What a mess.

  “This was not my idea!” Everyn barked at the 12th person who decided to air their grievances with her.

  “Okay,” Valan’s head appeared in the opening above them, voice soft, “Send them up.”

  “You and you,” Ryala directed dryly, selecting the next pair of mage and guard.

  The guard muttered something rude under his breath as Everyn helped the mage up the rope.

  “Just go home,” Everyn grumbled.

  “Ev,” Sterling's voice suddenly came through the stone in her collar.

  She stepped away gladly for an excuse to leave the angry horde, “What happened?” She asked directly.

  “She’s coming back with us,” He replied shortly. “They both are.”

  Everyn’s heart slammed against her ribcage as she took a few steps further down the bridge as prying ears piqued around her, “If you’re not joking, you are insane,” She hissed, keeping her voice low.

  “Ella thinks it would be beneficial to have a proper alliance with Cora and Cora’s not leaving without her friend so they’re both coming.”

  “Look, the only reason I let you call her in the first place was that I was sure she was going to have the guts to be the one to shut this down.”

  “Cora’s useful,” Sterling halfheartedly defended. “And Ella sees that. Cora’s friend is older, much older from the looks of these Binds. He’ll know so much more.”

  “Don’t you see how that’s so much worse,” She moved further down the tunnel as she felt her voice rising. “We have been so lucky that the first Demon hasn’t wiped us out and you two want to bring in one older?”

  “You saw him, he’s not exactly in any condition to fight. Whatever the Fae did, he’ll be lucky to recover. Besides, the decision has already been made. They’re coming home.”

  ----------

  “Cora,” Ella knelt down beside her, observing Zaramir up close. “You do understand that bringing him back with us is not going to make it easier to convince my people that you’re on their side.”

  “I know,” She replied, biting her lip. “And I appreciate you’re trying to help us.” Her eyes scanned Zaramir, his fresh scars, and sodden hair and clothes. He was wearing the exact same thing as he’d been wearing when they killed him. She knew from the blood stain on the collar from where his skull had cracked open. Though they were well worn now, lost their bright color, the seams slowly pulled apart from age.

  It had been five years… had he been here all this time? Sending her orders from that coffin until they could finally extract her name from his mind?

  She’d rather not know.

  Ella's eyes followed Corabelle’s, “He’s not in uniform,” She commented as though she could read Corabelle’s mind.

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  “He always wore this outfit. I don’t think they ever bothered to give him new clothes.”

  “Hmm,” Ellla murmured as she stood.

  “Ev will go get more Dewsilver,” Sterling said as he turned back to face them from his call with the alchemist.

  “Good, she’ll be quick,” Ella nodded. “There's little chance this place was unmonitored.”

  A chill ran up Corabelle’s spine.

  How could it have slipped her mind? The Dewsilver. Of course they’d inject him with the Dewsilver.

  What would it do to him in this condition? At peak health it made her feel like she was kicked by a horse. And he was healing so slowly…

  She was fortunate that her Runebinds at least seemed to be working even if her spells didn't. But she didn’t know what would happen if she tried to nullify his pain while his powers were also compromised.

  Though she knew she couldn’t argue. Her luck was already stretched so thin.

  But she had to say something.

  “My spells don’t work the way they're supposed to,” Her voice was so soft she could barely hear herself.

  Regardless, Sterling and Ella turned to her.

  “Becasue of the Dewsilver?” Sterling questioned. From the tone of his voice she could tell he understood her concern.

  She nodded, “My Binds still seem to be working, but…”

  “You know we have to make sure they can’t find him,” Ella stated.

  “I know,” Cora answered hesitantly. “I just don’t know if I can keep away the pain if we’re both…”

  Ella let out a slow breath, “So that’s the Runebind you’ve had activated all this time,” She muttered. “Regardless, The Dewsilver isn’t optional. I do hope you can still help him, but this isn’t something we could risk.”

  “I know.”

  It was over an hour before Ev entered the room, sweat soaked hair stuck to her brow.

  She didn’t look at Corabelle as she pulled a small dark bundle from her bag, “The first group had just gotten back as I was leaving” She reported, deep line furrowing her brow. “They aren’t hiding what happened. You had better get back quickly.” She said to Ella.

  “I’ll be traveling with Cora and Sterling,” She replied, taking the bundle from Sterling and unwrapping it.

  Inside was a syringe filled with the Dewsilver sludge and a spare vial containing more.

  “How much longer before Cora needs to reinject?” Ella questioned as she picked up the syringe.

  “Unless you’re out until dawn, she shouldn’t need to,” Ev answered shortly. “As for the other, I don’t know how quickly a Faedemon of his age will metabolize toxins.” Her eyes flicked to Zaramir if only for a moment, in a look of disgust.

  “You can go home now,” Ella said, ignoring the venom in her voice. “Thank you for bringing this.”

  Ev held her ground for a moment, looking like she wanted to say something to Ella before turning her attention to Sterling, “Be careful.” she warned before disappearing through the door.

  Once She was Gone Ella knelt next to Corabelle, “Would you prefer to do it or should I?” She questioned extending the syringe in her open hand.

  She would much rather do it herself,, but she wouldn’t be able to hold focus enough to keep her Bind active and not miss the vein, “You do it.”

  Ella nodded, taking Zaramir's arm with a surprising amount of care.

  Her work with the needle was swift and precise, hardly leaving a drop of blood as she pulled it free. Corabelle almost wondered if she had been some sort of medic before the war.

  Nothing seemed to change as the dark Dewsilver flooded his veins. Her Runebind seemed to have the same effect as before, which she hoped meant it was still working or at the very least that he was never in any pain.

  Ella watched him carefully as well, as though she too expected a change. When none came she stood, wrapping the vial back up in the bundle of cloth and tucking it into the pocket of her shirt.

  “We have to go,” She said delicately. “Can you carry him on your own?”

  Corabelle tucked her arm under his legs and stood with some degree of difficulty

  The Dewsilver in her veins still caused her body to remain unsteady, her muscles weak comparatively.

  Nevertheless, she was going to find a way to get him back. He was going somewhere safe. Together.