Path Of The Broken

11. Ryan's Injury-3

Alex glanced at Ryan, concerned as he fought to stay conscious. The lad’s breathing was shallow, tremors running through his body. He felt the pain stab through the boy any time he shifted his grip and Alex sensed his fear as he struggled to breathe. While it didn’t take him long to traverse the distance between Amberbreak and the Summer Palace, despite the village being at the extremes of the realm, it seemed like an eternity, for both him and Ryan.

Alex made his way through the palace he knew so well, ghosting his way along the corridors. He arrived at Aaron’s rooms and didn’t pause or show any courtesy. He didn’t have the time. As he entered the healer’s rooms, the boy started to cough. Alex sensed the sharp pain shooting though him every time he did so. Bright frothy blood appeared on his lips.

Aaron looked up in shock as Alex dropped his concealment, any chastisement he’d been about to administer dying on his lips as he saw Ryan. He stood up from his desk, gesturing Alex over to the bed. Ryan moaned as Alex deposited him on the bed, grabbing at Alex’s arm, trying to rise back up.

Can’t breathe.

Alex helped hold his slight frame up as Aaron, hearing the comment and understanding the cause, piled pillows behind the boy. Alex stood back as Aaron placed his hands on the boy, detecting the surge of power. He took a deep breath, relieved, watching as Aaron did his work. While he could heal himself, Alex realised he did not understand how the healers accomplished their work.

Alex spun as the door opened, only to relax when Jocelyn walked into the room. She paused, looking at Alex before taking his presence in her stride and with a brief acknowledgement walked past him. Jocelyn assessed the scene before her, then moved over to the side bench to pick up a fine knife from the array of implements. She walked up to the bed and, after a moment’s hesitation, went around the other side and crawled across the covers. Kneeling at Ryan’s other side, she removed the clamp, holding it out without looking around. Alex stepped forward without comment and took it, placing the implement on Aaron’s desk. He was fascinated as Jocelyn sliced through the fishing twine with the knife, and then, after handing him the knife, she pulled the pieces of twine gently from Ryan's flesh. Once done, she placed her own hands to either side of the wound.

Alex worried due to the long time the two worked, yet the boy’s flesh knitted under Jocelyn’s power and his breathing eased. As he’d feared there had been more damage than he could see.

Alex watched the power around the pair out of interest. Jocelyn had switched from healing the puncture wound caused by the dagger and was now channelling power to Aaron. He didn’t quite understand why she did that or why it was needed. Then again, he still didn’t understand healers.