“Awesome! Hey! Big girl!” Darsan waved, dropping the men at his feet.
“...What are those?”
“Oh, just some that refused to give up, so I kicked their butts, but I wondered what we’re supposed to do with them... Nana said not to kill them, so I just figured I’d ask.”
“The war is over, right?” Nana asked Cessilia and the King with a worried expression.
The two of them exchanged a smile.
“Yes, it is.”
“Alright,” said Tessandra. “Darsan, you and I are supposed to gather the Yekara that are left, all of them, so come and help me. Nana, now that you get the gist, can you go get that old butt of a dragon and do the same outside?”
“I got it!” Nana nodded strongly, showing her little fists.
“Let’s go, Nana,” exclaimed Darsan happily. “I’ll escort you back to Krai!”
The two of them left, and Cessilia turned to Tessandra, confused.
“...Nana actually rode Krai? ...Alone?”
“Yeah... She’s really getting quite impressive, our tiny Nana. But, as long as we keep flammable stuff away from her, we should be alright.”
“...Didn’t you just send her to get an actual dragon?” Ashen asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tessandra opened her mouth, and closed it after a second. After realizing the King’s words were right, she let out a sigh.
“Alright, I’m going to go look after the two terrors. We’ll regroup once you’re better and we’re done here. See you then...”
She shook her head and left toward the crowd, already shouting orders at their allies. Ashen chuckled.
“Your family is just as reckless and impulsive as I remember...”
“And that’s just half of them,” chuckled Cessilia. “Come on, let’s get you treated now.”
The two of them left toward the house Tessandra had indicated. Just like her cousin had said, the place was already crowded with injured men, some with light injuries, some on the verge of dying. Cessilia recognized some of the Hashat people trying to keep them in order, and even some Cheshi helping. Luckily, many people recognized the King. In the short while that they had spoken with Tessandra, the word had already spread about Lord Yebekh’s death, and most people knew the war was over. In a matter of minutes, people gathered around the couple, either thanking them or simply cheering. Cessilia felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention when all Ashen needed was some quiet.
Bastat quickly stepped in between them and the rowdy crowd.
“If you’re all up,” she said, “I guess you can make some room for the people who actually need the space!”
Cessilia was surprised. It was the first time she saw Lady Bastat actually get mad and raise her voice. Right now, the lady was acting like a wall between the two of them and the crowd. The people suddenly got a bit embarrassed or glared at her, but sure enough, many quietly returned to their beds, or left the building with sour expressions.
“These people,” she sighed. “Really, if they can stand, they should be helping out...”
She turned around to face them, and Cessilia realized the lady herself was injured. Her left arm was wrapped in bandages, and she was limping slightly as well.
“Lady Bastat, are you alright?” Cessilia asked, worried.
“Yes,” the young woman nodded. “Thanks to your older brother. I made a silly mistake during the fight, and His Highness was quick to take me to safety... so I overtook the command here, as much as I could. Luckily, most citizens were reasonable enough to stay home or help their neighbors. It’s mostly Royal Guards coming here injured, or people who got into accidents because of the fires... Are you alright, Your Majesty? You look quite pale.”
Ashen grimaced. Just as Cessilia expected, he hated his condition being pointed out. She stepped forward in his stead.
“Do you think we could get... some privacy? I want to treat him myself, and then I’ll help around here if needed.”
“You can go upstairs. We just emptied one of the bedrooms, so you and His Majesty can take it. I will have some medicine brought to you as soon as possible. Do you know what you’ll need, exactly?”
Quickly, Cessilia listed for Bastat all the herbal medicine she was going to need, and soon after, helped Ashen upstairs. Just as she had suspected, he had been holding on well all this time, but the young King passed out almost as soon as he laid down. Luckily, his life wasn’t in danger. Cessilia treated him quietly with the herbal medicine procured and stitched all the cuts she could find on his body. The more she examined him, the more she was convinced that Kassian’s blood he had been transfused with had helped Ashen considerably. The poison he had received was very potent, yet the treatment he actually needed from her was rather simple. His body had been fighting the toxins by itself all this time, and the medicine just gave it an extra boost. The blood loss was a bit more worrisome, but now that he could get some rest, he would probably be fine. Cessilia treated him, grateful to finally be able to catch a break.
When she finally stepped out of the room, Ashen was still unconscious, but he was safe. She let out a little sigh of relief. It sounded like things were busy everywhere else in the building, so she barely reacted when someone approached.
“Lady Cessilia?”
“Sabael!”
She hadn’t expected to see Nana’s older brother here, but it was obvious he was injured as well, his shoulder covered in bandages. He politely bowed a bit.
“Is His Majesty alright?” he asked. “I heard he was brought here too...”
“He’s alright, he’s resting in the room behind me. What about you? What happened?”
“Ah, I got burned a little... It’s really not as bad as it looks, but Tessa insisted I get treated. ...You?”
“I’m fine,” Cessilia nodded. “...Sabael, can I ask you for a favor?”
He smiled, and glanced at the door behind her.
“I’ll guard His Majesty,” he immediately said, bowing respectfully. “Don’t worry, no one will dare to enter while I’m here.”
