Chapter 26 #2
“Sammy!” A thin woman with frizzing hair escaping a half-done bun vaulted over a patient on the ground and sprinted for me.
I handed her son over, watching as the mother clutched a child she had feared lost to her, tears streaming unabashedly down her cheeks. It left me with a wiggly puppy, who also wanted in on this action.
Her son, in his very young state—he couldn’t have been more than four, in my estimate—only knew his mother was upset, so he started crying too.
I decided a puppy would help with this situation and handed Sam Sam over as well.
With a tearful laugh, she took the puppy, who of course promptly started licking everyone’s faces.
“Thank you so much,” she managed around tears. “Where did you find them?”
“In the debris in front of the building. If not for the puppy whining, I’d never have known. I truly think he’s all right, but have him checked by the mages.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Oh! Almost forgot.” I handed over the key as well. “You’re in Sunstreet Hotel.”
She looked at the key, biting her lower lip. “We can’t afford—”
“I’m paying for this,” I reassured her. “I’m paying for everyone assigned to a hotel. I’ll continue to pay for it until you’re back in your home. So don’t fret about that. All meals at the hotel are free for you as well.”
“I—” She visibly cut herself off. “Thank you.”
A call came from behind me. “James!”
Turning, I spotted Helena, who was refreshed in dry clothing—boots, trousers, and shirt, in fact. Two knights hovered behind her, looking visibly agitated she was in such a dangerous area, but she had clearly overridden them. She’d come ready to work.
I waved a hand to acknowledge her before instructing the mother, “If you need help getting there, wave down any of the knights. Or anyone with a clipboard. They can help your family to the hotel.”
“I will. We’ll need the help. My mother’s been ordered to stay off her foot for the next week.”
Ah, right, broken ankle. “Then do so, don’t hesitate. I must go, so ask the knights.”
“Of course. Thank you so, so much.”
“You’re very welcome.” I gave her a last smile before turning, carefully navigating my way around patients.
Behind me, I heard the mother ask someone, “Who is he?”
“That’s Prince James,” a male voice answered her.
A beat, then, “A prince rescued my son and puppy?!”
I’d just ignore that. Safer than being drawn back in.
Upon reaching Helena, I started spouting off every question I had. “How goes it? Did Edwin fill you in on the plan? Where is Edwin?”
I wasn’t at all pleased he still wasn’t here.
“He did indeed. In fact, he stayed with me while I explained everything to our parents, which I’m grateful for, as he was able to answer more questions than I could. I expect him to catch up in a few minutes.” Helena leaned in, a knowing expression on her face. “You like him, don’t you?”
I had no desire to hide my love for Edwin any longer, having already done it in one lifetime. “I’d propose to him if I thought he’d say yes.”
“I thought so. You were very quick to both protect and reassure him. For the record, I quite approve of your taste in men.”
Eh, uh, huh? What was this? “You do?”
“I do. He’s incredibly smart, and I do love intelligent men, but he’s also incredibly kind. He made sure I was settled on my tasks and knew what was going on before diving into his own. Plus, he’s cute.”
Finally, someone who saw him the way I did. “He’s atrociously cute. You’re not going to fight me for him, are you?”
Helena snickered, eyes crinkling up. “No, there’s no point. He clearly has eyes for you.”
He did? Since when!? I absolutely must get to the bottom of this.
“All I’m saying is, I approve. I’ll support you.”
“This really means a lot to me. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. Oh, and I managed to talk our parents into making Victor pay for all the relief funds, as much as his account will allow. This was his screwup. You shouldn’t be paying for it.”
I doubted his account could afford to cover all the costs, but it would definitely cover the bulk of it. And you know what? I was fine with him paying. “I agree wholeheartedly.”
“Good. You stay here, and I’ll take the other side. I brought my own knights to help. Edwin’s right behind me. He stopped to get you a change of clothes. Be extra sweet to him. He’s very torn up about losing his entire library.”
“Shit.” I groaned, reminded. “He had a good four hundred books in his collection. I’ll replace whatever I can.”
“I’m pretty sure if you do, he’ll marry you on the spot.” With a wink, she turned on her heel and took herself off, her knights following.
She was really coming into her own. Look at her, moving with confidence, dispatching people.
Edwin had briefed her well. I felt better having her support with Edwin, too.
No one in my previous life had known I’d loved him, so it was liberating and satisfying having the words out there, as well as my sister’s support of the relationship.
Speaking of, there came Edwin now. The clench that had been in my stomach eased immediately now that I had my eyes upon him.
Truly, he should be with me at all times.
I didn’t like how stressed he looked. His normally impeccably combed hair brushed his glasses, and he wasn’t in a suit like usual but a peasant shirt and rubber waders that came up to his thighs.
He carried clothes in one hand and a basket in the other.
“I brought you tea and sandwiches,” he said, handing the basket over. “It’s well past lunch, and you need to eat if you’re going to be effective. Was Princess Helena here?”
“Just now. She left not thirty seconds ago.” I wanted to latch on to him so badly my hands shook. I checked the impulse by gripping the basket handle instead. Clinging to him would only make him uncomfortable.
“Oh good, she said she’d check in with you first. I’m sorry you missed it.
She tore a strip off Prince Victor’s hide—then did it again with even more venom when he insisted this wasn’t his fault.
I didn’t know she could get that mad, but she was enraged.
Punched him dead in the mouth and sent him ass over teakettle.
Told him and your parents she was emptying his account to pay for aid.
Frankly, after watching her, I think the king and queen were afraid to tell her no. ”
A laugh escaped me. “I’m sorry I missed that too. Good for her. Thank you for the food. I was so busy, I didn’t even think to eat. Actually, I’m not sure I have time to eat.”
“I figured, that’s why I brought something for you, and please make time.” Edwin gestured me toward the carriage following him. “Sit, eat, I’ve got this.”
He always did. Time to change my clothes, eat something, and drink some tea sounded like precisely what I needed. With Edwin here, I could spare those five minutes of rest.
Five minutes was all I spared, though. With dry clothes on and my stomach full, I had a new burst of energy and dove back into the work.
I helped pull people from the wreckage, authorized storing valuables in my own warehouses to protect what little had survived, reorganized the knights and mages when they finished clearing areas, and sent them out into a different area of the city.
Time seemed to fly by, but I wasn’t convinced I was moving fast enough. Unfortunately, after being here all day and now into the night, I was dead on my feet and slowing. Bodies were so incredibly limiting sometimes.
A hand found my arm and I turned, spotting Edwin, who looked equally exhausted. I felt bad about that.
“Edwin, your house?”
“Fully the disaster I expected.” His eyes fell and he shrugged. “My family’s all alive and fine. That’s what really matters.”
“I’ll fix your house,” I promised him.
“I know you will.”
“Go to your palace rooms,” I said, my heart breaking at his obvious grief. “Rest. You’ve done enough for today.”
“We have done enough for today,” he corrected with a stern look. “We both have been here over sixteen hours and it’s time to go sleep.”
My mouth opened on an objection, squawking, “I’m needed here—”
“Why are you acting like this is your fault and you have to fix it?”
His words hit me like a slap to the back of the head.
He was right, this wasn’t my fault—I just felt responsible because I’d known it was coming and thought I could prevent it.
I’d failed because I hadn’t gotten the seawalls fixed in time even though, logically, I had done all I could.
The change in timing had undone my efforts.
Still, I flinched, the guilt thick and roiling about in the pit of my stomach.
Edwin rolled his eyes, grumbling something else under his breath, before he turned and called, “Mage Wyverstone! Are all people accounted for?”
“We’re doing a last sweep of all the streets!” he called back while still actively wielding magic. “But I think they are!”
Grunting in satisfaction, Edwin turned. “Dame Remfrey, how goes?”
“Think we’ve got everyone settled in hotels!” Dame Remfrey responded while barely lifting her head from the clipboard. “We’re about to quit here.”
“Good.” Edwin spotted someone else and asked, “Sir Collins, how goes?”
“Just on standby until the mages find someone else,” Sir Collins rumbled back in his deep voice. “I’ve got the city guard organizing now to protect the area from any looters.”
“Thank you.” Edwin cocked a brow at me, full of challenge. “Seems like everyone knows what to do without your high and mighty ass standing here looking decorative. Go to bed.”
I spoke rhetorically to the air. “I think I’ve just been very neatly put in my place. Fine. Let’s return to the palace.”
I was too wound up to sleep, however. If anything, I felt an itching need to go back over my list of events and come up with new plans for them all. If the timelines of them could be shifted about, nothing was safe. I needed a plan B.