The soft light of dawn barely broke through the curtains of the castle’s infirmary. Max stood by Vera’s bedside, his face a mixture of worry and exhaustion. Zach paced the room, unable to sit still as healers tended to Vera, their hands moving deftly over her with soft incantations and herbal remedies.
Vera lay still, her face pale, beads of s weat forming on her forehead. Her breaths were shallow, and despite the healers’ best efforts, she remained unconscious.
“She’ll come around,” one of the healers, an older woman with sharp eyes and a gentle touch, assured them. “The journey must’ve taken a toll on her. But with the herb you brought, we can begin stabilizing her.”
Max nodded, though his heart felt heavy. He glanced at the satchel containing the rare herb they had risked everything
