Chapter 48: Out in the Open
A few times in his journey forward, Felix had to pause so his horse could take a breather and so he could check on Irene.
Even though it felt cruel, he would rouse her and force her to drink some water from the waterskin she had been carrying over one of her shoulders. He hoped that taking in the liquid would purify whatever the arrow had put inside of her. Even if she threw up, he didn’t mind. It would be better than whatever that was remaining inside.
"Just stay with me," he pleaded each time. "We’ll get you to safety in no time."
He wasn’t sure if she heard him but it was enough for him to feel he had done everything in his power to make sure her outcome was positive.
When he finally made it into the Duke’s Tower in the early morning, the night watch spotted him first but he didn’t ask for help as he slipped off his horse with Irene in tow and nudged his horse towards the stables knowing someone would get him at some point.
The apprentice then burst through the back entrance of the Duke’s Tower and he ran towards the kitchen knowing that’s where maids would be.
He didn’t realize he was seeking out Agnes until he saw her. He placed the unconscious body of his fellow apprentice on one of the long dining hall tables.
"I need help!" Felix shouted. "Please, save him!"
Out of the kitchen, a few maids rushed into the dining hall and their faces turned white as they saw the body of an apprentice being laid on a table.
However, maids of a knighthood knew very well that this was a reality of the jobs they had taken. Even though none of them were mages with healing mana, they were all equipped with skills to clean and wrap wounds.
It never got easier to see a child in such dire straits.