Dawn came quickly for Belbriv, who cradled an unconscious Noble. He stopped at a stream to let Tet drink while he got a look at Noble’s wound in the Light and cleaned it. The pog bite was deep, almost to the bone. The bleeding was slowly beginning to stop but a mustard-yellow puss still flowed. And the smell? Belbriv tried to cover his nose from the putrid smell. He had never expected this to happen. Then again, he hadn’t expected the Darkness to sit on the throne either.
After quickly washing the wound, he got a clean piece of cloth and wrapped it back up. Noble faded in and out of consciousness. Every now and then he would let out a cry in pain or from hallucinations.
Not the hallucinations.
Beads of sweat ran down Noble’s forehead from a high fever; Belbriv sweated profusely for the boy’s life and for that of Jon and Caro’s as well. And with Noble’s conditions worsening quickly, they would need the guidance of the Light to help save Noble’s life.
***
Neither Caro nor Jon said a word for hours. How far had Belbriv gotten? Would he make it to Dule in time? How far had they gone already? So many thoughts raced into their minds. They were afraid.
Jon refused to believe anything negative; he had one job to do, and that was to protect Caro and get them to Dule alive. When the morning sun beams shone in the distance, it was a comforting sight.
“So… when we get to Revlere we turn… south?” Jon checked.
Caro seemed unsure, her mind preoccupied with other things.
“Uhh, I think so…”
“Are you quite positive?” Jon teased her, knowing that they turned south but he hoped it would Lighten the mood a little bit.
“Yes Jon, I’m quite positive.”
He hadn’t seen her smile in a long time, even before they left Bef. He hadn’t even ever expected her to smile; her family was a mess after all. But even in her rough life, Caro never cried. At least, Jon had never seen her cry. She carried a strong-will and heavy burden, but not once did she ever complain.
Jon had always had a crush on her but he never said anything of it because he feared she liked Noble, and they were all really good friends. No drama with crushes needed to be inserted into their friendship; they were all too close to each other.
“Are you worried about him?” Jon asked her.
She turned and looked at him.
“Of course I am. I’d worry if it was you, too.”
“Do you think he’ll live?”
She turned her gaze to the rising sun.
“I’m praying to everything in the name of the Light that Noble will live.”
“But… do you know he will live, not just believe he will live.”
There was a pause before she answered.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I just don’t know.”
***
Time was certainly not on their side. Belbriv reached the Valley of Revlere by late-morning; they had ridden a little over twenty miles. Tet was tired, but he was faithful and gave Belbriv only his best. Belbriv didn’t want to stop in the closest town for a new horse, but he knew Tet wouldn’t be able to make it to Dule without suffering from dehydration or exhaustion, which was already settling in.
The Dule giants always had scouts on the lookout for oncoming danger; maybe there would be someone across the border past the Mountains of Bow. It was highly unlikely, sending giants over the border into the dark countries to keep a look out, but Belbriv prayed to the Light that someone would be able to help him.
***
Noble’s head rolled back and forth. Whenever he opened his eyes, a strong Light pierced through and blinded him. Pain shot all throughout his body. It was the poison, no doubt. Every limb felt limp, like they were only hanging by single threads. He tried crying out in pain but he couldn’t hear himself scream. He felt Belbriv’s muscular arm across his chest, holding him up. What were they on? Were they riding anything at all? Was it cold outside or hot? Was the wind blowing?
He felt trapped in a body that couldn’t move, all the while pain burning like he had swallowed hot coals. He was living inside a nightmare. Every time he closed his eyes, a sharp, claw-like hand reached for his throat. He was hallucinating and couldn’t wake up from what he had only hoped was a dream; but he knew it wasn’t.
