Page 132

We ate and talked. I told him as much as I could remember about how I somehow made him shift and fly, and he was blown away. I felt like, in a fight for our lives, I’d done the impossible. I would have done anything to get him out.

“Think the healer is returning,” Nyx informed me.

“You hear them?”

“I do.”

“That’s a good sign.” If he could train his dragon hearing outside the tent, it was a sign he was recovering.

“I’ve brought Jaxus to help in the replenishing,” the healer said when he returned.

Nyx asked, “Why would I need help?”

“Because this is not like the magic in the Twelve Kingdoms. Old magic is forbidden there.”

“How are charging stones old magic?”

“We have ways of storing more magic in stones and crystals than you do, which is why I had to get permission to use them on you. We guard our secrets closely.” The healer put a crystal in each of Nyx’s hands.

“Why didn’t you do this while I was unconscious?” Nyx sounded accusatory, and I flinched.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds,” I said to his mind.

“It’s an honest question.”

“Do you want to get better?”

He grumbled but returned his attention to the healer as he and Jaxus helped him turn over and then used a crank in the bed to slowly help him sit up.

“They hold a much stronger charge, but we have to guide you or they could do more damage than good.”

“What do you mean?” Nyx looked skeptical, and I wanted to smack him.

“It requires you to open your mind to us. If we were to try it when your mind is not with us, we could destroy parts by trying to pry it open. You can open your mind, yes?” Jaxus asked.

“Yes, I can,” he said, dropping the attitude.

Thank the Goddess.

“You can help too if your stores are replenished enough. Your meld will give us more control,” Jaxus said, waving me forward to stand beside Nyx’s bed.

“We can’t,” Nyx said before I could answer.

“Is it forbidden?” Jaxus looked genuinely confused.

“No. We haven’t been able to, umm…meld,” I said, embarrassment taking hold.

Emrys cocked his head and narrowed his eyes like he looked past me. “Well, that’s the problem. If you could meld better, she could help you more. You have to open the flow.”

“What?” Nyx asked. “We aren’t melded at all.”

“Yes, you are.”

“What?” Nyx and I said at the same time.

Emrys and Jaxus exchanged a glance.

“Did you two not know you were melded? What are they teaching you in that kingdom of yours?” Jaxus asked.