Page 72 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

They had him to thank for my survival. They couldn’t turn him away.

“Think about it,” Father urged. “You’re still recovering, and we don’t want you back working until you are completely better. What better time for a visit home?”

THIRTY-ONE

KIERA

This time, I was going to work, I told myself as I finished tying my robes in the mirror of my bedchamber. Jaxus was attending meetings, and I wasn’t sneaking off behind his back. I had told him I intended to make some rounds this morning.

He made me promise not to try to stand for too long and to listen to my body. And I had. All I wanted to do was check in on what patients we had on the ward and take a look at what was progressing with our new helpers around.

I had specifically picked this morning because I knew most of the flyers and ryders had training, so I wouldn’t risk running into Koen while I was alone. It still sickened me that I felt as though I wanted Jaxus with me for protection, but I would have to deal with that some other time because I was maxed out on dealing with things.

I was told all the flyers were working hard and not causing any trouble, so for now I wouldn’t rock the boat. As for when I returned to work properly? I’d have to find a way through it then, because I wouldn’t be kept from the work I love.

“Good morning, Kiera,” one of our oldest healers said softly as she passed me in the hallway. I smiled in greeting and kept going to the wards.

We only had one patient. Things seemed mercifully quiet. So after checking in on his treatment and signing off on a tonic for him, I went to the apothecary.

It was a hive of activity and I froze, quickly scanning the room. I sighed in relief when I didn’t see the dragons I wished to avoid and shook off the panic that had gripped me.

I noticed that these were not the units of flyers and ryders that had been helping under Jaxus’ supervision and frowned, heading over to Vanya to find out who they were.

“Oh, good morning, Kiera! I’m so happy to see you looking better.”

“Morning, Vanya,” I replied, glancing around the room. “Do you have time to update me?”

She nodded. “Just let me drop these off to be prepped.” She tipped her head down at the basket of fresh herbs that had obviously been gathered this morning. Some potions and spells called for ingredients gathered under the moon, too, so work around here never stopped.

“Sure I said, crossing to the side room that acted as an office of sorts. It was where I tended to work on more sensitive things if I wasn’t in my own rooms and where we could meet for updates.

Vanya joined me and closed the door.

“Who are all these new faces? I asked, trying not to sound wary. It was pretty disconcerting, feeling so out of the loop in a place I mostly ran as my father’s second.

“Oh, isn’t it wonderful? The flyers who have been assisting us have been so much help that Jaxus has enlisted more.”

“More? I thought they were all helping?”

“Oh, the dragons and their ryders are, but they have to keep up with their training and patrols. So some of the other orders of flyers have joined the effort. They heard about the need we have for assistance, and they are signing up by the dozen. It seems the dragons have been encouraging any who are interested.”

I looked out over the bustling room and indeed noticed a couple of pegasus shifters who’d attended school here with us as children and then saw a female I knew to be a griffin. “And are they working out?” I asked tentatively.

“Yes indeed, they are. In fact, we have already identified more healing magic within this group. Your father theorizes that it’s lower in dragons because they carry stronger astral magic in their bloodlines, whereas healing has survived better in other orders.”

“Fascinating,” I mused.

“Isn’t it? Our hope is that we can train many of them with some field skills that will save lives where it’s not possible to get straight to a healer.”

Her enthusiasm for the changes was tangible. The whole wing felt uplifted and energized.

“Well, don’t let me hold you up. I’m just going to sit and run through the ledger for a little while and then return to my rooms. I’m not really here.” I winked.

She smiled. “Well, it’s good to see you even if you aren’t here. It means you soon will be, and we’ve missed you.” She left me alone as I sat at the desk, taking in the neatly stacked records of the inventory being produced and the supplies procured. It was all up to date, well organized, and being taken care of.

I wasn’t sure we had been this organized in years. Maybe they were just trying to prove the point that the help was really working. Or maybe it just proved to me that things didn’tactually collapse if I took time off. Whichever was the case, I could breathe easier.

It made me think about my father’s suggestion some more. If they were coping this well, Perhaps I could afford a visit to the Forest Kingdom. But could I bring myself to share with Jaxus what was necessary in order to take him? Could I put him through meeting the clan and all that entailed?