CHAPTER 14
A sense of movement drew Violet up to consciousness. Movement and pain. She screeched as every joint, every muscle in her body shrieked. Even her bones and teeth seemed ready to splinter.
The sun blasted down on her, and she realized her skin had already begun to blister. How long have I been unconscious? she wondered, but her mouth refused to form any question. Any sound other than an endless scream.
The movement continued, jerking on her as someone—Leontios, she realized—half dragged, half carried her toward the royal cave of Skeon. Toward protection from the sun.
It was far—so far—and he was mostly spent, but he still struggled on.
She tried to help, tightening her muscles to take some of her weight, but she couldn’t. As she engaged a single toe, her agony flared, cuttin
