“That was ashadowdrifter,”he spat. “How did it get inmycity?”
Shadowdrifter? What was he talking about?
Jeondar tensed at the mention, but quickly jumped to his feet and issued instructions to some of the guards. “Help the king and queen to their chambers and guard their door. Golred, go with them and ensure my father’s progress.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the guards and the healer responded in unison as they rushed to follow their orders.
“Go out there and protect the palace,” Jeondar instructed the remaining guards. “Also, inform Captain Nataar and direct her to send guards to defend the denizens against that beast. Tell her I will join her shortly in the Strategy Room.”
A series of thumps followed as fists pounded on chests, then they were off. With that done, Jeondar turned to me and helped me to my feet.
“Can you walk?”
I nodded.
We hurried out of there.
“Kryn and Arabis,” I said, struggling to keep up and fighting a dizzy spell.
“I know.” There was deep concern in his voice. They had been with Kalyll. What if…?
God, let them be okay.
The many halls we traversed were empty, eerily quiet, as if everyone had found a hiding place and was silently praying for their lives.
When we got there, broken furniture greeted us in the front room. The door that led to the pool was off its hinges, claw marks etched on the heavy wood.
“Kryn,” Jeondar called. “Arabis.” His steps were slow, a sign of the fear he felt about what he would encounter beyond the threshold.
We walked in. The space was empty, the Qrorium chains broken. Jeondar’s gaze roved over the floor and walls. He was looking for blood, I realized. Thankfully, there was none. He frowned and glanced toward the pool.
“They’ve probably gone after Kalyll,” I said, praying that was true.
Slowly, he turned toward the chains. The ring that had been around Kalyll’s waist was twisted and broken in half.
“He is stronger than I thought,” he said in a whisper that barely carried through the space.
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Both the first and second doses kept him calm for hours. The last one should’ve…”
“What?”
“Oh,” I pressed a hand to my forehead. “It was the stillstem. I should have thought of it. It interacted with the marsh flower and must have canceled out its effects. It blocked the cell transporters. Shit, shit! This is all my fault.”
“No. You’re not to blame for this. Only one person is.”
I searched his face, wondering what he meant. I was about to ask, but I swayed on my feet, and he reached out to steady me.
“I’m fine.” I took a deep breath as the world around me settled.
Jeondar picked up a clean flask from the table and filled it up in the pool. “Drink this. It’s perfectly clean. All the water in Imbermore is potable.”
At that moment, I wouldn’t have cared if the water were swimming with tadpoles. I drank it all, then kneeled by the pool to get more.
Something broke the surface of the water.
I yelped, kicked back, and fell on my butt. I stared at the two-headed monster, but quickly realized it was no monster at all. It was Kryn and Arabis.
“What in the name of Esthar?” Jeondar blinked at the soaking wet pair.