bChapter /bb115 /b

    Valencia

    I threw myself at the doors from the side, my shoulders mming against the wood because my hands were full.

    The wood creaked and groaned, but it finally gave way.

    And the doors opened onto the most shocking scene I had seen in my life.

    Killian was sleeping on the bed, and there were piles and piles of cotton and cloth lying around, all streaked red.

    My knees buckled under my weight, and I almost crashed down on the floor.

    But the old man, who had been trying to hold just another patch of cloth to Killian’s shoulder, looked at me and let out a panicked

    cry.

    “What are you looking at? Get that thing here!”

    I nodded and struggled to get up but pushed myself and ran towards the healer to deposit everything I had got as per Elder Amara’s instructions.

    But there was no sign of thedy.

    Where was she?

    The royal healer was a thin man with white hair and sallow skin. His veins were almost protruding out of his pale hands, and he was shaking while trying to lift a small vial.

    “Killian!”

    I ran towards him and put pressure on the cloth, but the blood just would not stop bubbling out of his body.

    When did he even get this injury? I had seen the one on his shoulder, but this….this was insane.

    Tears stung the back of my eyes, and I let out a panicked cry.

    “Killian! Don’t pass out, stay awake please”

    I begged and then turned to look at the healer, who was still fumbling.

    “What are you doing? He is losing blood. Give him the medicine quickly.”

    But the healer looked at me with fearful eyes and shook his head.

    “I can’t”

    “What do you mean, you can’t?”

    Terror was trying to squeeze my heart in a vice like grip.

    Killian had defeated the werewolf, spared his life and had still been standing on his two legs thest time I saw him.

    The healer said with trembling hands while looking from me to Killian with a hopeless expression.

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    “I can’t do it. I am not skilled.”

    Fuck it!

    I grabbed him by the cor, and he almost started to cry.

    “Where is Elder Amara? The Crone? Anybody who knows what to do!”

    I screamed at him, and he shook his head as if to plead to me to not hurt him.

    “I dont know, she was asked to pay a visit to the King along with the Crone, his health suddenly dipped as well.”

    What?

    First a werewolf attack on Killian and then the king’s health suddenly declined as well?

    I didn’t care if the King lived or died, I wanted to save Killian.

    “Aren’t you the royal healer, for fuck’s sake? Can you not save him?” I shouted while fighting my tears.

    My gaze flickered to Killian, whose breathing grew shallow, and when I touched his wrist to check a pulse, it was very, very weak.

    The old man trembled like a leaf caught in a torrent of wind.

    “…I dont know. These herbs and potions are not what I usually work with.”

    The hell was wrong with him?

    Killian’s eyelids fluttered weakly, and I heard him call my name in a faint voice.

    “Valencia”

    I snapped my head to look at him and brought my ears closer to his lips.

    “Dont…scare him away. He…is…only…”

    He tried to speak, but I could see how much pain it was causing him.

    “Shh, justy still”

    I breathed in and out and stared at the ingredients I had spread out on the table. If the royal healer was ipetent and the other senjor healers were not around…

    “You should treat him”

    I heard a worried voice as Mary rushed in the room carrying a fresh pile of cloths and bandages.

    “I?” I stared at her in disbelief.

    “Everybody else is busy with the King. Do you think they will spare anybody to be with the most disliked prince if the King himself

    was in need of medical care?”

    Mary cried out, and I couldn’t find an answer to her question.

    My gaze flicked from her to Killian, who only smiled weakly at me. His breath grewbored, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

    10:58 Tue, 2 Sept.

    Seeing me stand there like an idiot, Mary came forward and grabbed me by the shoulders ito /ishake me hard.

    “Listen to me!” she said while trying to bring her voice down. I could see that she was as worried as I was.

    I looked at her, and she said in a determined voice.

    “I know you can do this. There is nobody else here either way.”

    But fear clogged my brain.

    @71%

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    “No, I should get the Crone or one of the Elder Priestess‘ here!” I said, stepping away ifrom /ihis bed and shaking my head.

    I couldn’t trust myself with him. I had no experience, let alone the courage, to try an experiment right now.

    But she grabbed me again and shook me harder.

    “Don’t you understand? You are all he has got. If you give up, he….he might…”

    She choked on her words, and I gritted my teeth.

    “Dont you dare say that!”

    I wiped my face and realized I had started crying along with her already

    I curled my fists in determination even when my hands trembled a little.

    I had read and worked with these herbs for the past few days. I knew what their properties were and I could also use a mortar and pestle.

    I had to try.

    “You!” I said, pointing at the royal healer.

    “Keep applying pressure to his wounds while I try to make a paste. And dont you dare take your hands off for even a second.”

    I glowered, and the poor bloke stumbled back, crashing into a nearby vase and breaking it into pieces.

    “Mary,e help me.”

    The royal healer did as asked while I sorted through the herbs until I found what I was looking for.

    “Red weed is for loss of blood coz it literally helps create more blood cells. But I need something to stop the blood flow.”

    1 was mumbling to myself while Mary waited for instructions.

    I debated between two herbs and held them in front of my eyes. One was poison weed, known to flush out poison, while the other was dream blossom, which could heal a wound.

    I worried at my lip, unsure if i was supposed to mix them together. I didn’t even know what quantities they were supposed to be

    used in.

    But when Killian shuddered violently and then his head slightly rolled to the side, I quickly threw both the herbs and began grinding hard.

    10:58 Tue, 2 Sept

    “Quick, apply this paste on a bandage and see if it stops the bleeding.”

    I cried at Mary, who instantly did a patch test on his shoulder.

    “Killian, stay with me!”

    “Quick, check his pulse!”

    Mary let out a distressed wail. “I can’t find a pulse!”

    “Nooo!” The mortar fell out of my hands as I ran towards Killian.