Hey there, my faithful readers! Just got back from a trip to my Grandparents yesterday, so I've been away from my computer for a while. But never fear, I'm back with chapter 10! On with the story!
Drawing Poison
Piper supported Aerrow as he mentally prepared himself for what Weaverbird called 'The Drawing Process'. His bandages had been removed, exposing the dark burn on his chest. It hadn't healed at all since Aerrow had been wounded; if anything it had gotten worse. The skin around it had been stained a venomous purple-black.
Weaverbird had removed the cauldron from the smokeless fire it was simmering on, and snuffed a small tongue of flame over the surface of the liquid. A puff of silver steam issued from the draught and the Dragoness exposed her crystal to it, allowing it to absorb the power from the spell. The pulsing light in the Dragon crystal became a steady glow. Tiny orbs of blue light gathered around Weaverbird's claw-tips as she came up behind Aerrow.
"According to my book, the Darkstone's energy tends to gather along the paths where normal energy flows," Weaverbird explained, "In most cases, that's inside the vertebrae.
"Tell me where it hurts most." She instructed, lightly running her claws up and down Aerrow's spine. He winced.
"Right there." Weaverbird's talon stopped directly between Aerrow's shoulder blades. Probing the spot with her mind, the Dragon found that there was indeed a lot of dark energy knotted up there. Stepping back slightly, Weaverbird reared up onto her hind legs, using her muscular tail for support.
"I'm going to count to three. Try not to tense, however unpleasant it feels. One… Two…" But instead of continuing on to three, Weaverbird lunged, plunging her glowing talons directly into Aerrow's back.
Biting back a cry of pain and shock, the sky knight did his best not to tense every muscle in his body. As soon as Weaverbird withdrew her claws Aerrow fell back into his pillows, closing his eyes. He felt Piper's hand grasp his and he squeezed it reassuringly. Amazingly, the spot where Weaverbird's claws had entered his body seemed completely untouched.
Opening one eye a crack, Aerrow watched as Weaverbird grappled with the Darkstone's energy. The black bolts of power tried to constrict the Dragoness, but she was not so easily defeated; a puff of shimmering white flame purged the curse permanently. Aerrow closed his eye, sighed, and passed out.
Piper watched as Weaverbird fell back down on all fours, exhausted. Her crest drooped a bit, and her scales seemed a little grayer than usual. But the Dragoness smiled, satisfied.
"But you didn't even count all the way to three!" Piper exclaimed accusingly.
"Oh, I never do that. You see, everyone tenses as soon as you say 'three'. But by the time you get to two, they're generally prepared enough to handle whatever it is you're doing to them.
"Anyway," She continued, "I think I'll send for a cold drink." Weaverbird loped out, leaving Piper alone with Aerrow. Brushing his crimson hair out of his face, she gently pressed her fingers to Aerrow's injury. They came away red with some black flecks. Piper winced at the sight; she couldn't even begin to imagine how painful that burn must be.
Taking the bowl of cold water intended for Aerrow's fever, she dipped another clean cloth in it and started cleaning the wound.
"Tell me what you think of this one."
The first thing Aerrow knew when he awoke was a warbling song, the strings of a harp, and the sensation of a cold wet cloth sponging the burn on his chest. In an effort to ignore the steady throbbing of his injury, Aerrow listened to the melody.
"Come young lark,
With glistening wings,
Strike your harp,
I pray thee, sing,
To me of loves lost long ago,
Of courageous heroes,
Of deadly foes,
Sing to me of deeds long done,
And those of now,
And those to come,
Dance with me on whirling wings,
Step for step, together sing,
Of crippled hearts, and breaking pain,
That wash away with summer's rain,
Sing to ease my tortured soul,
My own lost love of long ago."
When the song ended, Piper said, "It's beautiful, but maybe too sad for the occasion."
"Mmmm… Yes, you're right. Too sad… let me think of another one then." A few indecisive notes were plucked on the harp. Aerrow's eyes fluttered open.
"Aerrow, you're awake!" Aerrow tried to answer Piper, but his throat itched and all that came out was a hacking cough. Piper offered him a glass filled with a fragrant pink liquid; Aerrow took it gratefully and swallowed some of the bittersweet drink, Piper's hand helping to steady his own. The sky knight could already feel his energy beginning to return.
"What is that stuff?" Aerrow asked, clearing his throat. It wasn't nearly so sore now.
"Rose nectar," Piper replied, "It's good, isn't it? It's not something I would drink everyday, but it's definitely nice on occasion." Aerrow nodded, looking around.
"Where are we? And where are the others, are they okay? And," he added, catching sight of Weaverbird, "Who is this?"
"First of all, we're on terra Vapos. Second, the others are here too, and they're all fine. And finally since we didn't really have time for a proper introduction," Piper continued, "This is Weaverbird. She's helped us out a lot since we crashed on her terra. If it wasn't for her… Well, let's not think about that. We've all been really worried about you." Aerrow watched his navigator for a moment. Then he saw one of her arms was in a sling.
"Your arm," He started to say, a concerned look in his green eyes.
"It's okay Aerrow; I've almost got the use of the entire thing back now." at this Aerrow started to say something, but Piper stopped him, "It happened during the battle with the Cyclonians. That crystal of Dark Ace's did more of a number on you than me anyway." Piper tried to assure him. Aerrow shifted into a more comfortable position, bringing a hand up to feel said wound as he did so. He winced, hissing through his teeth. Piper wouldn't let him out of bed for a week with this, Aerrow just knew it. The sky knight sighed dejectedly. Piper started winding a long strip of linen around Aerrow's chest. He didn't protest; he hurt too much for that.
"We'd better get ready for the welcoming feast Piper, it starts soon." Weaverbird announced from where she stood. She plucked up a blue crystal from a basket on a table and studied it inscrutably. Then the Dragoness popped it in her mouth and crunched on it.
"You eat crystals?!" Piper exclaimed, wincing at the sound of teeth grinding stone.
"On occasion," Weaverbird replied coolly, "It keeps a Dragon's scales hard and healthy, as well as giving them their distinctive sheen." The Dragoness added, "Aerrow, you should get some rest. You won't be missing all that much."
"I'll bring you something later, if you're hungry." Piper said, having finished rebinding Aerrow's wounds. He nodded tiredly; the Heartsure smoke was making him drowsy. Weaverbird had decided to keep burning the little golden flowers while the sky knight recovered. She gestured at the candles that lit the room and all but one or two extinguished themselves. Picking up her harp Weaverbird followed Piper out of the room, leaving Aerrow in peace and quiet to rest.
Hooray for Weaverbird! Now that Aerrow's going to be okay, I can get on to other aspects of the plot. Continue to review, and I'll try to update sooner! See y'all at chapter 11!