Starsinger

Hyperion's Daughter

"What's happening?" Jace was shouting, but Gavran was pushing him away from the table where Raelyn lay shuddering and convulsing.

"Get back," the old avian growled.

Raelyn's tawny skin was almost grey, as if all the life had been drained out of her. Her fingers jerked uncontrollably, and every few seconds her body twisted and seized into some new horrible position as she cried out in pain. Gavran reached for her bandage. Raelyn's knee shot up and hit the avian squarely in the chest.

"Tratashikh," he spat. "Hold her down."

Aaron grabbed Raelyn's flailing ankle and pinned it to the table as Sapphire, Jace and Delia did the same. Gavran slid one claw along the wrap and it fell away. Instantly the hut was filled with the smell of rotting flesh.

Gavran just stared. "This cannot be."

"You said she was safe," Delia shouted.

"She was," Gavran shot back, angrily clacking his teeth. "No wound should fester this quick. The last working of the vlynnkhora means the Teeth targets intruders, yes, but never so viciously. Unless her blood is marked." He twisted his head around to stare into Raelyn's face. "Who were your parents? Your ancestors?"

"Make it stop," Raelyn whimpered. Her convulsions had ceased the moment the pressure of the bandage had released, but every muscle was clenched tight as the pain washed over her.

Delia pressed her hand against the princess's face. "Hold on, Rae."

"Move." Gavran thrust Delia's hands away with a flick of his wing and peered directly over the table, forcing Raelyn to look at him. Her dark green eyes were weak and jittery, never looking at Gavran straight on.

The avian hissed something violently in Vlynnish and stood back. His wings slumped uselessly, an empty despair shining in his broad face.

"No," said Delia. "No."

"I'm sorry," Gavran whispered.

"What's happening?" Jace demanded.

"Do something, damn it, she's in pain," Aaron shouted.

"She's dying," said the avian.

A terrifying pause. Then the workshop erupted.

"Listen to me," Gavran roared over their shouts. "I have done everything, and it only comes back stronger. She was doomed the moment she was cut. The spell that protects the Teeth – it wants her, badly. Her ancestors must have been enemies of the vlynnkhora for them to mark her blood this way."

"Why her?" Delia shouted.

"The magic remembers," said Gavran. "I do not."

Raelyn let out another groan and curled around her side, clutching her middle.

"You have to help her," Jace said desperately.

The old avian shook his head. "I can make her more comfortable. But the illness is in her bones now. It's too late."

Dying. Even now, contorted with pain, Raelyn was inescapably alive. There is too much fight in her. She can't. They had almost lost her in the cave and then again on the cliffs. This is how it ends? With a godsfallen scraped knee?

Gavran had lived long enough to see things the human race had long since forgotten, and he stood there fluttering his wings, helpless. Jace slumped against a wall, eyes wide with disbelief. Aaron opened and closed his fists. There's nothing I can do.

He felt the heat of the city in summer and heard the gurgle of the water plaza as the crowds rushed back and forth, pulling him down. Her face swam in the hot air. No. Not again.