A Pet for the Dragons

38.

IVRET

It had been more than a day since Arika started bleeding, and she fell unconscious. I couldn't rest a single second since then, and I had been trying to figure out where she was hurt and how I could stop her bleeding and heal her.

I had one book on humans, but it didn't have much information on females, and that irked me. I'd gotten the book from the grand library at the Cardinal House, and it turned out to be so useless that I burned it.

I was frustrated and restless, but I wouldn't give up. I wouldn't stop until I found a way to heal Arika.

While I'd been in my tower, flipping through page after page to find a way to heal the bleeding from internal wounds, Zorge remained on Arika's side, taking care of her. I didn't like that he got to be with her. I'd claimed Arika first, and the fact that Zorge could lay his claim on her next made me even more jealous.

But the situation was such that someone needed to be beside Arika while I searched for a cure. And since Radrox wasn't allowed there anymore, it had to be Zorge. He was the only option, even though the thought of him having Arika enraged me.

Meanwhile, Radrox was hiding in his dungeon. He hadn't shown his face yet or come out from there after getting beaten. I'd beat him again if he dared to breathe in Arika's direction.

Every time I thought of Radrox, my blood boiled, but I decided to keep my calm for now. I wanted to punish him, but I was conserving my energy for healing Arika. Everything was still very uncertain with her, and I didn't want Radrox to do more damage than he'd already done.

The other medical books I referred to discussed surgery to examine internal wounds. Still, the thought of putting a knife on Arika's skin made me sick to the stomach, even though I'd operated on various dragons before.

No. I wouldn't operate on her. It was extreme, and I wanted to reserve it as a last resort. I was sure there had to be other ways to treat her internal wounds.

I remembered treating a few warriors back at the Cardinal House who had internal wounds, but it had been so long that I couldn't remember anything. But somehow, I managed to dig up a potion recipe to stop internal bleeding. It seemed reasonable enough, and the ingredients seemed safe enough not to make Arika sicker.

Instantly, I got to work preparing the potion, and when it was ready, I took it straight to the guard's room in the western tower, where Arika was still staying. I'd considered moving her to my wing for her comfort, but that'd cause a ruffle with Zorge, so I didn't bring it up yet.

When I reached the guard's room, Zorge hovered over unconscious Arika, cleaning her with a wet towel. I grunted when I saw him, not liking how close he was to her.

"She's been bleeding even more," Zorge informed me darkly. "I've changed three cloth pieces in the last couple of hours. She's in a lot of pain, too. She twitches and winces once in a while,"

"I've made a potion for her. It's for stopping internal bleeding," I told him, setting the bowl on a small stool beside the cot. Zorge grunted at it.

"I'm holding her upright while you drain it in her mouth slowly," Zorge said, finishing up with the cleaning and tossing the bloody cloth pieces into the hearth's fire. I got a better look at Arika when he moved, and she was as white as snow, which made me more concerned.

"Arika?" I called for her, hoping she'd respond, but she remained asleep, not even stirring a bit.

"Tell me how she feels?" I demanded while Zorge returned to the cot and gently lifted her. He'd braided her hair while she'd been asleep to keep it from tangling and getting in the way.

"I feel her pain and discomfort. She had a lot of nightmares last night," He said. I could hear the exhaustion in Zorge's voice. He hadn't rested since he returned from patrolling duty, and he found out that Arika was hurt.

"Nightmares about what?" I asked as Zorge held her against him. I took a spoonful of the potion and carefully blew over it to cool it a bit.

"I don't know, but she cried for a while. She wouldn't wake up, so I couldn't stop her from seeing the nightmares," Zorge said.

"What did you do then?" I asked, holding the spoon against her lips and gently tipping it to drain the potion in her mouth.

"I held her in my arms and sang some lullabies until her nightmares were gone," Zorge said. Arika slightly stirred, smacking her lips and disgusted at the taste of the potion.

"Arika," I called off her, hoping she'd wake up and see us.

"Arika, are you awake?" Zorge asked, caressing her cheekbone. I wanted to punch him in the face, but I glared at him instead. Arika groaned and blinked a few times, her eyes unfocused.

"She's awake," I said, "I've made you a potion for the bleeding, Arika," I told her, holding another spoonful, but she groaned and rubbed her eyes like a child who'd awakened from a long nap.

"Where am I?" She croaked. Her voice was weak.

"You're at the Gallow Castle with Zorge and Ivret. Do you remember us?" Zorge whispered, stroking her cheek fervently. I held another spoonful of potion for her.

"Here, have this. It'll help you," I told her.

"What is that?" She croaked.

"A potion I made for you. It might not taste that great, but it'll make you feel better. I promise," I told her.

"He's right. Have the potion, Arika," Zorge urged her. Finally, Arika forced her eyes open and looked at me properly. She seemed confused at first, but soon, a knowing look filled her eyes as she remembered everything that had happened.

"Are you alright?" I asked, and she groaned at the taste of the potion.

"Do you have any pain meds?" She asked weakly.

"This potion will numb your pain," I promised. She cringed at the taste but drank the potion anyway. Zorge remained silent and stroked her arm and cheek while I fed her the potion.

When she was done, she sighed deeply and sank back into Zorge's lap.

"Do you feel better now, Arika?" Zorge asked.

"Yeah," Arika sighed, "I want to have a bath," She said.

"I'll prepare it for you," I told her right away before Zorge could say anything. Though he glared at me, I glared back at him. I wasn't going to back away from here.

"Yeah, I'd like that," Arika spoke weakly. Zorge set his jaw but didn't say anything. Even though she was in Zorge's arms now, she'd soon be in my bath.

~

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