The Mark of Arella(Book One of the Dragonfly Chronicles)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Her head was pounding, her eyes felt blurry and she was wondering how she was looking at her brother. Lilly tried to move to get up but she felt a stab of pain on her side and back and looked down to see her entire torso was covered in a bandage. She said, "Ouch" and started to get queasy. "Whoa" said Rhylan, "take is easy OK? You got pretty hurt, why don't you lay back down?" Lilly continued to sit up and said, "I get the feeling I've been laying here long enough. How long was I out? And where are we?" Sam came over to her side and grabbed her hand, "Well, it's good to know you are still a pain in the butt, I was worried that bump on your head would ruin your personality". Lilly giggled and grabbed her side. She reached out and punched Sam on his shoulder and he smiled at her and they both started laughing. Rhylan and Jarron looked at each other with perplexed expressions but Lilly and Sam just kept on laughing. Finally the laughs made their way thru the two and Lilly asked, "Is everyone OK? All I remember is something hitting me from the side and a bunch of yelling?"  Jarron cleared his throat and said, "Actually, I'm very interested in what happened as well.  And why you are even out here in the woods to begin with."

Sam looked to Rhylan to explain the past two day's events.  Rhylan nodded and explained how the beasts had attacked them and Lilly and Finn nearly lost their lives.  How the pixies and sprites came to their aid and built this shelter and helped with Finn and Lilly.  Jarron nodded in understanding and a bit of fear.  He said, "I had heard there were beasts and other evil creatures in the woods near Dorstrum but I hadn't realized they had come this far towards our borders.  What do you think it means?"  Lilly sighed and Rhylan got thoughtful and said, "I think it means the threat of the dark queen is finally starting to make its way to us.  I just hope Dorstrum hasn't been fully taken over yet.  King Elias could be our only protection from it all.  He has a strong army and his people are good honest folk."  Lilly started to say something but she suddenly felt like she would throw up and covered her mouth.  She could taste stomach bile in her throat.  Sam got up and said, "I think we should let Joella know Lilly is awake, she might want to assess her injuries, and I can bring some food back for you."  Lilly nodded and said thanks.  She did feel hungry and she also wanted to thank Joella for helping her.

"Jarron", Lilly said, "How did you find us? Why did you come here?"  Rhylan was sitting next to her and Jarron said, "Colvin said we needed to track you down.  Did you take some books and a bag from Master Aeron?  They seem to think you did and Aeron wants them back.  I think Colvin was sent to retrieve them" Lilly looked to Rhylan with pleading eyes and replied "I will give them back to him, but not until we have read all three books together.  I haven't even looked in the bag yet.  What is so important in there?"  Jarron shook his head and said, "I don't know but I get the impression it is very important."  He looked around and spoke more softly, "Lilly, be careful around him, he has been acting strange and I'm not sure how far he will take things to get those items back."  Lilly looked at him with a blank expression, was he telling her not to trust Colvin?  Yes, he had lied to her about her friends but he wouldn't do anything to hurt her, would he?  She looked at Rhylan with questioning eyes and said, "Rhylan, do you really think Colvin would do something to us?  Master Aeron wouldn't have him hurt us would he?"  Aeron might be angry with me, but he is too gentle to hurt anyone."  The curtain to the shelter opened up and Joella came in.  She had a tray with some warm soup and bread.

"Lilly! You are awake and sitting up!" Exclaimed Joella.  She looked to Rhylan and Jarron and said, "Now I need to spend some time with her so the two of you need to leave us."  She waved her hand at them and said, "Shoo".  Rhylan turned to Lilly and kissed her on the forehead and lips and said gently, "I won't be gone long".  Jarron came up and gave her a hug and they both walked out of the tent.   "How are you feeling?" said Joella.  Lilly thought about it.  Her head was pounding and her side was burning with pain but she could handle that.  "I'm still pretty sore but I think I'll be OK."  Joella looked her over and started to remove her bandages.  Her head was still crusted with blood and she had a huge bump on it.  Her side was bruised and scabbed over where Joella had stitched her up.  The wound was still raw and deep.  Joella said, "Let's get your head fixed up first, then the two of us can work on your side and back together."  Joella, hovered her hands over Lilly's head and closed her eyes.  Lilly felt a tingling sensation across her forehead and neck and felt the throbbing pain go away.  Joella nodded and said, "There, now the two of us need to focus our powers together if we are going to heal your side.  The wound is very deep.  Now, have you ever healed anyone?"  Lilly nodded and said, "Yes, I healed Jarron when he nearly had his arm cut off, but I don't know how I did it exactly, I was just sick with grief and fear."  Joella nodded, "Did you focus on his muscles and bone and the overall structure of his arm?"  "Yes" said Lilly, "I did think of my anatomy classes and tried to focus on what his arm should look like."