Both of them come into the living room, and then Judd helps our army mender out of his soaking wet cloak, while Hojat checks his own bag that’s slung around his shoulder. I can hear vials tinkling together as he rummages around. “Good, everything in this stayed dry.”
“Your other bag wasn’t so fortunate, I’m afraid,” Judd tells him, motioning toward the satchel that’s now not much more than a puddle by the front door.
“That’s alright, Captain Judd,” Hojat says as he shakes off some of the water from his brown hair.
A tired Lu appears from down the corridor and takes in the scene. “Took you long enough,” she says through a yawn.
“You know I hate flying,” Judd replies as he strips off his cloak and hangs it on the peg, beside the fire where the rest of our cloaks are already hanging. “Plus, we went right through the damn storm. That rain turned to sleet, and that sleet turned to hail. Ever been pummeled by hail while you’re trying to stay on a frozen saddle with a mender who hates heights?” he asks as he yanks off his boots.
“Not recently, no.”
He gives another hair shake. “Well, it’s hard.”
Hojat frowns. “It was my first time on a timberwing, Captain Judd,” he says, shuddering slightly as he too takes off his wet boots. “And your flying…it is not the best.”
Lu snorts. Ryatt walks back in with a pair of steaming tin cups. He hands them to Judd and Hojat, who take them gratefully, gulping the broth down.
My patience has gone paper thin, this banter tearing right through it. “Does anyone want to explain why you’re not all back with the army like I told you to be?”
The four of them look at me like I’m a kid throwing a tantrum. They give me this look a lot.
“Calm down,” Judd says as he comes over to clap a cold hand on my back. “Os is with the army, and they’ve already moved out on his command. He’s got everything in order. Besides, Lu and I agreed that you’d need Hojat. For Digby and for…” He trails off, glancing down at where Auren is still lying on the sofa. “She still hasn’t woken up?”
I give a terse shake of my head.
“Excuse me, Captain Lu,” Hojat murmurs before scuttling around her to stand in front of Auren. He looks down at her, the left side of his burned face creased with concern. “Captain Judd said we cannot touch her skin during daylight, yes?”
“Correct,” I tell him. Aside from my Wrath, Hojat is someone I trust implicitly. He knows quite a lot of secrets, and now that he’s here, I’m so fucking relieved, because he can help Auren where I’m failing. “But she never gold-touched the cushions or Lu’s leggings. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. She could just be too drained.”
Hojat hums thoughtfully. “Well, it’s night now. May I?”
With a nod, I move away so he can begin to carefully look her over. He starts by feeling the temperature on her forehead, holding his fingers in front of her lips to count her breaths, checking her extremities, and then pressing his ear against her heartbeat.
“Well?”
“All appears as if she is simply resting. Perhaps the power drain, as you said. I seem to remember a few times that you passed out from too much power use, Majesty,” he says with a reassuring smile.
“I left a piece of my rot in her,” I blurt. “I can’t get it out.”
Creased brown eyes blink at me. “Does it seem to be doing any damage?”
I check her again just in case, and then I shake my head. “None that I can sense. It simply won’t come out.”
He makes another humming noise. “You will keep an eye on it, yes?”
“Yes.”
With a nod, he glances at Judd before looking at me again. “Captain Judd said she may have wounds on her back.”
My shoulders stiffen.
Judd holds up his hands. “I know I told him a lot, but he has to know in order to help her.”
I shake my head, because I’m not angry with him for telling Hojat these things. I would have too. I’m mad that I didn’t do more than simply prop her up on her side. “I couldn’t…” I clear my throat, trying to sound a hell of a lot stronger than I feel. “I haven’t checked it.”
Because I’m a coward.
Because I couldn’t bear to.
Hojat doesn’t chastise me, even though I deserve it. Instead, he tips his head toward Auren. “Best if I do. Lean her forward so I may check her and treat as need be.”