Chapter 4

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Glittering dark brown eyes were the first thing he saw at dawn on the third day. Solna was wedged deep into his infirmary chair that he’d kept close to the elf’s bedside and he lurched back when he noticed the stare, instinctually trying to move into a defensive stance. The chair almost buckled under the sudden movement.

Solna jumped to his feet when he finally remembered where he was, and took in his guest. The long black hair tucked behind slender, pointed ears was still matted, though they had washed it, and the elf’s now clean skin was pale but not deathly so, where it showed above the coverlet. Life shone radiant in the elf’s eyes and Solna’s shoulders finally relaxed. It was one thing for Ke to tell him that the Archmage would live, but a whole other matter to confirm it for himself.