'Her situation is severe,' Leaf said in a worried voice. 'Whether or not she will live until morning is beyond my sight. My team of healers will do the best they can, but...' his voice trailed off.
Yoggo could sense his fear. There was a good chance the young girl might die. 'Is there anything I can do to help?' she asked.
Leaf sadly shook his head. 'Nothing the healers are not already trying. But it might help if you just sat with her. She will need to see a friendly face when she wakes up from this ordeal, and you are the closest thing she has right now.'
'I understand,' said Yoggo. 'And I will stay with her for as long as it takes. I will not let her die.'
With that, Yoggo turned and hurried to the room where the wounded writer was being housed. She was surrounded by healers, all of whom wore the same concerned expression. They had washed her body and dressed her wounds with healing salve, but still the girl showed no signs of improvement. Her breathing was shallow, and her pulse was weak. One of the healers turned to Yoggo with a defeated sigh.
'It will be an uphill battle,' he said. 'We have done all we can at this time. Now, we can only wait and see if she wakes.'
Yoggo nodded resolutely. 'I will stay with her through the night and keep watch as she sleeps.'
One by one, the healers left the bedside, the last one closing the door behind him. In the flickering candle light, Yoggo dipped a square of cloth in the bowl of warm water left by the healers, and gently used it to stroke the injured girl's forehead. Then, taking up the writer's limp hand, she settled into her bedside chair and prepared to wait through the remainder of the long, cold night.
