Pan nodded and looked at Issie. “She continues to look for her child,” she said.
“Yes,” said Alex. “She sounds terribly sad.”
“Perhaps one day someone will find her.”
“I hope so,” said Alex.
“May we stay here for a while?” asked Pan. “I’d like the children to practice their fishing and flying and get to know the people of Artimé and Karkinos as friends, so they don’t forget you.”
“Of course! But won’t we always be friends?” asked Alex.
Pan frowned and didn’t answer.
“Sorry,” said Alex. He cringed and shifted his arm. “We’ll be grateful for the peace of mind your added protection will bring us. Stay as long as you like if you feel the waters are safe.”
Pan glanced at Issie again. “My children will be moving on soon,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Alex had no idea what that meant—moving on. But he knew better than to ask. He began feeling faint from the pain. “You’re welcome here anytime,” Alex said. “If you get lonely . . . or whatever. Maybe we can convince Karkinos to stay nearby so you can check on Talon and the sea creatures more easily. And,” he added, “don’t forget my promise about making new wings for your children when they grow too large for these.”
Pan bowed her regal head. “Thank you. I will not forget.” She turned back to her children as Arabis caught a fish. She looked at it in surprise, then joyfully gulped it down. Pan stroked the young dragon’s back with the tip of her tail.
Alex braced himself against the mansion’s doorway as a wave of pain washed through him, and then he walked heavily inside, where those who could move about were rapidly cleaning and repairing. He could hear Florence and Simber up in the not secret hallway, having an argument about how to fix Alex’s wall.
Sky saw Alex on her way out of the hospital ward and hobbled over. “Your clothes are soaking wet. Did you go for a swim?” she asked.
Alex looked at her and laughed weakly. “Yeah. Something like that.” He didn’t want to talk about Eagala right now. He didn’t want to talk about anything. He slipped his good arm around Sky and kissed her full on the mouth. And then he pulled back and stroked her dirty cheek, and looked into her bloodshot orange eyes, and pulled a twig out of her hair and threw it outside through the broken window. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispered. “I love you.”
Sky frowned at his swollen bottom lip. “You’d better have that cut looked at. And this slash on your shoulder—you’re bleeding pretty badly, and your arm is swelling up like a balloon. It looks serious.”
Alex sighed. “I know.” He started toward the hospital ward.
“Hey,” Sky said, grabbing his wrist.
Alex winced and turned, his eyesight dimming. “Yeah?” he asked. Sky’s face swam in front of him.
Sky smiled. “I love you, too.”
They kissed again. And then everything went black and Alex slumped to the floor.
Facing the Truth
When Alex awoke a short time later, he couldn’t focus on the face above him. Everything was fuzzy. He closed his eyes and groaned, and then opened them and tried again.
“Who’s there? Henry?” he whispered. His mouth was parched, and it tasted like stale seawater.
“Hey,” said Henry. “How do you feel?”
Alex concentrated on the question. He wasn’t sure how he felt. After a while he remembered he hadn’t answered yet. “Not great,” he said.
“The medicine will be working soon,” Henry promised.
Alex closed his eyes again and fell into a black cavern of sleep.
The next time he opened his eyes, Henry’s face was easier to recognize. Sky was there too, looking terribly concerned.
Alex tried to sit up, but his left shoulder was heavily bandaged, and his arm wouldn’t move.
Henry stopped him from trying. “Just stay still for a bit. How do you feel now?”
Alex blinked. “I feel okay,” he said, sinking back into the pillows. “Better.”
“Good,” said Henry. A shadow crossed his face, and he glanced at Sky, then back at Alex. “I have some bad news.”
Alex stared, still a bit dazed. “What is it?”
“Your shoulder was injured badly. Severely.” Henry spoke in a soft, firm voice. “We were able to patch you up and stop the bleeding, but I’m afraid . . . ” Henry swallowed hard and continued. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to use that arm or hand anymore. I’m sorry, Alex.”
Alex let the words sink in. He shook his head slightly, trying to comprehend. “You mean just for a while, right? Until it heals?”
Henry pressed his lips together. “I mean forever. It’s damaged beyond repair.”
A breath escaped Alex’s lungs as his whole body went numb. “Forever?”
Henry nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
Sky put her hand on Alex’s good arm and massaged it, her face awash with emotion.
Alex hardly noticed. He stared at Henry in disbelief. And then, a little at a time, he began to realize the devastating consequences of the prognosis.