Wars End

"Delaney," Cora came forward and took her friend's hand, "Vincent was caught by the dragon."

Delaney felt her heart stop and her breath caught in her throat. Beside her, Constance gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. Delaney's gaze moved from her friend's brilliant blue eyes to the man behind her who looked much like his older brother in this light.

Miles stared hard at the floor, his face angry, but Delaney could see the red in the corners of his eyes where tears had escaped. His fists were clenched and she realized his clothes were ragged. Cora was dressed well but her clothes were wrinkled from travel. Delaney shook her head. Why was that what she was thinking about?

Because she didn't want to think of what the answer to her next question might be.

"Is he...is he dead?"

"No," Cora's tone was grave as she shook her head, "But it's very serious."

"Was he burned?" Constance asked now.

"No, he..."

"It was the dragon's teeth that got him," Miles interrupted Cora but still didn't move to meet their eyes, "He ran his sword up through the roof of its mouth, up through its brain to kill it."

"Miles," Cora hissed at his harsh words. Constance and Delaney listened in horror as he continued.

"It had started to close its mouth, I suppose to eat him... The teeth came down on one of his thighs, his shoulder, and the side of his torso."

"Were they deep?" Constance's eyes were wide.

"The one on his thigh was. The others weren't much."

"That doesn't sound too awful," Constance spoke to Delaney, trying to encourage her, "Those will heal won't they?"

"It's not that simple," Cora whispered as Miles closed his eyes against the memory, "The dragon's breath fire but the flame is lit in their mouths. There is a poison that oozes from their teeth that ignites. So... so the teeth..."

"He's been poisoned," Delaney finished quietly for her. Miles let out a strange sound and turned, storming back outside, leaving the butler holding his cloak.

Cora looked sadly after him, "He's been so upset... He feels like they should have saved him."

"Will the poison kill him?" Constance squeaked looking at Cora.

"We don't know. No one has ever had something like this happen before that we can find in any records."

"What makes it so bad then?"

"Well... I haven't seen it myself but," Cora spoke slowly, "Miles said the poison is in him and it's sort of... it's making marks on him... on his skin..."

Delaney felt her stomach twist now as she spoke up, "What kind of marks?"

Cora swallowed, her face filled with sadness, "They're red... sort of like a burn would be but they're under his skin... They spread out from where ever the wound is and they...Miles said they burn like a fire inside him..."

"Oh my God," Constance shook her head, covering her mouth again. Delaney found she couldn't speak or move at all. Her hands felt cold and heavy in Cora's small warm ones. She felt cold everywhere then, the hairs standing up on the back of her neck.

She felt something warm on her face and when she reached up with her hand she found a tear there. In a moment they were spilling down both cheeks.

"What do I do Cora?" she asked, her voice shaky, "What should I do?"

"I don't know," Cora looked at her with her own eyes filling with tears, "Miles says he's in a lot of pain."

"Is he going to die?" Delaney managed, through her crying that was growing ever more intense.

"We don't know," Cora whispered as her own tears began to fall.

"Where is Miles?" Delaney looked towards the door then. She stepped around her friend and hurried towards the front doors.

"Delaney wait," Constance called, but Delaney pushed open the front doors against the cold, strong winter wind and stepped out into the snow.

It was still dark and snow swirled through the air. Delaney began shaking as she was immediately freezing, outside in just her robe, slippers, and nightgown. She looked all around, walking down the front path until she made out a figure in the shadows under a tree.

When Miles caught sight of Delaney coming towards him he dashed at his eyes and marched quickly toward her. "What are you doing out here?" he snapped, "Do you want to die as well?"

"Is he really going to die?" Delaney asked him in surprise.

Miles looked down and closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry," he shook his head, "I shouldn't have said that. It's just very bad."

"How bad?"

He met her eyes then, considering her. Delaney saw, up close, he looked less like his brother. Vincent was almost always smiling. Miles was always annoyed or angry.

"I will tell you the truth Delaney. It is bad. It is so bad in fact I don't know if I want him to continue to live if it is going to be in the same kind of agony he was in when I left him."

A cry escaped her at his words and she felt herself wavering on her feet.

"You're going to freeze to death you fool," Miles snapped, seeing her about to fall he bent down and scooped her up in his arms like she was a child. She gasped and held on as he hurried and carried her inside.

"Get her hot water and towels," he barked the order at the butler looking on in shock. He carried her into the parlor and sat her down in a chair close to the fire. He was shivering himself as he pulled another chair over to sit across from her.

Delaney was silent, thinking over his words, as her maid brought a blanket and wrapped it around her before toweling off her hair. They brought a small tub of warm water and put her feet in it. They did much the same for Miles although he declined the water for his feet.

Cora and Constance stood anxiously watching them. They were all quiet.

When Delaney's teeth had stopped chattering she looked up to find Miles's eyes on her, looking tired.

"What should I do?" she asked him seriously, "Should I go to see him?"

"I don't know," he sighed, "It wasn't a pleasant thing to see."

"Do you think he would appreciate having me come to see him? Olive went and stayed with Bernard."

Miles shifted uncomfortably, "To be honest Delaney, Bernard and Olive had spent quite a bit more time together than you and Vince. He's sort of just in a blind pain right now. I don't know that he'd recognize you."

She frowned, "I'm sure he would recognize me."

"It's not that he wouldn't recognize you," Cora spoke up, rolling her eyes at Miles, "But he's in so much pain I don't think he registers when people are around him."

"Where is he?"

"He's at the King's hospital, not far from the castle. They're treating him there," Miles folded his arms.

"I want to go there," Delaney stated, staring at him, "Will you take me?

Miles frowned, "I don't know if that's a good..."

"Either you can take me or I can go on my own and I think we both know Vincent wouldn't want me traveling all that way on my own."

Miles's frown deepened as he stared at her. "Fine," he said at last, "But Cora will be coming as well."

That's what I expected," Delaney frowned back. She ordered her maid to get her things packed and have them ready to leave after breakfast.

She invited them to eat breakfast where Cora informed Delaney's Aunt and Uncle what had happened to Vincent. They both looked grimly at their niece.

As they all ate in silence, Delaney found herself thankful she and Constance had been working on their club. If something happened to Vincent she would need a way to support herself. She couldn't live off of her relatives forever.

Looking at Miles, Delaney felt very sorry for him. He appeared almost heartbreakingly despondent. He pushed his food around on his plate but didn't eat much. Cora too was watching him sadly.

If Vincent died he would be the heir to the lands and titles as well as what he already had. Cora would be his Duchess. At one time, Delaney had felt jealousy at the idea of the pair replacing her and Vincent but now she felt foolish for it. Seeing them now she knew they had no desire for the roles and Miles was distraught at the idea of losing his older brother, his protector.

Delaney felt warm tears on her cheeks and was quick to dash them away again. The last thing anyone needed was to worry about her. Vincent was the one who needed their prayers.

As soon as they had finished eating Delaney returned to her room to dress and have her hair done. When she was finished and ready to leave Constance saw her to the door before hugging her tightly.

"Everything will work out," she whispered, "I know it."

Delaney hugged her back tightly, fighting back her tears. She waved goodbye to her Aunt and Uncle as she left the manor with Miles and Cora. They loaded into the carriage and settled in for the long ride. The ride that would take them to the hospital and to Vincent. Delaney feared what she would find there.