The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 41

Setting Dylas down just inside the city gates, I cast a healing spell on the both of us. Then I half-carried, half-dragged the semi-conscious man to the clinic. Bursting through the doors, I pushed him into Nancy’s arms. “Here, please patch him up—then prepare yourselves to evacuate.”

“Oh my,” she said, looking alarmed. “Is it that bad?”

“You’ve no idea just how bad,” I said as I turned and ran out the door.

Arthur was not in his offices, and I pounded my fist into the door jamb in frustration. Nor was he in the baths, so next I tried the castle, hoping that he might be found there.

When I pushed the doors to the main castle chamber—Venti’s chamber—I stopped and stood stock still in surprise. Not only was Arthur there, but Venti was awake. Both turned and looked at me and immediately saw all was not well.

“What is it, Leon? You look distraught,” Arthur said, looking concerned.

“It—the fight’s not going well. I… I honestly don’t know if… if she’s alive or dead by now. He’s powerful—far more powerful than we ever dreamed. Dylas nearly died, and she ordered me to get him out of there and warn everyone in town.”

“That pretentious, arrogant fool,” Venti sighed. I looked from her to Arthur and back again—I’d been too agitated to ask what woke her. “Oh, this?” she said, divining my unspoken question. “Well, you recall that Doug managed to get a rune sphere from that foolish emperor?”

I nodded, and Arthur spoke up. “Just after the three of you left, the honor guard finally arrived, so we placed the sphere. Soon afterwards, Venti awoke. I had just been filling her in on recent developments when you arrived.”

“Don’t worry, Leon,” Venti said softly, her bright eyes glimmering shades of blue and green and gold. “Avani has more strength to her than even you can imagine.”

She rose up onto her haunches, stretching her wings. “Arthur, will you please take a fighter up in the airship to attack the fortress from the sky? Not you, Leon—you’re injured and need to recover. Besides, I may have another need for you before the day is through. Why don’t you take Doug? I think he would appreciate the opportunity for a little… revenge. Meanwhile, I must eat something—it’s been weeks since I’ve had a meal, and I am a little weak. Afterwards, I will join you there.”

“Yes, that sounds like an excellent plan. Go get some rest, Leon,” Arthur said as he set off to find Doug.

“I second that. You look, well, dreadful. Volkanon should be here momentarily with my meal. Do join me—you need to restore your energy, too.”

“How can I possibly eat at a time like this? Venti, I—I left her there. Left her behind to save my own hide. And I don’t even know….”

“Stop being such a fool,” Venti snapped. “You did exactly as she instructed. What do you think would have happened had you disobeyed? Without you and Dylas there, she can focus solely on her battle, without fear of injuring you two, and without needing to drain her energy to keep you alive. And we needed to know—I needed to know—what was happening.”

Her eyes softened again, and she said more kindly, “I know you’re worried and upset. But as I said before, she has more strength than you realize. Although I was unable to restore her memory or to discern who she was or whence she came, I could sense that strength within her. Her spirit shines like a star in the blackest night—like a ray of sunshine in the deepest, darkest forest. Whatever her past, she is someone to be reckoned with. I fancy that upstart emperor will find that he has bitten off more than he can chew this time. Ahh, and speaking of biting and chewing, here comes Volkanon. Now sit with me, eat, and regain your strength. As I said, I may have need of you—and the other Guardians—before we’re done.”