The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

the outsides. “Disrupter,” she thought out loud. “Guess someone managed to get off a lucky shot.”

“Lucky it didn’t kill you,” Cidele called from the stairs.

Sedom turned to watch her friend walk up the stairs. “Let me guess, your father sent you?” Sedom asked in a huff. Hadn’t Lolum scolded her enough for one night?

Cidele’s smile brightened the dark night as she stepped up onto the decking. “My father, Zion, Noral, and Evolanc. I’m sure Dranuim would have also, but he’s barricaded himself in the observation room trying to rewire all the old systems. I doubt he even knows what day it is,” she joked.

Sedom half-grinned, “That man does need to see the sun more often,” Sedom admitted. She paused, finding Cidele removing her jacket. “What are you doing?”

“Looking at your wound,” she stated motherly. “You’ll be up here most of the night thinking and you’ll forget that you’re bleeding to death,” she scolded. “Jacket, off,” she ordered.

Begrudgingly, Sedom removed her jacket. Her arm was a mess of burned flesh and blisters. Sedom seethe seeing her own injury, but not from the pain. Several times she flexed the arm, causing her blisters to pop and her skin crack.

Cidele forced her to stop. “What are you doing?” she gasped.

“It’s only a flesh wound,” Sedom mentioned.

“That can easily become infected,” Cidele stated frustrated. “Sedom, you need―”

“To be me?” Sedom finished. Her mind was still on other thoughts, thoughts which were not remotely linked to her battle wounds. “I did what I had to. Those people were going to die. I couldn’t stand back and watch my city destroyed by Marisheio.”

Cidele’s white face grew paler. She took a step back from Sedom. “More careful was what I was going to say. Your city?” she questioned. Sedom frowned unsure of what she meant. “You said “your city.” You were thinking about the day Talisan was destroyed. That’s why you ran out without thinking of the consequences. For some reason you thought by saving those people you were saving your own,” she believed. “Well, it was heroic and foolish of you.”

Sedom forced her jacket back on and turned away. She liked Cidele, almost like a sister, but Sedom couldn’t stand when she would point out her flaws.

Cidele wrapped her arm around her, avoiding her injury. “You’ve been having the nightmares again, haven’t you?” she asked. Sedom didn’t answer, she didn’t need to. “When you saw the city being attacked you thought back to when you were a defenseless child.”

“Not so defenseless now,” Sedom muttered. “How many did I manage to save?”

Cidele leaned against the railing, crossing her arms. “So far, two-hundred and twenty-three managed to make into Gathow. Eighteen are in the infirmary. Dr. Noral says that he doesn’t expect two to live through the night. I’ve managed to find housing for the rest. Rosanheer and Zion went out into the forest to search for more,” she explained.

Sedom remained silent for a moment. She waved one of the orbs to her. “Allow Zion and Rosanheer full access in and out of Gathow and anyone they return with level one access unless Marisheio. Also, send twenty orbs to search the forest for any Crehail survivors,” she ordered.

“Good idea. I saw Nokinil leaving. I’m sure he’s anxious to know your plans,” Cidele mentioned.

Again Sedom remained silent, unsure how to answer. Cidele wrapped her sweater around her shoulders and waited. She knew Sedom wasn't remaining silent because she didn't want to talk only that she hadn't determined the right words yet. Give Sedom enough time and she would find her words.

“The Marisheio attacked twelve cities this season. I'm certain this won't be the last city on their list of devastation. There will be more survivors who will need a place to regroup and rebuild. Survivors who will be hell-bent on revenge just like us. If you want to start an army, you might want to think about recruiting closer to home,” Cidele mentioned.

Sedom turned to Cidele, her golden eyes glistening in the firelight. What Cidele said made sense, the only sense. A firm nod brought Cidele to her feet.

“Very well, I'll arrange a meeting with Nokinil and my father in the morning. Meanwhile, you go to the infirmary, now!” Cidele ordered.

Sedom couldn't help but chuckle as she followed Cidele down the stairs and back into the caves of Gathow. Cidele had a singular way of persuading her that no one else had.

***

In her quarters, Sedom collapsed on her sofa and closed her heavy eyelids. Her body felt completely drained. Zion was correct, as much as she hated to admit it. She really shouldn’t dream-walk in the field. Each time she attempted to heal someone, her body’s energy plummeted.

It was only a short time later when she opened her eyes again. Her nose woke her further when she smelled her favorite hot berry tea. Her eyesight was blurry at first, but soon cleared to the image of her dining table, covered with computer pads.

Garric sat next to her with a teacup resting in his hands. “Rough day at the office?” he joked as he handed her the cup of tea. She gladly accepted it, grunting her amusement at his statement.

As she reached for the cup, she felt a large bandage covering her wound. “You?” she asked Garric. He nodded submissively. “Thanks. I really didn’t want to bother Noral. Let me rephrase that, I didn’t want to get a lecture from Noral about how irresponsible I am,” she spat with disdain. “Do we have an update on our guests?”

Garric grinned, even though she could tell he wanted to laugh. “I doubt Noral would bother with the lecture this time. You gave him too much to do. As for our guests, you rescued two-hundred and twenty-eight total. Not enough to count as a victory, but it’s a good start,” he gulped.

“Two-hundred and…” she