Rise of Fire: Dragons Reborn [COMPLETED]

Chapter 10

Nico watched her with growing worry. No matter how often he cleaned her wound it would still seep a dark black liquid he could only assume was her infected blood. The dark veins that spread out from the savage wounds didn't go far which was a relief, but that didn't mean it wasn't affecting her. No matter how much he worked her eyes wouldn't open, her body wouldn't respond... He had been praying all night even after the dwarves had fallen asleep.

He looked to the stars again, noting the absence of the moons. It was truly a dark night, had the gods forsaken him? Worse yet, had they forsaken Talia? Her skin was burning hot, her eyes racing beneath her lids, her breath shallow... He held her hand tightly, gritting his teeth as tears threatened to spill from him again. He didn't want to be alone with the dwarves. He didn't want to return to their family alone. He didn't want to be without her. He didn't want to complete their task without her. He didn't want to have to bury her. He choked on a sob at the very idea.

"You've done the most epic thing I've ever seen in this world and now you're just going to lie there comatose? That's so weak Talia...." He growled at her. If she were awake to hear that jab she would laugh at him, probably even try to slug him. Or at least squeeze his hand until he cried for real. But there was nothing, she wasn't even aware he was insulting her. He sighed, she'd never scared him so much in his life. And she wasn't done either. But if she could survive the night he had a strong hope that he could get her to Madora before her condition worsened.

He continued to diligently wipe away her blood and observe her wounds. The compresses that one of the dwarven men had made helped draw her fever down and settle her sleep but they had long since soiled beyond use. They'd run out of bandaging material long before they could get her to the town, he was already half through the dwarves medical supplies. He almost felt bad for it, they'd need to restock as soon as they made it to a bigger town. He had a feeling the injuries wouldn't stop, they weren't going to get safer as they escorted the dwarves back to their home.

Hours passed as he sat in silent vigil, all manner of thoughts crossing his mind. He'd been with Talia nearly his entire life, and Hephatus be willing he'd likely stay with her till the day he died. He knew she would long outlive him, even if he was a necromancer. Hephatus's children operated differently than normal people, just because he wanted to spend his life with her didn't mean he wanted to do so romantically. When he looked at her he felt a deep well of loyalty, but the love he held for her was nothing more than that of a brother. An overprotective brother if he were being honest.

As he waited he imagined what life would be without her. Without her anger, her drive, her sharp attitude, her strength. Things in their order had changed drastically when she stepped on. Her skill outweighed most, her hatred rivaled even Midnights. He sighed, shaking his head in wonderment. Women were such spiteful creatures, their grudges could last decades. Longer if they could live that long. He smiled at the thought however, how she would hunt any soul to wrong them till the end of time. That level of dedication was admirable. He always grew bored after a few weeks of the hunt, but Talia could go for months meticulously gathering data, patterns, and anything to help her kill someone.

"Oi, lad ave' you slept at all?" Bromyr called from his bedroll. The dwarf's voice was slurred and muddled, he was obviously not quite awake. Nico sighed, setting the soaking rag down before leaning back. He did need to sleep eventually.... He was exhausted.

"Not yet." He answered dryly. They had all passed out, even if he had tried to go to sleep there wouldn't have been a lookout. That was his forte after all, with the form of a raven he could see for miles even in the night skies. He could only imagine the monsters lurking in the dark shadows, but he didn't have Talia's ability to detect things that couldn't be seen.