31. Kiera
THIRTY-ONE
KIERA
T his time, I was going to work, I told myself as I finished tying my robes in the mirror of my bedchamber. Jaxus was attending meetings, and I wasn’t sneaking off behind his back. I had told him I intended to make some rounds this morning.
He made me promise not to try to stand for too long and to listen to my body. And I had. All I wanted to do was check in on what patients we had on the ward and take a look at what was progressing with our new helpers around.
I had specifically picked this morning because I knew most of the flyers and ryders had training, so I wouldn’t risk running into Koen while I was alone. It still sickened me that I felt as though I wanted Jaxus with me for protection, but I would have to deal with that some other time because I was maxed out on dealing with things .
I was told all the flyers were working hard and not causing any trouble, so for now I wouldn’t rock the boat. As for when I returned to work properly? I’d have to find a way through it then, because I wouldn’t be kept from the work I love.
“Good morning, Kiera,” one of our oldest healers said softly as she passed me in the hallway. I smiled in greeting and kept going to the wards.
We only had one patient. Things seemed mercifully quiet. So after checking in on his treatment and signing off on a tonic for him, I went to the apothecary.
It was a hive of activity and I froze, quickly scanning the room. I sighed in relief when I didn’t see the dragons I wished to avoid and shook off the panic that had gripped me.
I noticed that these were not the units of flyers and ryders that had been helping under Jaxus’ supervision and frowned, heading over to Vanya to find out who they were.
“Oh, good morning, Kiera! I’m so happy to see you looking better.”
“Morning, Vanya,” I replied, glancing around the room. “Do you have time to update me?”
She nodded. “Just let me drop these off to be prepped.” She tipped her head down at the basket of fresh herbs that had obviously been gathered this morning. Some potions and spells called for ingredients gathered under the moon, too, so work around here never stopped.
“Sure I said, crossing to the side room that acted as an office of sorts. It was where I tended to work on more sensitive things if I wasn’t in my own rooms and where we could meet for updates.
Vanya joined me and closed the door.
“Who are all these new faces? I asked, trying not to sound wary. It was pretty disconcerting, feeling so out of the loop in a place I mostly ran as my father’s second .
“Oh, isn’t it wonderful? The flyers who have been assisting us have been so much help that Jaxus has enlisted more.”
“More? I thought they were all helping?”
“Oh, the dragons and their ryders are, but they have to keep up with their training and patrols. So some of the other orders of flyers have joined the effort. They heard about the need we have for assistance, and they are signing up by the dozen. It seems the dragons have been encouraging any who are interested.”
I looked out over the bustling room and indeed noticed a couple of pegasus shifters who’d attended school here with us as children and then saw a female I knew to be a griffin. “And are they working out?” I asked tentatively.
“Yes indeed, they are. In fact, we have already identified more healing magic within this group. Your father theorizes that it’s lower in dragons because they carry stronger astral magic in their bloodlines, whereas healing has survived better in other orders.”
“Fascinating,” I mused.
“Isn’t it? Our hope is that we can train many of them with some field skills that will save lives where it’s not possible to get straight to a healer.”
Her enthusiasm for the changes was tangible. The whole wing felt uplifted and energized.
“Well, don’t let me hold you up. I’m just going to sit and run through the ledger for a little while and then return to my rooms. I’m not really here.” I winked.
She smiled. “Well, it’s good to see you even if you aren’t here. It means you soon will be, and we’ve missed you.” She left me alone as I sat at the desk, taking in the neatly stacked records of the inventory being produced and the supplies procured. It was all up to date, well organized, and being taken care of.
I wasn’t sure we had been this organized in years. Maybe they were just trying to prove the point that the help was really working. Or maybe it just proved to me that things didn’t actually collapse if I took time off. Whichever was the case, I could breathe easier.
It made me think about my father’s suggestion some more. If they were coping this well, Perhaps I could afford a visit to the Forest Kingdom. But could I bring myself to share with Jaxus what was necessary in order to take him? Could I put him through meeting the clan and all that entailed?
I was lost in my head with thoughts of home when Jaxus knocked at the door.
“Everything good?” he asked wryly, obviously knowing full well I wouldn’t have found a paper clip out of place.
I gestured to the paperwork. "It’s all perfect. There was nothing to do but sit here and marvel at all you have achieved.”
Jaxus perched on the corner of the desk. “It has been a group effort.”
“One that never would have happened without your vision,” I assured him.
He tilted his head, studying me. “Is something wrong?”
“No, why?”
“You seemed miles away when I got here.”
I shook my head. “No, just thinking. That’s all.”
“About?”
“About the research we are doing,” I said, not giving any details in case we could be overheard.
“Ah. Yes, it seems like a bit of a dead end,” he said, pulling a piece of parchment from his pants pocket. “I got this after the meeting,” he said, handing me the note.
It was a reply from the head librarian letting him know that she was unable to find anything further for us on dragon bloodlines. We had officially hit a wall.
I sighed.
“I know,” Jaxus agreed, sighing too.
That was unless I took a big step and brought Jaxus into the fold. I knew I could trust him at this point, but it just felt like it went against everything I was conditioned to be. It felt wrong on every level, and I wasn’t sure I could do it because it could never be undone.
“Kiera?” he asked, bringing me out of my head.
“Hmmm?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Your heart rate just picked up significantly.” He warned. “So either you’re sick again, or something is worrying you.”
“I’m fine,” I tried not to let my guilt of not telling him what I was thinking add to my heart rate. Damn dragons, you couldn’t hide anything from them. I prayed he wouldn’t ask me mind to mind because then I couldn’t lie. Even by omission. He would know.
Luckily, he didn’t, which in of itself set me on edge. He knew I wasn’t telling him something. It was only a matter of time.