80. Zeina
ZEINA
Ahmina needed healers, badly. Zeina’s potions had stopped the bleeding and triggered her immune system to heal her wounds, but Ahmina needed a proper assessment and probably a blood multiplying potion.
Zeina held her hand tight to Ahmina’s neck as Lennox picked her up and cradled her, one arm under her shoulders and the other clutching the back of her knees.
She was awake. Barely.
“She’s losing consciousness again. She’s lost too much blood,” Zeina explained, but Lennox already knew, answering with a single nod.
“When we get there, I’ll make her a blood potion. She will be okay.” She wasn’t sure if she said it for Lennox’s sake or her own, but either way it calmed her nerves a little. Lennox remained uncharacteristically serious.
They walked for a while, Ahmina’s weight and Zeina’s collection of plants slowing them down. But she needed every supply she could find to create potions for Ahmina once they got to the house.
Finally, they reached the river just as the rain began, and Zeina waded into the water, a welcome change from bramble scraping against her pants.
The frigid water rushed against her legs, making her clothes feel heavy, but she kept steady.
Ever since the lake, Zeina had grown used to the cold clinging to her.
Actually, she had kind of grown to like it.
Just then, a dagger whooshed past her ear, slicing skin off the tip, blood pouring dramatically down her neck.
“Damn, can we ever just get rid of this fuck head?” Lennox cursed as he set Ahmina down in the shallow part of the river. Barrow approached with such an intensity, he didn’t have time to do anything else.
She reached for her own weapon, but Lennox stopped her.
“Run! Get help!” he called back to Zeina through gritted teeth, using every ounce of his strength to fight off Barrow. They were weak, she realized. They would need more than weapons to fend off Barrow.
Zeina didn’t need to be told twice.