Notes From a Dragon Queen

Chapter 17

Xavier stopped, too tired now to move. Under his feet, he saw cobblestone, cracks filled with dirt. He slowly looked up, recognizing the tan brick of the Viâna castle. "We're home!"

However, the celebration was short lived, for as soon as the words escaped his mouth, Xavier's head began to throb, much worse than it had before. He stumbled a bit, falling into Zephrine's arms.

"Oh my god." Zephrine pushed him upright. "Let's go to Rhys."

Xavier, feeling half dead, decided to make one little detour. "Can you take me to the vaults first?"

"Why?"

"Just do it, please."

Once they reached the vaults, Xavier attempted to maneuver himself into the back, where he remembered his father keeping the royal seal. By just enough luck, it was still under the little rug in the far east corner. He swiped it, stuffing it into his pocket, then ran as fast as he could back to Zephrine, who caught him as he nearly fell.

"No more detours, okay?" She hauled him up the stairs.

Xavier tried to agree, but his head fell forward, nearly sending them both down the stairs.

"Just don't move."

"Rhys!" Zephrine pounded on the door to the physician's quarters. Xavier felt himself getting heavier and heavier by the second.

"Zephrine!" Rhys practically ripped the door from its hinges. "My Lord, what happened to you?" He lifted Xavier's chin.

"Vana. We just got back from North Pyi. Rhys, we don't have time for this, just heal him." Zephrine was in such a rush that she could barely speak clearly. Xavier's mouth hung open as his breath came out heavily.

"Bring him in."

Rhys gently pushed Xavier onto his table, examining his eye. "Zeph, you're going to want to leave."

"What? Why?" She held Xavier's shaking hand.

"Unless you want to see me take out his eye." Rhys poured a foggy yellow liquid into a goblet of water. "Which I don't think you do."

Xavier started to tear up, reaching into his pocket, fingers enclosing the royal seal.

"What would you need to take it out?"

"It's severely infected. That's why he's in so much pain. His body's been ignoring everything else to focus on his eye."

"I don't know, Rhys. What if it goes wrong?" Zephrine was shaking harder than Xavier at this point.

"Zephrine, hey, come here." Xavier gestured for her to sit up near his face. He reached for her, missing her by half a foot. She redirected his hand onto her cheek, which was already wet with tears. "It'll be okay." He felt his way along his arm for her face, bringing her lips to his. Not the best time for a kiss, but he couldn't die without trying it at least once. "I'll be fine, don't worry. It'll take a lot more than this to kill me."

Zephrine nodded, giving Xavier one last peck before leaving.

"Rhys, if this goes wrong, give this to her." He held out the royal seal. "There's no one I trust more with the throne."