“Not the way you’re doing it. Plants are difficult for me, and I couldn’t heal so many at once.”
“Who cares when the likes of Jeondar could set this entire forest on fire in one fell swoop?”
Clearly, she was bitter about her skill, but she shouldn’t be. “It’s easier to destroy.”
“Than what? Mend the broken stem of a useless weed?” She blew air through her nose.
“I’m sure the others appreciate you keeping our passage secret.”
She shrugged and continued waving her fingers at the plants.
“Kryn doesn’t have any powers,” I said. At least, I hadn’t seen any.
Another shrug. There really seemed to be no way to turn her opinion around.
After about thirty minutes of making the path we were weaving through look untouched, Cylea and I joined the others.
I noticed Arabis tipping her head back, trying to peer through the trees. Since I knew what she was doing, I pulled out Kalyll’s watch from my pocket.
“A little over thirty minutes before noon,” I told her.
“That’s what I thought. We should find somewhere to stop so he can take the elixir.
We did just that at a small clearing carpeted with dry leaves. I set to work immediately, preparing the elixir. Kryn had let me keep the heating rocks, which made things a lot easier. In a matter of minutes, I had my brew ready, the same dose I’d used the last time. I hadn’t had the chance to monitor its effects—I would do that today—but I felt confident it would be safe.
“That’s stupid,” Jeondar was saying when I approached. “I brought a stretcher. One of the packhorses can pull you.”
“I’d rather stay on Stormheart,” Kalyll argued.
“You’ll fall and crack your head open.”
“I’m sure I can manage to stay up on my horse.”
“So what? We tie you to it?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Jeondar looked at me as if looking for help.
“Um, it will be easier for me to monitor you if you’re on the stretcher,” I said, which was true.
“What a nuisance!” Kalyll grumbled but got off his horse all the same.
“I’m glad he listens to somebody,” Jeondar mumbled as he turned around and left to prepare the stretcher.
Kalyll kicked at the ground with the tip of a black boot. “I’m useless.”
“So what difference does it make if you’re on a horse or a stretcher?” I asked.
He gave me a narrow-eyed look. “Maybe on the horse I can keep my dignity, at least.”
“I see.”
“You see what?”
I waved a hand. “Oh, nothing.”
“It’s definitely something.” He took a step closer and looked down at me, an eyebrow raised.