35. Chapter 35 #3
The gnome smiled, his eyes lighting up. “An iron cell should be more than sufficient, I think. If we can get some antimonite shackles.”
Aliya nodded. At least something was going their way today. “Excellent.” Shoving herself to her feet, she gestured at Elessan. “Come on, your mother’s back here.”
He followed her to the back corner of the library. As they turned around the last stack of books, Aliya stumbled to a halt.
Sorisana held a black furry body in her lap, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“Shadow!” Aliya flew forward, landing on her knees in front of Elessan’s mother. “What happened?”
Shadow sighed, her exhalation sounding crackly like she was breathing through bubbles.
Sorisana swallowed. “I think when that man with the white eyes threw her against the wall, it broke something inside. She’s bleeding.”
No. No, no, no—this couldn’t be happening. Aliya placed her hand on Shadow’s head. “Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere,” Shadow groaned.
“She was trying to protect me,” Sorisana whispered. “If I hadn’t…”
Aliya barely heard what the other woman was saying. No. This couldn’t be. “Get me a healer!” she yelled to the room. Bending over Shadow’s too-still body, Aliya murmured, “You can’t die. I can’t do this without you.”
“Yes, you can.” Shadow coughed, the sound wet. “You have your mother’s heart and wisdom. Trust yourself.”
Something heavy settled on her shoulder. Elessan’s hand. He squeezed.
Aliya spun, her gaze scouring the room. “Where is that healer?” she screamed.
“They all evacuated on your orders, Your Majesty. We’ve sent runners,” someone said. She didn’t bother to see who.
Blast it. Curse Brooks, curse the Whisperers, curse Roland for betraying her and leaving them in this position.
Footsteps shuffled as the other prisoners stood and were escorted away. Sorisana and Aliya didn’t move.
Aliya turned to Elessan, tears blurring her vision. “Do something. Please!”
He knelt beside her. “I don’t know if anything can be done for internal bleeding. It sounds like she’s got a punctured lung.”
Aliya’s throat clogged. She swallowed, forcing the words around the lump that had settled there, “But you healed me, when Malkov stole my magic. Heal her!” Her voice cracked. “Please.”
He shook his head. “That was during the full moon, and you needed spiritual healing. This is different—all I have are herbs and poultices for first aid. I’m no physician.”
She curled the fingers of one hand in his sleeve as she squeezed her eyes closed. She’d never had much use for the gods, but if they helped her now, she’d be the most fervent attendee at temple going forward. “Please.”
Tears trailed down her cheeks, but she didn’t care. With Elessan as a new member of the sun elf royal family, and Zadé no doubt leaving with the rest of the elves, Shadow was Aliya’s last trusted ally. If the woman died, she’d be alone.
“Let me go, child. It’s my time.”
“No.” Aliya sniffled.
Shadow met her eyes, the smile ghosting her feline face would’ve been comical in any other situation. “I’m proud of you. Your mother would be, too. Remember that.”
Aliya stroked the cat’s head, being careful to avoid her injured torso. Putting her forehead to Shadow’s, she whispered, “Thank you.” The words ground out, even if she didn’t feel very thankful at the moment.
Her aunt’s breath dissolved into a wet, crackling sound as her ribs went still.
“Shadow!” Aliya buried her fingers in the black scruff. “Shadow!”
The body lost cohesion and became gelatinous with the faint pale green of her true form.
Sorisana gasped, settling what had been Aliya’s aunt on the floor as she scooted away.
Tears poured down Aliya’s face, cooling her burning skin.
Elessan knelt next to her. “I’m so sorry.”
Biting back a cry, Aliya clenched her teeth together until they creaked.
The phosphorescent mass popped like an overfilled wine skin, sending water cascading across the floorboards, where it seeped between cracks and disappeared.
Aliya allowed Elessan to pull her into an embrace.
Smashing her face into his shoulder, she cried until her ribs hurt from the force of her heaving sobs.
Except for her father, Shadow had been her last surviving family member, and the only one who had cared about her well-being. Now she was truly alone.
Elessan’s fingers stroked her hair as he made comforting sounds quiet enough only she could hear.
After several minutes, Sorisana’s subdued words caught Aliya’s attention. “So that’s what happens to shapeshifters when they die.”
Heat flooded Aliya’s face—she’d had a complete melt-down in front of an audience. That hadn’t been very regal. With a sniff, Aliya pulled away from Elessan. The entire shoulder of his tunic was soaked. She wiped her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d let everyone see her so vulnerable.
She glanced around the room. “Where’s your wife?” She was proud of herself—her voice only trembled a little.
Elessan flinched as though she’d struck him.
“Princess Tsara wasn’t who she claimed ta be,” Zadé said, kneeling down beside her. Dropping her pitch, she continued, “But that’s a story fer maybe a more private time, I think.”