Warfire | Broken Time Series: Book Two

Chapter 43

Nagan wanted to object, maybe even scold Az a bit, but what was done, was done. With a short thanks, Nagan walked over to Ravi, gently pulling at her injured wing to spread it flat. Ravi groaned at the movement, but she let him stretch her wing out to its full length. Blood matted the feathers, and Nagan grimaced at the sight of it.

Sorry, I might need to pull the loose feathers and scales to get to the wound, Nagan said to Ravi, finally opening up the link between them. Ravi replied with a whine, but a wave of reassurance washed over Nagan as if Ravi was saying, "It's alright."

He hated the way Gath's voice echoed in his head as he began.

Always pull in the direction of the growth, he remembered Gath saying as the older taught him how to care for Ravi's wings when they were first damaged. The same goes for the scales. It's still painful, like pulling out a clump of hair, but if any of that loose stuff is left, it could irritate the wound and hinder healing. Don't worry, they tend to grow back pretty quickly.

Nagan then reached for his waterskin, pouring a generous amount of water over the now-exposed slash. Blood turned purple feathers a redder tint as the water ran off to the ground. He then pulled a cloth out of the saddle bag, dabbing the raw skin as carefully as he could to dry it, but Ravi still flinched at every touch. Nagan gave up on the rest of it when a particularly strong shudder wracked through Ravi's wing. In the end, a light coating of powder dusted Ravi's wound, blood congealed and solidified, and Nagan tucked away the rest of the vial. Just in case.

Ravi lifted her head and turned to look at Nagan when he stayed there, unmoving as he stared down at her wing.

What's wrong? She asked.

"Why are you still here?" Nagan snapped instead, whirling around to address the rest of the dragons as well. Each dragon ducked their head, even Dockard, at Nagan's glare, but there was a level of defiance in their eyes. "Did Gossamer not tell you to flee?"

She did, Ravi admitted.

"Then why are you here? All of you are hurt—Dockard can't even fly!—but you still...you all disobeyed me when I was trying to send you to safety."

Dockard snorted before turning away, laying his head on the ground, while Kint looked at Ravi. Meanwhile, Milora and Az glanced at each other. They didn't know Nagan had sent—or tried sending—the dragons away. It wasn't as if they disagreed with the decision, however. Judging by the state of the dragons, they were in just as much danger as the rest of them.

As dragons, we are devoted to our riders, Ravi explained carefully. And we did flee, but only far enough for the void dragons to stop pursuing us. When we sensed you close, and when Ivisian...also, became void, I waited in the trees with Dockard while Kint waited above. We were worried what would happen if we left you behind.

Nagan wanted to keep arguing against them, but in the end, he knew he couldn't. The dragons did bring them to safety when Nagan wasn't sure he could. Moments before Ravi arrived, he even feared he had doomed the rest of them with his decision. What state was Ivisian even in? Could he still fly as well? What if they all could have escaped the same way Aitor did? Did he sacrifice Carth for no reason—

Nagan, Ravi soothed, washing her calm will over his, you did the best you could.

Nagan felt himself crack as tears welled in his eyes. Why is it only now I can hear you?

Between the young Dragonmages, Nagan knew his and Ravi's connection was the weakest. Everyone knew that. Whatever was supposed to make them click never happened, not until now. It didn't diminish the fact that they cared for each other deeply, but by the gods, why was this happening now?