King Zavan was speaking to me. I just noticed but could not follow his words.
I was on my feet, but unsteady. Everything around me felt distant.
I was still holding King Zavan’s hand with both of mine. Clinging, nearly.
I had to remind myself not to hold so tight. My fingers were not obeying.
King Zavan’s other hand curled over my shoulder. The weight of it grounded me somewhat, tethered me from drifting listlessly.
My gaze fell upon Derek’s body again as I saw the soldiers shifting him to an unfurled sheet. There was a painful twinge in my chest, as if the knife had reached me after all.
“Where are you taking him?” I asked, starting to step towards the body before I could think better of it. King Zavan held me in place.
Some part of me wanted to try to heal him. Even though he didn
