Chapter 19: Aftermath

Valina carefully lowered herself onto the edge of her bed, and looked down at her right leg. It was still wrapped in makeshift bandages. God, she was tired. But she had to do this before she could rest, and Chalea would still want to speak with her privately. She made a small incision on her thumb, and drew blood.

She formed the ice around the leg–it would help keep her from losing any more blood as she proceeded. After a few minutes, Valina let the ice dissipate and set her jaw. She winced as she removed the bandages on her leg, taking a good luck at her wound for the first time since her confrontation earlier that day.

The wounds were painful, but thankfully minor compared to what it could have been. She had been reliving the same moment all day, when she had barely managed to move her ice into place in time, forming a small protective dome that she had just barely been able to duck under. But it wasn’t quite big enough.