Free The Crimson Claymore by Craig A. Price Jr. Page B

that both seemed to be hiding. Karceoles was no fool though and could see the radiance in Starlyn’s eyes and hair that showed affection toward Searon. It was affection past that of a travel companion, and the wizard knew they had shared a moment. However brief it might have been, the two were connected now, and it tied their plan in knots. He only hoped the two of them had enough sense to keep their minds clear.
    “What took you so long?” Karceoles’s eyes squinted to look from one to the other.
    “It took longer than expected to find all the herbs and flowers,” Starlyn spat.
    Karceoles watched as Starlyn blushed ever so slightly before regaining her composure. It was long enough for him to see her rosy cheeks and all the confirmation he needed. She glared at Searon with a warning glance, and he shifted uneasily. Looking at Karceoles now, Searon nodded.
    “We ran into Starlyn’s sister.” Searon shivered.
    Starlyn immediately took out the herbs and flowers to mash into a wooden bowl that she had carved during the journey. She mixed them with a wooden spoon that she had also carved. Snatching a canteen from her sash, she poured water in the bowl. Karceoles dismissively created a smokeless fire in front of the two of them through his zylek. He felt more alive than he had all day as he directed the power.
    “You saw Arria?”
    Starlyn jumped at the mention of her sister’s name. She stared blankly at the wizard with an open mouth. No words left it before she closed it but then opened it again.
    “How do you know about Arria?” Starlyn asked in a stern voice.
    “I know who and what she is. An undead kheshlar. The only one of her kind. She died that night, but now she lives.” Karceoles looked back at Starlyn, who held a terrified look on her face.
    Shaking her head, she removed the bowl from the fire. “Open his mouth.”
    Searon stumbled over to the warrior’s head and held his mouth open for Starlyn to shove a spoonful of slimly burgundy paste into. She tickled the man’s throat, causing him to swallow. Pulling the water skin back out, she mashed the rest of the substance and mixed more water into it, creating a liquid. Removing the wool blankets from the man’s body, she felt at his scars, adding the water to each one.
    “Okay wizard, you are welcome to heal his wounds now.”
    Karceoles held his zylek steady, feeling pulses of energy flow into it from his body. It took more energy than fire, a lot more, but that was because he spent the majority of his knowledge studying the use of fire. He had spent little time learning anything to do with healing. If he had studied more of it, he could have healed the human completely without breaking a sweat. The wounds closed slowly but surely, and he could feel them healing slightly. Even the inside of the wounds healed a fraction from his power, and that surprised him. It would still be Starlyn’s herbs that would make the difference.
    “How long until this works?” Searon asked, staring down at the pale human.
    Starlyn crouched by the human to feel his pulse and check his forehead. There was a cold sweat across his exposed body, and she frowned. Without a pause, she put his armor back on and wrapped him up with as much cloth as could be found. His body was limp all the while she positioned him for warmth.
    “He has entered a coma state. The rest is up to him,” Starlyn whispered uneasily, looking back at Karceoles.
    The wizard shrugged knowing there was nothing more that he could do. There wasn’t time to sit and wait on the young man anymore, and all three knew they needed to continue on. The longer they stayed in one place, the more likely it would be that the draeyks could find them.
    “We can’t wait on his recovery. If we are discovered, our element of surprise against the draeyks will be ruined,” Searon trailed off looking into the distance through the trees.
    Searon began gathering his things and packing them tight on his stallion. A few times he