They reached Bale early in the morning. The city was silent, the only movements visible from the outside being the city's guards who were on watch along the outer walls. The group approached these walls at a rapid pace, giving the guards little time to see them before Shadow Hunter simply flew over the wall.
Kitty was still some distance behind the half-Wingly, but Niira could still hear the shouts of surprise from the guards. She could see some of the men disappear from the wall in pursuit of Shadow Hunter, even though it would be a worthless cause. Shadow Hunter would be to Indels while they were still racing through the streets trying to find her.
Niira halted Kitty in front of the outer gate. Though the gryff could of course fly over as well, it would probably cause even more alarm among the guards. Which in the end would only impede their progress to the castle.
"Hey!" Niira shouted up to the guards. "Open the gate!"
After a few moments, a couple of the men stared down at them. "Who are you?"
"I'm Niira!"
"Right. And what's the thing you're sitting on?"
"Why does it matter?"
"A Wingly just flew into the city and now you want to bring that monster in as well?"
Niira growled softly, frustrated.
"That Wingly was Shadow Hunter," Reezy said.
"Oh so the rescue has returned?"
"Just open the damn gate!" Niira snarled.
"Not if that beast is coming in."
"Just open the gate." Lavitz's horse trotted up next to them.
"S-sir Lavitz?"
"Now."
There was the sound of people scrambling around, the the dull metallic clang of the locks being opened. The heavy doors slowly swung inwards. Lavitz urged his horse into the city at a slow canter. Kitty responded with a soft "mr-r-reek!" and followed suit.
They rushed through the city, uphill to Indels Schloss. A few stray cats watched them with glowing eyes, before running off to hide once more.
The guards at the castle gate were already waiting for them, and they were able to continue to the castle itself without any more pauses. Unsure of where Shadow Hunter had taken Coen, Lavitz turned his horse straight up the stairway to Indels' front door. The poor beast, already exhausted from the night's travels, was gasping as it forced itself up the steps.
"Oh! Oh! There you are!" Happy Tail sailed in from the shadows of the castle, landing in front of Lavitz's horse. "Where are you going? Never mind, I know."
"Then move."
"No, no, they're all down in the infirmary."
"Where's King Albert?"
"He's...getting down there."
"Move."
"Why? The infirmary's down the stairs, not up."
"I need to get to His Majesty."
"Not without a shirt you don't."
In the rush to get back to Bale, Lavitz had not been able to locate another shirt for himself. If the knighthoods had even been able to bring such extra supplies in the first place. He had simply allowed the doctor to wrap his wounds, grabbed the horse, and run after Shadow Hunter.
Lavitz sighed, but eventually he turned his horse around and headed back down the stairs.
"How's Coen?" Niira asked the avian messenger.
"Don't know. Didn't get a chance to see him."
"Come on, Niira," Reezy said in a low voice. He clicked to Kitty, who obediently turned around and began his descent from the top of the stairs.
-----
She found Coen in one of the more secluded rooms of the infirmary. Not even bothering to look at Shadow Hunter, Niira rushed into the room to her friend's bedside. "Coen!..." He's so still...why is he so quiet?... She could feel herself shaking again. Coen lay unconscious on the sheets, barely breathing, his skin pale and covered with a sheen o f sweat.
Shadow Hunter was humming to herself. She was in an eerily cheerful mood. "You going?" she sang softly. "Going to the river?"
"Shut up," Niira hissed.
"Calm down." The Topaz Dragoon was toying with her weapons, the long metal claws that she wore on her wrists. Which she was wearing.
Niira didn't want to think about why Shadow Hunter would be wearing them.
"I have work to do, if you don't mind."
"I'm staying here."
"Suit yourself."
Before Shadow Hunter could do anything, someone stepped to the door. Both Northlanders turned to look. Lavitz was standing just inside, a loose shirt now covering his bandaged torso. Behind him, leaning against the door frame, was King Albert. The king certainly looked as if his condition had worsened in the few days they had been away. Slowly, with obvious effort, Albert walked to Coen. Niira could hear his painful breathing and looked away, hoping the king hadn't seen the fear in her eyes.
"Gods above Coen...why?" Albert whispered.
"He's saved your life, you know," Shadow Hunter commented, but the king didn't seem to hear.
Saved his life for what? My best friend is dying. Niira shifted herself so she could half lay down on the pillow, above Coen's head. She didn't care what others thought about that any more. I don't want him to die.
For once, Shadow Hunter didn't make her usual snarky telepathic reply.
"King Albert..."
It was Coen speaking. Startled, Niira sat up halfway so she could see him. The knight was looking up at Albert, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Coen, don't talk." Albert was trembling, though whether it was from his own illness or some unspoken emotion, Niira couldn't tell.
"You think...you think this is enough...to make up for what I've done?" Coen did smile then, an expression of sadness rather than joy. Too weak to say more, Coen closed his eyes again.
What are you talking about? Coen? Niira prodded his shoulder, but he didn't respond.
With a soft hiss, Shadow Hunter pushed her way between king and knight. "Leave us. I will find you when I've retrieved the Moon Object." She had switched back to her typical ornery personality.
Albert only nodded, never looking away from Coen. Eventually, Lavitz stepped forward, putting his hand on the king's shoulder, and steadied him as they walked out of the room.
Satisfied that she could now do her job, Shadow Hunter pushed the door closed before stalking to the bed. "Don't get in my way," she growled to Niira.
Niira only nodded dumbly as she lay down again, resting her hand on Coen's shoulder, against his neck. I'll never forgive myself if he dies.
"He won't die."
"How do you know?"
"Nobody has ever died while in my care. Unless I wanted them to." The reptilian flashed her a toothy smile. And then she flicked her arm forward, to the wound in Coen's side, her metal wrist-claws still very much in position.
Niira squeezed her eyes shut, not wanted to know what damage had been inflicted. Coen was still conscious enough to feel whatever Shadow Hunter had done to him. He twitched, crying out softly in pain; Niira could feel the muscles along his neck grow tense from the pain. Then he fell limp.
"Coen!" Niira whimpered into the pillow.
"Oh shut up. He's just passed out again." The former Fireborn stepped away, her hands cupped around a small object Niira couldn't see. But she could certainly feel it. Its magic buzzed through the air around her, setting her nerves on edge.
So that's the Moon Scintillation. Something so small... Niira brushed her thumb over her friend's brown hair. "Why did you do something so stupid?" she whispered, even though she knew he wouldn't hear her.
"Probably to keep this thing alive."
"What do you mean?"
Shadow Hunter was cleaning the Moon Object with a small cloth. It glowed with a soft, warm light. "It's an odd kind of magic. Seems to need something else to exchange energy with in order to stay alive. In this case, a human. If it was without that kind of support for as long as I've been told, it was probably close to being dead when your friend here found it."
Niira gave a half-hearted laugh. "Coen doesn't understand that much about magic to realize what it needed." That was one thing she knew for certain. Even as a boy, Coen had been less interested in magic than perhaps anyone else in all of Basil.
Shadow Hunter shrugged, using the cloth to now clean her wrist-claws. "Doesn't matter much, does it? He's saved your king and really irritated Phoenix. Such is life."
"What about Coen?"
"I told you, he'll be fine." Satisfied that her weapons were clean again, Shadow Hunter paced to the door and pulled it open. "Now, I have work to do." She walked out, leaving Niira to her thoughts.
-----
Alakyl and Reezy had found her some time after Shadow Hunter's departure. They begged Niira to come away, to have something to eat or to get some sleep, but she only turned them away. She had no desire to leave her friend alone.
She almost did leave when a sharp yell echoed down the hall of the infirmary. Sitting up, she listened curiously. That was Albert.
Oh no, what did Shadow Hunter do to him?
Shadow Hunter answered that herself. I did nothing
Then what was all the shouting for?
That was him being all upset about me putting the Moon Scintillation behind his breastbone.
I...see. Niira sighed, flopping back onto the bed. Since no further outbursts had been heard, she decided that the situation had been resolved in some way or another. She closed her eyes and shuddered. All our dragoons have been found. The war is almost here. Please let it end quickly. I'm tired of seeing other people suffer who shouldn't even be involved in it.
She must have fallen asleep, as the next thing she remembered was being woken up by the sound of someone walking toward the room. Tiredly she opened her eyes. Her father was looking in at her, appearing every bit as exhausted as she felt.
"Niira, come on. There's nothing more you can do for him."
"I want to stay."
Lavitz sighed. "I want to stay with Albert, but I can't right now. We need our rest too."
After a few moments' hesitation, Niira stood stiffly. Her father was right, of course. And she didn't want to risk having him literally drag her to her feet again.
"Have you eaten anything since we left the camp?"
"No."
The knight beckoned for her to come out of the room. She followed him obediently. "I'm sure my mother would be willing to cook up something even at this time of night."
"Night? How long have we been back?"
"Nearly a day now."
"Oh."
-----
Niira was tired enough that time went by here in a blur. She remembered walking to her grandmother's house, sitting in the dining room and eating something, she couldn't recall what. Perhaps she had talked with her Adie, she couldn't remember. She could only hope whatever she said had made sense, as even her thoughts were muddled from exhaustion.
She had finally collapsed on one of the chairs by the fireplace. She wanted to sleep, but she couldn't. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions from the past few days. Instead, she just stared into the low flames of the fire.
"Niira, will you go to bed already?" her father asked from behind her. She hadn't heard him walk in.
"I can't." Her voice sounded empty to her ears.
Lavitz walked into the light and sat in one of the other chairs. "You're not the only one who's worried about things, you know."
"I know." But that doesn't make me worry any less.
They sat in silence for a while.
"What's bothering you?"
So many things...
"Niira?"
She couldn't bring herself to look at her father. "What was he talking about?"
"Who?"
"Coen. When Albert came in."
The long silence from Lavitz unnerved her. "Well. I suppose you'd have to find out sooner or later."