A Dragon Slayer: and the Sea Dragon of Delphi

Chapter 5: Tests and Thereafter

"For goodness sake! He's gone and gotten himself into trouble again. Those boys!" Eva said, opening the door to the healers' guild. Gaius and Laelia trailed behind her silently. "I'm going to kill him. Naphtali, I don't know what you were thinking, stowing away like that...to go see some... some silly travelling troupe!"

Eva marched sternly forward, approaching one of the girls in blue robes, who beamed a warm welcome.

"We're here to see Naphtali and Korah. They were admitted late last night" Eva said over the counter.

"Oh," the girl said, looking at them, with her mouth half open in thought for a moment, before she ducked down and began to shuffle through a pile of parchments.

"Naphtali and Korah..." the girl muttered to herself.

A second later the girl jumped up cheerfully. She held a cream-coloured parchment in her hand.

"This must be them! Come on through; I'll show you to their ward," the girl said, walking on ahead.

Eva, Laelia and Gaius followed her through one of the doors that led into a well-lit hallway.

"Are they alright?" Eva asked the girl in front of them, while taking long strides to keep up with the girl's hasty pace.

"Naphtali suffered severe burns over his hand, Korah had a mild concussion, but nothing serious. They'll both make a full recovery."

"Well, thank goodness."

The girl giggled.

"I've never heard of anyone their age getting into a fight with a dragon."

"Don't remind me!" Eva growled.

The healer took several turns, entering a few different corridors before opening a double door that led into a large space. It was lined with beds through the middle. Some of the patients were being attended to by the healers whilst others just lay alone. Windows lined the wooden walls, and small lanterns were mounted in the corners; the shelves were full of vials, potions and plants that were used as medicine. At the very end of the room, Naphtali and Korah lay awake under their quilts. Both of them were dressed in their usual attire, though Naphtali was shirtless, with several bandages wrapped around his hand. They seemed to be talking to each other, laughing and engaging in regular conversation, though when Naphtali noticed his family approaching his smile turned into a frown.

"Just over here," the girl said, ushering them through. "I'll give you some privacy." She said and disappeared. Eva didn't hesitate to speak up.

"What did you two go and do!? You had us so worried! When I saw that note you left, I knew there'd be trouble!"

"Sorry," Korah said.

"Yes, sorry. It is good to see you, though," Naphtali replied.

"I think you two should really explain to us what happened," Gaius suggested.

Naphtali sat upright.

"Well...did you want to tell them, Korah?"

Korah laughed gently, a laugh that he supposed may cover up the fright he had of telling his parents. Though he knew he wouldn't be scolded in front of Naphtali and Eva.

"Can you tell them?"

"What happened was...well, we came across a notice board about the bards playing at the Rusty Dagger Tavern... Korah and I wanted to see them together; and you weren't home when we came back..." Naphtali trailed off.

Eva crossed her arms.

"And then we got attacked by a dragon," Korah jumped in.

"I know about that part," Eva said.