City of Fire

Chapter Thirty-Nine

"Erin"

The heat was making him sweat. He reached up and wiped his brow, wincing when he felt his head throb. He ignored it, for the moans of the wounded filled the wing of the castle. The stench of burnt flesh and blood filled the air, making his skin crawl but only momentarily. He'd been assisting the healers for two days now, bringing in the wounded and treating the injured. The death count was rising, threatening to make him sick but he wiped his hands on his stained apron. The woman who'd he treated thanked him, her eyebrows gone and half of her hair missing, a white bandage covering the gruesome burn that would leave her horribly scared. A boy was crying softly as he held her hand and Erin assumed he was her son, for he saw her eyes soften with a mother's love.

He remembered that same light...

He blinked and moved on, tending to another soldier who'd been injured. The burn had been so bad that the arm had to be removed. He groaned when Erin applied the ointment then leaves but mumbled something incoherent. Erin nodded; his mind numb to everything else. Just help, do his job. He straightened, prepared to move on to another victim when someone caught his attention.

"Here," Ilona's soft voice carried to him across the room. She was kneeling down in front of a little girl, offering her a cup of something. The little's girl faced was smeared with dirt as she sat beside an older boy. He only looked to be a year younger than Erin was, and the little girl only looking to be a few under her older brother. The girl took the cup, sipping at it and Ilona gently touched her shoulder, draping a blanket around her. Erin felt his heart warm at her kindness and crossed the room to her.

Ilona stood, preparing to help with something else when Erin touched her arm. She jumped, looking down at him and he smiled, despite knowing that he must look a mess.

"Erin?" He saw concern flash in her eyes as she reached up and touched his brow. "Are you alright? You're not working too hard are you?" He smiled at her worry but shook his head.

"I'm fine," he looked her over and noticed how tired her eyes looked. She'd spent the two days helping with whatever anyone needed, from dispersing supplies to the townspeople, to taking care of the sick or wound, to even helping in the kitchen with preparing meals. "You however, look as if you need a nap." He reached up and grasped her hand, pulling her from the temporarily infirmary, for the real one was already stock full.

"I'm alright, I can't take a nap while everyone else is working," Ilona replied but he noticed that she followed him as they walked through the halls. He smiled, knowing that would be her answer.

"Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving." He switched the topic and headed towards the kitchens, Ilona following. Outside the sky was a sleet gray, but it wasn't because it was going to rain. Fire had raged outside the walls the night of the celebration and the north tower had fallen, leaving debris and ash to fill the air. The demons had shown up yesterday, laying siege to the outskirts of the city. Erin remembered watching the scene from one of the balconies, how the shrieks and laughter had floated up to them on the night breeze.

"Has there been any word on what the demons and Hollows prepare to do?" Erin could hear the unease in Ilona's voice and he shook his head, catching a whiff of scorched hair and knew it was him.

"I have not spoken to Adrian since this morning," they entered the kitchens to find them bustling and filled with people, "and from what he knew from Lord Jasik is that they are gathering at the base of the north tower. They seemed to be searching for something." He thanked the woman who gave him a small bowl of soup. Ilona shook her head, not wanting anything and they left the kitchen to sit in the dining hall. People milled about and Erin noticed how they were watched as he sat and started to eat. Ilona brushed a loose strand of her dark hair back behind her ear, her light teal eyes flicking about the room.

"They really don't trust us, do they?" Ilona's voice was low and Erin sighed. The years of war and bloodshed Stangmar had caused made suspicions run deep. He himself even felt some unease towards them, but that was only when he spotted a certain group of ladies who'd cornered him at the party.

"No," he sighed and though the portion of soup was small, it was warm, "they don't." Ilona turned her face towards his.

"Why is that?" She leaned towards him and he glanced at her.

"Before Finyara was able to seal Stangmar away, he plundered and laid waste to the land. As you know, he wiped out most of the Ice Dwellers and a good portion of the Fire and Earth Dwellers." He set the spoon down and rested his chin in his hands, "Treaties were broken, and Highborns murdered and as you can imagine chaos and turmoil reigned. Even after Stangmar was sealed away and the stones hidden, his followers were not so easily deterred. They continued his war until the Riders intervened. Stangmar's forces were dispersed for a time, but now," he gestured to the windows covered in smoke, "in the past ten years they've reappeared." He reclined back on the small stool he sat upon and gave her a small reassuring smile. "I know this is hard to absorb," he dipped his head as memories sprang before his eyes, "but just know that we won't let anything happen to you." He knew that she saw him as a younger brother, and he saw her as an older sister, but he wanted her to know that he would protect her. She smiled and leaning forward ruffled his hair.

"I never thought you would," she sat back on her chair and sighed, her smile fading to be replaced by something else. She suddenly looked so much older than she was. At that thought he smiled and reaching inside his coat pocket drew out a small object wrapped in cloth.

"What's that?" Ilona asked while quirking a brow at him. He smiled and leaning forward placed it upon the table.

"Happy birthday, Dominus." He whispered and Ilona stared at him, the shock covering her face. The look made him smile even more and she shook her head.

"How did you know?" She leaned forward and hesitantly took it, picking it up to inspect it and Erin grinned at her.

"Why do you think I wouldn't let you or the others see it? I wanted it to be a surprise," he dipped his head, excitement filling him, "Go ahead, unwrap it." Ilona looked at him a moment before doing as he said. When she saw it she gasped, her eyes widening.

"Oh Erin," she breathed, gazing down at the emerald wrapped in golden threads, "it's beautiful." She picked it up, studying it.

"It's a healing stone," he leaned forward and picked it up, sliding it over her wrist, "it'll help guard you from illness." He smiled, rather pleased with himself and she gently touched it with her finger.

"I can already feel it working," she leaned forward and wrapped him in a hug, "thank you." He smiled and patted her back; glad he could make her feel better.

"Master Erin!" It was one of the healers and he pulled away, knowing the look that graced her features. "We need your aide!" He nodded and gestured towards Ilona. "Please go rest, you will need it." He then quickly followed after the healer, already feeling revived from the soup.

The healer quickly led him back to the infirmary and by the loud groans and whimpers he knew that there'd been another attack. She pushed open the door and they walked inside. The sight made his full stomach turn and but he clamped down on the urge.

"What happened?" He asked while rushing over to aide a man who was helping carry a man covered in blood and burns.

"The demons attacked the gate, nearly burning it down." The healer started pulling off the burned tunic and Erin glanced out the windows, watching as fire leapt along the walls of the outer city down below.

"Were in hell," a voice groaned andErin looked back to the man as he was laid upon a cot, "Were in hell." He repeated and Erin inwardly sighed, hisheart heavy, but he couldn't help but agree. Rolling up his sleeves, he began.