to the healing house. In an instant, Laethan was there, pushing her back and peppering Jireo with questions.
“It was one of our own warriors. I don’t even know his name.” Jireo paced, pulling at his hair. “Said he thought Kaevin was Water Clan. As if he needed to see a vest to know the difference. Kaevin has no bondmark, daylight or dark.”
Laethan’s usual scowl deepened as he ripped Kaevin’s shirt off, probing the wound around the knife in his upper back just to the side of his spine. “Since when do our warriors stab their enemies in the back? Perhaps Thalaena is the wrong choice to follow Morvaen as weapons master.”
Kaevin lay motionless on the floor in a growing pool of blood, and Alora felt a drag on her soulmate bond.