And only once he was gone did I collapse too.
Soon after Simon was taken away, Huge leaned over me as I lay on the sand, struggling to remain conscious. “Take some strength from me, my lady. I’ve got plenty.”
I shook my head, mumbling, “I already did that. I won’t do it again.”
Trina knelt at my side. “Then use me.” She nudged my hand onto her arm. “Just don’t get greedy.”
I didn’t want to, but the truth was that I had given too much to Simon and I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. The way I felt, if I closed them for too long, they might remain that way.
“I’m sorry for this.” I tried to control the pull of Trina’s strength toward me, but even then, she gasped when she felt the tug of my magic.
I took from her the least I needed to keep myself alive, and it lasted only a few seconds, but when I pulled my hand free, she was leaning heavily on one arm to prevent herself from falling to the ground.
“Still a Dallisor, taking as much as you can,” she muttered, though I thought I saw a hint of a smile.
“Let’s get you both to safety.” Huge lifted me first, lowering me into a wagon I hadn’t noticed before. Trina was laid beside me, and we were both fully covered in sheets as would be done for the dead. That seemed appropriate. Even if they were intended to prevent any Dominion soldiers from spotting us, I felt more dead than alive. Before the wagon’s first bump, I was asleep.
After waking up, the first words I heard were a scolding.
“You were never to use your skills beyond half of your own strength! That nearly killed you!”
Loelle.
I smiled weakly. “How will I know what half is if I don’t go beyond it?” With that, I opened my eyes. I didn’t recognize the tent where they were keeping me, but it was small and simple, and I was warm. Better still, I was alive.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“We’re in the Hiplands, just outside Nessel. I got here in time to save you from your own foolishness.”
“Where’s Simon?”
Loelle licked her lips and her eyes darted away from me. “Someone else should answer that question.” She stood and parted the tent flap. “She’s awake.”
A moment later, Captain Tenger and Gabe walked in, surely noticing how my expression deflated. I’d hoped to see Simon.
Gabe leaned against the door, his attempt at guard duty while Tenger took Loelle’s seat beside me. “Well, young lady, you have exceeded my expectations.”
“How low were your expectations?” I smiled, but it hadn’t been a joke.
“Whatever they were, we must ask greater things of you now.”
“I’m ready. Just give me the Olden Blade.” When he didn’t move, my stomach twisted. “You don’t have it?”
“Lonetree Camp was destroyed before I got Basil’s note. I was hoping he might’ve told you where it is or offered any clues.”
“He didn’t. Can’t we just ask him now?” I sat up on my elbows, feeling short of breath and desperately worried. “Where’s Basil? Is he—”
“Captured by the Dominion. We’ll do our best to get him back, Kestra, but if the Dominion realizes he holds the secret of the Olden Blade—”
“Then we’re finished.” I lay back and closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted.
Tenger patted my arm. “He should have a little extra time, thanks to Trina’s bravery.”
With my eyes closed, it was far too easy to picture the sudden fire on the bridge, all the bodies that fell. “Trina was responsible for the bridge collapse?”
“And Harlyn Mindall, one of the Halderians. We believe it led to the deaths of at least four senior officers in the Dominion army … as well as Sir Henry Dallisor, Lord Endrick’s second in command.”
I appreciated that Tenger didn’t reference him as my father. He was only a name to me now.