Kaelen, Jax, Torin, and Serana Stormhold herself carried the convulsing Selena carefully to the nearby Grand Temple's private sanctuary. The Temple's High Healer and a few of his associates rushed to assist Thaddeus Morn with the operation.
Outside, the Throne Guards stood firm, guarding the entire perimeter like mechanical sentinels. The remaining wounded were treated by local physicians and healers, while the Valorian Guards took the initiative to assist them, and at the same time, arresting the surviving Paladins and marching them down to the dungeons.
Inside the operating room, only Queen Serana was permitted to stay.
In the corridor outside, Lorian was walking frantically. He himself was in terrible shape- bruised, battered, and heavily scarred. He was no fighter, after all, and his recent, rabid fit of stabbing had deeply lacerated his delicate palms. However, Count Leo's hands were in far worse condition; he was currently being treated by a local apothecary to the best of her ability.
Lorian's retinue watched their lord pace back and forth like a possessed man, but none of them could muster the courage to approach him. They desperately felt the absence of Elara. Only Elara could truly calm him in this state, for it was well known that Lorian looked up to her as his own elder sister. The guards feared that if Lorian kept acting like this, his body would soon collapse.
At last, Zara took the initiative and stepped forward. She quietly crossed his frantic trajectory, placing her body directly in front of his.
"Master," she whispered in a soft murmur, "You smell like fear. The blood on your hands is blinding your eyes. For your sake... for our sake... for Pack Mother back home. Please. Sit down. Let them fix you."
Lorian grabbed her arms, his fingers digging into her yellow fur, staining it dark red with the fresh blood oozing from his lacerated palms, "Yes... thank goodness you came. Now, do one thing for me, please..."
"Anything, Master," she murmured gently with unshakeable devotion, "This breath, this life of mine... it belongs only to you."
"Go back to Veridia. Bring Fawnia- Grisel's daughter. You know her," Lorian whispered frantically.
"Fawnia? The stag beastgirl?" Zara's ears twitched in quiet surprise.
"Yes," Lorian's voice dropped even lower, "Between you and me... that girl is the only one who might truly be able to save Selena..."
"Master..." Zara swallowed hard, looking down at the floor, "I can run faster than any horse, yes. But Veridia is too far. I cannot run there and bring the stag-girl back before the next sun rise. Do we have that much time?"
Lorian rolled his head, his panicked mind trying to process the physical reality of the distance, before he shook his head numbly, "No... no, leave it. I doubt she could actually help us actively anyway."
Suddenly, his eyes traveled down to Zara's leg, noticing a dark, wet stain. It was bleeding, "My goodness, girl... you're hurt! Get yourself treated right now!"
"It is just a scratch, Master," Zara said softly, trying to touch his arm to calm him, "A wolf does not cry for a little torn skin."
"THE HELL WITH YOUR SCRATCH!" Lorian shouted. Realizing instantly that he wasn't supposed to make noise near the operating theater, he lowered his volume, and resumed in a harsh, desperate whisper, "How much trauma do you all want to give me in a single day? You all are the dearest things I have! Is Selena fighting death at this very moment not enough for me? Why are you all ignoring your own bodies? Do you want to collapse right in front of me too?!"
Zara did not flinch when he shouted. She just stepped closer, her voice was low and earnest, "Master, if the leader dies, the pack dies too. If your heart stops, we all drop dead anyway. Think of your mother. She is waiting for you to come home safe. That lady already lost her mate. Do not make her feel the pain of losing her cub too. Please... if you do not care about your own skin, care about the people who live and die for you. Calm your heart. Let them clean the blood. Let them tend your wounds."
She touched his trembling hands gently, "You are not okay, Master. You are not a warrior, but you fought like a felhound today. Right now, your mind is screaming so loud you cannot feel your own skin ripping. But just because it does not hurt, it does not mean you are not bleeding. Please, sit. Trust Master Thaddeus Morn."
She gave him a small, fierce nod, "When the big doctor, Erasmus Vane, was fixing my cuts, he told me. He said Master Morn is the second-best healer in Veridia, and the best knife-man in this whole land. Trust his hands, Master. The Mistress will not die today. I smell life in her still."
Lorian nodded. He rested his hands on Zara's shoulders, pressed his forehead against hers, and took a deep breath. Everyone in the room, including Zara herself, was completely taken aback by the sudden gesture, but no one dared to comment.
"Thanks, Zara. You are a true friend," Lorian said quietly, tapping her shoulder as he pulled back. "Thanks for the reality check. I needed it."
Zara did not reply. She simply nodded and signaled to Kaelen. The guard hurried off and immediately brought over the best physician available in the vicinity. This time, Lorian did not protest. He allowed himself to be treated, and commanded all of his people to get their wounds tended to as well.
In the late afternoon, Thaddeus Morn finally emerged into the hall. His tired eyes scanned the space until they found Lorian, and he approached with heavy steps. Without a word, the High Chirurgeon dropped to his knees, touching his forehead completely to the stone floor.
His terrified posture made Lorian's chest tighten. "What happened, Grand Chirurgeon? Rise and speak," Lorian commanded, his voice dropping into a death-chill tone.
"My Lord," Thaddeus kept his forehead pressed to the floor, refusing to rise despite his master's order, "Forgive me... I tried my absolute best, but I could not avoid the danger I warned you of."
Lorian walked toward Thaddeus with a slow, grim gait, "Is her life out of danger?"
Thaddeus kept his head down, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Will her mind be whole? Like it was before?" Lorian pressed.
"I believe it will be," the doctor replied, "But the ordeal she suffered before today, combined with the trauma of the strike... and the loss she must now bear... I am afraid the weight of it all will take a heavy toll on her mind."
"Hmmm." Lorian nodded slowly, staring at the floor, "There was truly no way to save her without the damage?"
"I tried my utmost, Your Excellency," Thaddeus spoke, his shoulders shaking, "I am ready for whatever punishment you deem fit for my failure."
Lorian reached down, grabbed the old man by his shoulders, and firmly pulled him up to his feet, "I know you did. You warned me beforehand, and I was ready for it. Truthfully, Thaddeus, I thought I had lost her forever. You are the one who brought her back from the grave. You deserve a reward, not a punishment. I do not understand why you are acting so frightened."
Thaddeus stared blankly, struggling to find his words, "I... I only thought... My Lord..."
"That I would fly into a rage and stab you to death?" a faint smirk played on Lorian's lips- the very first sign of a smile all day, "Do not worry, Good Doctor. I know it is cruel of me to ask when you are exhausted, but I request that you personally check Count Leofrick's condition. The boy bled for me today; he saved my life. I want your hands on him. And then, please, look over the rest of my people. I know you need rest, but..."
Thaddeus bowed deeply, as the terror vanished from his face, "I beg you, My Lord, do not speak that way. My life, my knowledge- everything I have is owed to your late father. If he had not shown mercy and generosity to a penniless young chirrugeon, I would be nothing. He listened to my dreams, gave me funding and resources, and let me become what I am. I am forever a servant to your bloodline. Please, allow me to go. I will tend to every single one of your companions."
Lorian nodded and patted the old man's back.
Selena remained unconscious. Despite repeated requests from the palace officials, Lorian refused to leave the temple sanctuary. He wanted to be there the exact moment Selena opened her eyes. By his direct command, it was decided that Lorian, Kaelen, Jax, and Zara would stay at the chapel, while the rest of the Veridian delegates returned to the palace to rest and recuperate.
Queen Serena Stormhold also stayed, refusing to leave her daughter's bedside in the operating room.
As they waited in the quiet hall, Zara slowly padded over to Lorian. "Master?" she whispered.
"Yes?" Lorian smiled softly at her, "You want to ask me something?"
Hearing her tone, Kaelen and Jax grew curious and stepped closer.
Zara hesitated, shifting her weight slightly, "The thing you said... about the stag-girl…. Fawnia."
Lorian nodded, his smile widening, "Yes. I was planning to tell you all soon anyway. Come closer. This is a secret, not meant for the world's ears."
The three of them huddled tight around him. Lorian glanced around the vast, quiet hall to ensure no priests or guards were within earshot, then dropped his voice to a bare whisper, "What I am about to tell you three is for your ears only. You must never speak of it to anyone else."
In perfect, quiet unison, the three answered, "We will die before we speak a word of it."
Lorian nodded, satisfied, "That night in the 'Whispering Door', my back was truly broken[1]. When I tried to stand, I felt the bone snapped inside me. But when Fawnia tried to pull me up, her hands touched the exact spot where it was hurt. To my surprise, a cold, smooth wave of energy ran right down my spine. I could actually feel the broken bone and torn meat gluing back together. I think that girl has a rare power- she heals whatever she touches. And I do not think she even knows she can do it."
[1] 104 – Blood and Silver