Chapter 12 #2
Sora regarded the little wind dragon next to him with renewed respect and heartache.
Wind dragons were always teased about being impulsive and mischievous.
They weren’t the responsible ones. He thought Ravi rather fit the type of his people, but clearly he could be very responsible when the situation called for it.
And brave, as that had to have been terrifying, to face off with a bomb and know that you were in the blast radius.
No wonder King Alric trusted him so much, as clearly the man knew the true nature of his bodyguard.
“His speed and wind saved him. Possibly saved a lot of mages and dragons today.”
“I believe that’s true. That and his intuition. It’s seriously uncanny. You’ve come to the aid of one of mine, Mage Vo, and it’s truly appreciated beyond what words can express.”
Sora gave the man a smile. “I’m very fond of Ravi, you know. I don’t want him hurting. I’ll do everything in my power to aid his recovery and keep him comfortable.”
Tori returned at that moment, his arms full of a folded white sheet of some kind and two long poles over one shoulder. “Can we make a makeshift cast out of this?”
“I think so.” Sora eyed the offerings with a judicious look. “I have a spell I can use to cement it, keep it flexible but firm. You won’t be able to use those things again afterwards, though.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I filched this from storage, no one will miss it.”
“Excellent.”
King Alric motioned for them to go ahead. “I’ll let you work, but I’ll swing back by soon.”
He probably had castle security and a hundred other things to oversee.
Sora didn’t need his help here anyway. He focused on holding the bars steady as Tori wrapped the cloth around the wing, then fastened it in place.
Sora enacted a plastering spell on top of that, turning it slightly more rigid so the bones underneath had no chance to shift. Good, that should hold.
Tori gave him a nod and said, “I’ll fetch blankets and pillows, maybe a couple of mattresses. Do not leave him alone; the first thing he’ll try to do is move.”
“I believe that.” Sora stayed planted, watching Ravi carefully for any sign of wakefulness. As he stared at this beautiful, amazing dragon, his heart ached.
This shouldn’t have happened. The Jaeggi shouldn’t still be terrorizing people. Ravi shouldn’t have to be alert against them. He shouldn’t have been forced to sacrifice his own safety to protect his clan. Shifting in this foyer, using wind power, he’d basically had no real room to maneuver.
What if it hadn’t worked? What if his attempt had been too late, or a little off? He would have borne the full brunt of the bomb’s effect and might not have survived it.
This entire clan was filled with good people just trying to live and find some happiness. They’d done nothing to deserve this. And it enraged Sora that history was once again trying to repeat itself.
He stroked Ravi’s cheek with a flat hand, feeling the smooth hardness of the scales, the warmth of them.
“I promise you, I’ll get help here if it’s the last thing I do. They don’t understand the situation here yet, but I’m not going to leave all of you out here, defenseless. And this is the last attack you’ll have to suffer through, if I have anything to say about it.”
“Here, Sora!” Tori came back with pillows under both arms, and behind him was North, dragging a mattress with great determination. “Let’s get him settled in.”
Sora went to help with the mattress, as North was red in the face and panting with exertion.
They set it aside for now, as it would mean lifting Ravi onto it, or having him shift onto it.
Sora went for his head instead, lifting under his snout so that Tori could stuff three pillows beneath him.
As he set Ravi’s head gently back down, he realized that a pair of chocolate-brown eyes were staring back at him, half-lidded.
Ravi was clearly not fully awake, but awareness flickered through his eyes.
“Hot male nurse,” he slurred in a pleased tone. “Me likey. Kiss it better?”
Sora snorted a laugh, amused and relieved at the immediate banter. “I’m afraid it will take more than one kiss.”
“You say this like it’s a bad thing.” Ravi repositioned himself, then grimaced. “Owww. How bad is it?”
“Three cracked ribs, four broken bones in your wing, and several gashes and burns. You’re quite lucky it’s not worse.” Sora firmed his voice. “And you absolutely cannot shift from this form until I clear you. Do so, you lose the ability to fly.”
Ravi blinked, and he looked more awake now. “No! But that means I’m stuck out here.”
“That’s what it means.”
Tori pitched in, just as firm. “And that means you have to stay still.”
Ravi rolled his eyes, expression plaintive. “But I’m really bad at that.”
“I know you are. Do it anyway.” Tori had absolutely no mercy.
Sora stroked the soft spot on his nose, right between his nostrils, and Ravi settled back in with a sigh of pleasure. That was always a good spot for dragons. “I’ll keep you company, alright?”
“That does make it better,” Ravi admitted.
“It was incredibly brave, what you did. I’m glad you thought so quickly but sorry you were hurt in the process.”
It was hard to tell under the scales, but Ravi might have been blushing. He certainly had a hard time meeting anyone’s eyes, especially Sora’s.
“Uh, well, all in the line of duty.”
“Indeed.” Sora gestured toward the mattress. “I think we can carefully move you over to there and allow your wing more room to lie flat. It’ll be more comfortable for you, but let’s do this carefully. I don’t want to aggravate anything.”
“Sure, but tell me first. I saw her fly out the window, so I know I thwarted the Jaeggi. But there was no one else, right?”
“No, she was the only bomber,” North assured him. “They’re still sweeping the castle and double checking, but it looked like she was a lone suicide bomber.”
“Thank fuck. Cause I am not feeling fighting fit right now.” Ravi groaned as he started transferring his weight over. “Oww. Owwwww. Guys, I have to tell you, being hit by a bomb? Zero stars, absolutely do not recommend. Fuck, I want to curl up in a hot bath. With bubbles. And maybe stay in it for a few years.”
“After Sora says it’s okay,” North reiterated, helping to move him.
Rolling those big brown eyes at him again, Ravi pleaded, “Maybe if I shift slowly?”
“No shifting at all.”
It would be a battle between Ravi’s patience and his natural healing speed from this point on. Sora could see the writing clearly on the wall. But he had an idea or two how to temper the impatience.
“I have a lovely potion that will ease the aches and pains. I’ll rub it all over you. And kiss the boo-boos. But you have to stay in dragon form.”
Ravi paused and eyed him suspiciously. “Every boo-boo? You promise?”
“I promise.” And Sora meant it. He noticed the looks the other two mages were giving him, as if surprised at his offer and sincerity, but he didn’t elaborate. He had nothing to explain to them, after all.
“Hot damn.” Ravi sighed, then groaned as he sank onto the mattress. “I guess something good had to come out of this. I’ll hold you to that promise, Sora.”
“Do so. In the meantime, let’s find more mattresses and pillows. I don’t think just one will cut it.”