Part 2
“Evka sent word. Last of the civilians made it to Lavendel. Janos and his people held the line long enough for them to escape Weisshaupt. And the Wardens are in Lavendel too,” Lace explained.
“What’s left of them you mean. Over a thousand…that’s how many fellow Wardens I had. And now…” Davrin trailed off, staring at the table. He clenched his fists before continuing. “One God. One Archdemon. That’s all it took to nearly wipe out our entire Order.”
“I promise you Davrin. We’ll make Ghilan’nain pay,” Kaya swore. She leaned forward in her chair, meeting Davrin’s gaze. “For every Warden she killed. Every child left alone. There will be a reckoning.”
“How? We all saw what she did. That’s beyond—”
“We killed her Archdemon though. That’s something, right?” Bellara interjected.
“Yeah, after it turned into a snake-monster with too many heads! Are all blighted dragons gonna do that? I don’t know how to fight that!” Taash argued.
“Well, at least we made Ghilan’nain mortal,” Emmrich pointed out. Neve pinched the bridge of her nose as she listened to the team. They were all right. They all had good points.
“Mortal or immortal doesn’t matter if we can’t get close enough. We had our shot at her and we missed.”
“Say what you mean, Davrin. I missed,” Lucanis sighed.
“Nobody blames you for that, Lucanis,” Lace argued.
“Yeah? Maybe I do. This Crow has a demon inside him, right?” Davrin seethed.
“Now that’s not—”
“How do we know we can trust him? Maybe the demon pulled his punches.”
Lucanis leaned over, meeting Davrin’s gaze. “And you, Warden? What about the Blight that runs through your veins? The same Blight that Ghilan’nain commands so effortlessly.”
The others tried to intervene, but Lucanis and Davrin were about ready to trade blows. Kaya slammed her hand on the table, making them all jump.
“Enough! We’re on the same side here, and for the same reasons. We all saw the terror these Gods will bring and chose to stand against it. This team needs to depend on each other, to unite against impossible odds. That’s the only hope we got,” Kaya stated. Neve didn’t listen to the others as they talked. She stared at Kaya as she rubbed at her temple. The elf didn’t look great. She stood from the table and stumbled slightly, catching herself on the back of her chair. They all got to their feet and were ready to help her, but she held up her hand to them. “I-I’m fine. Just lost my balance. We need a breather. All of us.”
Kaya left them at the kitchen table and closed the door behind her as she did.
“She’s hurting,” Bellara pointed out.
“I never got the chance to check her wounds. She’s likely hurt from the battle,” Emmrich added.
“She hit that wall hard when the Archdemon smacked her,” Davrin stated.
Neve stood from the table, earning her a look from the others. “I’ll go check on her.”
“Do you want me to go too?” Bellara asked.
“No. I’ve got it. Maybe come in a bit and see if we’ll need healing,” Neve answered. She heard Lucanis say something about bringing them coffee in a bit and Lace saying she’d make snacks. They were good friends to Kaya. Neve felt a pang of guilt at that. She wasn’t a good friend. She was still upset with the elf for choosing Treviso. Still hurt by her decision. Her own words echoed in her head as she headed for Kaya’s room. She shouldn’t be taking her frustration out on her. That wasn’t fair, no matter how upset she was. She pushed the Lighthouse doors open and saw Kaya leaning against the railing. “You didn’t make it far.”
Kaya groaned and dropped her head against the railing. Her arms were shaking slightly as she tried to hold herself up. Neve sighed and walked to her side, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.
“Come on. I’ll help you up the stairs.”
“I-I don’t need help.”
“Then by all means, crawl up those steps,” Neve countered, removing her hand. She waited patiently for Kaya to move and the elf tried. She made it up one step before collapsing against the railing again. This time, she had her arm around her torso. “Still going to try?”
Kaya flipped her off and Neve took that as an answer. She reached down and draped Kaya’s arm over her shoulder. The smaller woman leaned against her as they went up the stairs and Neve made sure to keep them at an even pace. No use making her fall. She pushed open the door and noted that armor was thrown on the floor. Actually, it was a mess in general. Things were strewn about and it looked like Kaya hadn’t cleaned in days. She walked Kaya around the green couch and helped her sit. The elf grimaced at the action, making her frown.
“Follow my finger,” Neve ordered. She moved her finger around and Kaya’s eyes didn’t track it well. Didn’t focus. Mild concussion. She placed her fingers on her temple and her magic rose, making Kaya flinch away from her. Strange. “I’m just healing your concussion. If I don’t you might walk into a wall.”
“I-I’d rather you didn’t. Just get me a healing potion,” Kaya stammered. Neve huffed and looked around the room, searching for a potion. She saw one on the bookshelf and went to retrieve it. “You know, I can take care of myself.”
“Considering you couldn’t get up those stairs, I highly doubt it,” Neve argued. She grabbed the potion and handed it to the elf. Kaya uncorked it and drank it in one gulp. She placed the bottle down before holding her arm to her ribs. “You likely broke a few ribs.”
“I’ll just keep drinking.”
“Because that’s healthy,” Neve huffed. She turned to pick up the discarded blanket and heard Kaya grumble.
“Yeah, cuz you care so much,” Kaya grumbled. She tossed the blanket at Kaya with a scowl.
“I care enough.”
“Sure you do,” Kaya argued. She leaned back against the couch and met Neve’s gaze. Her gold eyes swam with uncertainty. A look that Neve knew was reflected in her own gaze. “Is there anything else you need?”
“I have a contact in Minrathous. Wants to meet.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’m not holding you to that,” Neve sighed. She headed for the door, seeing the pained look on Kaya’s face. She wanted to talk with her more. Wanted to tell her that she didn’t entirely blame her for Minrathous. But she couldn’t. It was better this way.
“It’s my city too,” Kaya murmured. Neve ignored her and left. She needed something to drink. Preferably something strong. Good thing she had a bottle in her room. She walked by Lucanis and Lace, ignoring them as she headed for her room. The moment she was through her door she froze it and headed for her desk. Her hand gripped the bottle of liquor, and she poured a generous amount before taking a shot. Thoughts swirled through her head as she felt the burn of the liquor along with the tears that pricked at her eyes. This whole thing was disastrous.
It was two days later when they decided to go to Minrathous. The break that they took was needed, though Neve hardly slept during that time. There were too many thoughts going through her head. Too many things to do. The team seemed in better spirits which was good. They needed to be in top form if they were going to make things work.
Right now, herself, Bellara, and Kaya were searching for Damas. The Thread leader. He was missing in action and Elek asked them to find him. It was easy following the Venatori. They left an easy trail. Too easy if you asked Neve. It was like they wanted them to follow. Maybe they did. They were cocky that way. The only positive to this mission was the bantering between Bellara and Kaya. Bellara did her best to make Kaya laugh, doing a decent job whenever she thought of something silly. There were a few times when Kaya got distracted by a cat and Bellara stated that they needed one for the Lighthouse. It was a good idea, minus the fact that it would likely die or get lost in the Fade.
“That Damas?” Kaya whispered. Neve hummed, seeing the hunched over man and the Venatori pacing around him.
“I’m going with yes.”
“What’s the plan?”
“You and Bel stay behind me. Let me do the talking.”
“Alright,” Kaya relented. Neve held her head high as she approached the Venatori, making sure he heard her as they approached.
“Quite the setup you have here. That Makal Damas? I could take him off your hands,” Neve spoke. The Venatori Mage placed his hands on his hips.
“He’s not mine to give. Damas serves our best.”
Damas rose to his feet and his eyes glowed with a sickening red. He looked strange too. Puppet like. “Hello Neve. I’ve missed you.”
“You know me.”
“Damas doesn’t. But I do. You stopped me once, but my purpose remains,” Damas spoke.
Neve kept her emotions in check. “Aelia.”
“Rid Minrathous of this criminal. Kill him. Will anyone notice in Dock Town? I won’t be stopped,” Damas spoke. Neve felt Kaya and Bellara shift uneasily behind her. This wasn’t good.
“What have you done, Aelia? Speaking directly through him. Puppetry. The blood magic needed—”
“Impressed? It pales next to the power Tevinter once had.”
“I’ve got you back, Neve,” Kaya spoke. Damas laughed and straightened.
“You have new partners? Did you tell them about what happened to your last one? I suppose not considering they are still helping you,” Damas chuckled. He looked past her, directly at Kaya. “One of the fabled Twin Blades. You must be helpful to the detective. Hopefully you are more helpful to her than your dear brother.”
“Shut it.”
“Hit a nerve did I? I’m not wrong. It was tragic hearing about his death. If only you had been a better sister,” Damas taunted. Neve heard Kaya unsheathe her weapons.
“Shut up!” Kaya shouted. Neve cursed as Kaya ran past her. That temper would get them all killed. Damas used magic to conjure two large sickles and met Kaya’s swords with a sneer.
“It’s amusing that this knife-ear is so sensitive!” Damas laughed. Venatori appeared to help him and Neve glanced back at Bellara.
“Take out the Venatori.”
“Got it!” Bellara nodded. She let her arrows fly as Neve used her magic. Focusing on the Venatori was tricky with Kaya and Damas playing a deadly dance. When he swung, Kaya did too. When he jumped, she followed. She wasn’t letting him get away. Neve stabbed the mage before her, freezing him as well as impaling him. One down. She turned as Damas landed a kick to Kaya’s stomach, making her stumble back. Before he could strike her, Kaya’s body blurred. She moved with her electricity and dodged him. That was a move she hadn’t seen before. Kaya slashed at his back and Damas shouted in pain. Neve used that chance to conjure a blast of ice, hitting Damas square in the chest. He stumbled then fell to one knee. Bellara shot down the last Venatori and Neve grabbed Kaya’s shoulder.
“He’s down,” Neve assured. Kaya glared at the man but stepped back. “Some Threads go missing, no one searches. Use them for dirty work, distractions—no one looks past it to you. You hardly put any guards in our way. You’re setting us up. For what?”
“For our destiny renewed.”
“And damn the lives it takes. We’ve played this game before,” Neve countered. Damas chuckled and looked Kaya.
“Yes, well, that one understands what it means to lose lives. She did so when she chose to damn our city. Chose to let our people die,” Damas spoke as he stood. Neve clenched her scepter, and Bellara tightened her grip on her bow. This man wasn’t going to bad mouth Kaya. “Minrathous is in shambles, but you like it that way.”
He looked at her with those red eyes and Neve had to resist freezing him. “Does it flatter your ego to leave the city as it is? To prove your cynicism right?”
“Stop talking about her that way,” Kaya growled. Damas turned his attention back to the elf and he raised his fist. Red magic gathering before him. Neve gasped and jumped between them, using her magic to stop his. He pressed hard against her barrier, and she glared at him. He wouldn’t touch Kaya.
“I am Minrathous’s hope. I will bring them back to glory,” Damas spoke. He released his magic and backed away. “Goodbye Neve. Goodbye, Twin Blade.”
“Damn it!” Neve cursed. Aelia was back and she was powerful. The Gods were fueling her.
“Venhedis! Fucking cultist snake!” Damas cursed. Neve stepped in front of Kaya, unsure of what Damas would do next. “They’ll pay for this.”
“Is he good?” Kaya whispered.
“Disoriented, but good,” Neve whispered in return.
“Neve Gallus. If you’re here, Elek sent you. You did me a favor. I heard you stopped a red lyrium relic—and the Venatori responsible walked. Bataris. I’ve got dirt on him. Enough for your templar friend to move should it land in her lap. Consider it my thanks,” Damas spoke. Neve glanced back at Kaya and the elf frowned. Blackmailing wasn’t ideal. It worked, but not always. In this case, Neve wondered if it would make things easier.
“Rook?”
“Take the offer.”
Neve humed and looked back to Damas. “I’ll take it.”
“Good. I’ll see to it then,” Damas grinned. He walked aways and Kaya went to one of the dead Venatori, rifling through his attire.
“Umm…” Bellara spoke. Neve looked back at her friend, seeing the way her eyes darted between herself and Kaya. “So, I have a lot of questions.”
“Let’s go back to the Lighthouse first. Then we’ll talk,” Kaya spoke. She stood, holding a folded piece of paper. The frown on her face deepened and Neve wondered what it said. They’d find out when they got to the Lighthouse.
Point of View Change, Kaya
Kaya fiddled with the necklace around her neck, waiting for her team to gather around the library table. She didn’t want to talk to them about her past and hoped that’s not what Bellara would ask. But she knew the bubbly elf would. She was naturally curious that way. Taash walked behind her, ruffling her hair slightly before taking a seat on her left. She liked the qunari. They had a bonding session over feeding birds and Kaya noted how upset Taash got when Shaathan said Taash wasn’t a woman because they acted more like a man. She made a mental note to check in on the qunari after this meeting. Assan chirped and pushed his way under her legs, signaling the entrance of Davrin and Lace. Davrin took a seat and Lace sat next to Neve. Everyone was here.
“Alright. Bellara, ask away,” Kaya sighed.
“Well, I don’t know where to start. Damas shared a lot there…” Bellara trailed off. She thought to herself for a moment before meeting her gaze. “Who exactly are the Twin Blades?”
“The Twin Blades is a stupid name that was given to two reckless elves,” Kaya answered. She reached forward, placing her artbook on the table. It was open to the picture of an elf with short black hair and tattoos on his face. He looked similar to her and she hated how much he did. Every time she looked in the damn mirror she saw him. “Kai Mercar…my fraternal twin.”
The table went silent, looking at the picture. Bellara ran her fingers over the picture as she took in the tattoos on his face.
“Was he a part of a Dalish Clan?”
“No. He just thought a face tattoo would make him more intimidating,” Kaya answer. The tattoo wasn’t large. It was on the right side of his face. A vine design that went down to his collarbone. Kaya remembered him getting that tattoo. He cried like a baby getting it.
“I’ve heard of the Twin Blades,” Lucanis spoke. They all looked at the Crow. “They made a big name for themselves in the assassin world. We even contemplated recruiting them.”
Kaya chuckled. “Yeah well, one of your people did come and talk to Kai. He flipped them off and said no.”
“Ah, well that explains why we never recruited you,” Lucanis spoke. His expression darkened and he met Kaya’s with understanding. He knew. Most who knew about them knew. “What actually happened to your brother?”
“It was supposed to be simple. Break into a slave trading ring and free the slaves. We had our team, our attack plan, and our escape plan,” Kaya recounted. She averted her gaze and looked down at the picture of Kai. “We didn’t plan for an ambush. The tip we got was wrong and we paid the price. Kai tried to get us out and I argued with him. I didn’t want him to risk himself. While we argued, I didn’t see the assassin coming for us. Kai did and he shoved me out of the way right as the blade sunk into his flesh. He used his magic and blasted us further out of the building before blowing in up.”
“He was a mage?” Lace asked.
“Yes. A damn good one too…whole lot of good that did for him,” Kaya sighed. She pinched the bridge of her nose to keep her tears at bay. She hated thinking of that night. The smell of burning flesh. Her brother’s blood on her hands. Alana screaming at her for messing up the mission. “After that moment, the Twin Blades were no more. I stopped working in a group and started working on my own. Freed a bunch of slaves after The Viper explicitly told me not to and I was sent away with Varric.”
“The rumors say the Twin Blades were freed slaves…is that true?” Lucanis asked. Kaya reached for her sketchbook. She needed something in her hands to keep them from shaking.
“It is. We were born into slavery. Our parents were slaves, and our mother died in childbirth. Our father did what he could to raise us. It was…awful to say the least. Days without food. Beatings when we didn’t work fast enough. It got worse when they figured out we could use magic,” Kaya explained. Neve shifted on the couch and Kaya glanced up at the mage, seeing the confusion on her face.
“Can you use other spells beside electricity?” Neve asked. Kaya shook her head and lifted her hand, calling upon a bit of her power. It sparked as she wiggled her fingers.
“I only ever figured out electricity. Because of that, I was deemed useless, and a useless slave is a dead one,” Kaya answered, closing her hand and extinguishing her power. “They tried to get me to use other magic for weeks. Kai figured it out but I just…couldn’t. So, our masters decided I was to be disposed of. I would’ve been too if Kai hadn’t retaliated.”
She felt her back burn from a phantom pain. The whips and knives that dug into her skin. The Blood Magic that kept her barely alive so she could suffer through the slow death. Her body was riddled with scars and she hated that it was. Bellara gasped and brought her hands to her mouth.
“That’s terrible!”
“Your brother, he killed them all?” Taash asked. Kaya nodded and the qunari growled. “Good. They deserved it.”
“It was about two months after that when the Viper found us. We had just killed a Venatori patrol and he promised to house us and train us. We were still teens at that time. We couldn’t live completely on our own, so we said yes.”
“Lorelei. Where does she come in?” Emmrich asked.
“Lorelei was the only one we trusted. She knew what it meant to be a slave. Knew what we had gone through. She showed us kindness and bought us new clothes. New armor. She even gave us our first swords. I learned to shoot from her and pickpocket. I learned how to harness my electricity to speed up my movements and how to sneak my way around the city. She was—”
“Family,” Neve finished. Kaya nodded and felt like she was going to fall apart. She hated talking about this. “That explains a lot.”
“Was Alana a slave too?” Lace asked. Kaya nodded and felt her tears threatening to fall. She needed air.
“I need a drink. Give me a moment,” Kaya sighed, standing from her seat. She didn’t look at them as she left, choosing instead to keep her head down. It hurt to talk about her past. It always did. Especially when she thought of Kai. She headed for the kitchen and went to the fireplace, leaning against it. Her chest was tight, and she needed to breathe. She dug her fingers into her arm, feeling the pain there and grounding herself. It wasn’t healthy by any means, but it was the fastest. A hand on the small of her back made her jump and she turned, seeing Neve standing there. The detective gently pried her fingers away and pressed a cloth to the bleeding indentations. She winced and Neve shook her head.
“You don’t let us heal you because of what they did to you,” Neve pointed out. Kaya grunted in response. She didn’t like magic being used on her. If she could survive using a healing potion or just normal stitches, she would do that. Magic was a last resort. “I-what Alana said to you that day. She’s wrong, you know.”
“She’s not. It’s my fault he died. I didn’t have to argue with him.”
“You did so because you wanted your brother safe. No one can fault you for that.”
Kaya angrily pulled her arm away. “You’re wrong. They can.”
“Rook—”
“No! You pegged me as reckless, and you were right. I-I’m the reason Kai died. I’m the reason Lorelei died! Minrathous, all those people that I chose to die because I chose Treviso! The Wardens. It’s my fault!” Kaya shouted. She felt warmth on her cheeks, and she cursed, wiping away her tears. Neve reached for her, and she smacked her hand away. “I don’t need your pity. I don’t need the team’s either. I’ll kill the Gods. I’ll fix things. Whatever it takes.”
She pushed by Neve and headed for the library. They needed a plan. They Gods had to be stopped. Everyone needed to be at top form if they wanted to win. She’d do whatever it takes to keep her team safe. They wouldn’t suffer because of her mistakes.
Point of View Change, Neve
Neve could do nothing as she watched Kaya fall apart. The elf threw herself into danger every moment she got. She worked herself to exhaustion and the team was worried. They couldn’t convince her to rest. The most they could do was stick by her side. When Kaya went to Minrathous to meet the Inquisitor, Lace and Taash stayed close by her. When she went to check on the Wardens, Davrin, Lucanis, and Assan were right there. When the Mournwatchers asked for help with some hauntings, Bellara and Emmrich assisted her. They all did what they could to help…except for Neve. Kaya hardly looked at her anymore. Not that she blamed her. Every time they talked, it ended in fighting. They couldn’t see eye to eye. Maybe it was her own damn stubbornness. Maybe it was Kaya’s self-loathing. Whatever it was, it kept them apart. Neve didn’t know what to do to fix things.
“NEVE!” Bellara shouted. Neve dropped her quill and ran out of her office, seeing the Veil Jumper running to her. Her eyes were wide, and her hands were covered in blood.
“Bel, what’s—”
“Rook! She-she—”
“Take me to her,” Neve firmly ordered. Bellara nodded and ran for the Lighthouse. She chased after the elf and her stomach dropped when they ran to the infirmary. Taash was holding Kaya down as Lace got her legs. The gold-eyed elf was writhing on the cot, fighting to free herself. Emmrich was doing what he could to calm her, but her movements stayed frantic.
“I-she pushed me out of the way of a Toxic Yearning. Its horns got her before throwing her out a window!” Bellara frantically explained. Neve pushed up her sleeves and hurried to Kaya’s side.
“I can’t get her to calm down. She’s fighting us,” Emmrich spoke. Neve looked at the puncture wounds in the elf’s leather armor. Five holes. That didn’t count what internal wounds she had from the fall. The blood trickling from the corner of her mouth wasn’t a good thing. Neve moved to Kaya’s face and saw the pained look on her face.
“Rook, you need to let us heal you,” Neve stated. Kaya shook her head, and Neve saw the gash on her forehead. “Healing potions aren’t going to be enough. You’re too injured for that to work.”
Kaya shook her head, and her frantic eyes met her own for a moment before darting around again. She was terrified. Both of her wounds and of the prospect of using magic. Neve took a chance and cupped Kaya’s face with her hands, grounding her. Kaya’s eyes snapped back to her, and she lightly squeezed her face.
“Kaya, you need to let us heal you,” Neve spoke. At the use of her name, Kaya’s body slightly stilled. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll make him stop once we know you won’t die from your wounds. I will not let him continue, but you need to let us help you.”
To her relief, Kaya nodded, and Neve removed her hands. She looked at Emmrich and the older man nodded. Bellara carefully cut Kaya’s armor away, then her undershirt. Her chest wrapping was drenched in blood. There was too much blood. Taash ran to grab them water and Lace moved to grab bandages. When Emmrich started using his magic to mend the damage done, Neve let her own join his. They worked in tandem with the Necromancer taking charge and Neve letting him pull from her own magic. Kaya whined and Neve glanced down at her, seeing the pain on her face. The tension to her jaw as she fought her instincts to fight back. Neve let her magic fade with one of her hands and reached down, grabbing Kaya’s trembling one. She held it tightly before returning her attention to healing her wounds.
“Just a few more moments and I’ll have healed the internal wounds,” Emmrich informed.
“Will she survive with the punctures?”
“Yes with heavy monitoring she can.”
“Then stop after you’ve healed her internal wounds.”
“Neve—”
“I told her we’d stop, so we will,” Neve firmly ordered. Emmrich nodded and she felt Kaya’s hand squeeze in response. She wasn’t going to go against her word. Not when Kaya had given her trust the way she had. Emmrich’s magic faded, and he went to work stitching the punctures closed. Kaya’s grip tightened further, and Neve looked up at Bellara. “We’ll need healing potions.”
“On it!” Bellara exclaimed, running to grab them. Taash returned with water and handed her a wet cloth that she used to wipe the blood from Kaya’s face. The gash was bigger than she thought. That would definitely need stitches.
After an agonizing amount of time, Emmrich finished the last stitch on Kaya’s face. He sighed in relief and Lace got to work wrapping Kaya’s torso and chest with bandages. The elf let out a shaky breath as Neve shook her head.
“Stubborn. Even when you’re getting help,” Neve teased. Kaya’s eyes were starting to close, and Neve saw how she fought to stay awake. How she had managed this long was a mystery. Any normal person would’ve passed out.
“Should we move her to her room?” Lace asked.
“That couch cannot be good for her,” Bellara countered. The Caretaker appeared and they all jumped.
“The Lighthouse will provide,” they mysteriously said before disappearing once more.
“I hate that thing sometimes,” Taash groaned. Emmrich cleaned his hands in the bucket of water and looked to Taash.
“We can move her, but carefully. One person on each end and side to make sure she doesn’t slide off,” Emmrich instructed. They nodded and went to their positions. Manfred kept the door open while they carried Kaya’s cot through the door, and he hurried to her room to do the same thing. They walked through the doorway and Neve was surprised to see a large bed tucked in the corner. As a team, they transferred Kaya form the cot to the bed, making sure to not jostle her too much. Once the elf was safely transferred, they all let out a collective sigh of relief. That was close.
“You said she was thrown out a window?” Lace questioned. Bellara nodded and looked at Taash.
“We were looking for the missing Veil Jumpers. When we finally found them, we found out some forgotten God had turned them into demons,” Taash explained.
“Anaris…and Cyrian,” Bellara spoke. Neve looked at her friend.
“Your brother? How?” Neve questioned.
“I-I don’t know. He was there and he turned our people into demons. When more appeared, we had no choice but to fight.”
Emmrich brought his hand to his chin in thought. “You said it was a Toxic Yearning?”
“Yes.”
“We should watch for infection or poison. She’ll likely have some type of complication based on what hit her,” Emmrich suggested. He patted Neve’s shoulder before heading for the door. “I will look into antidotes and work on a potion for the inevitable.”
“I’ll get Lucanis and Davrin. They will want to know what happened,” Lace added.
“I’ll go with you,” Taash spoke.
Bellara looked down at her still dirty clothes with a frown. “I should go change.”
“Go. I’ll sit here,” Neve assured. The others nodded and hurried from the room, leaving Neve to tend to the elf. She grabbed a chair and moved it to sit beside Kaya’s bed before taking a seat. Kaya looked pale lying there. Exhausted and beaten. She ran her fingers along her cheek with a heavy heart. They could’ve lost Kaya if she hadn’t agreed to being healed. They likely would’ve ignored her protests and healed her anyways, but that would’ve ended in disaster. With how upset she’s been, they likely wouldn’t have chanced that. Even now, they would need to watch her carefully. She wasn’t out of the danger zone yet. “You gave me a heart attack, trouble.”