That was the final straw for
Zana.
"I'll be right back..." the Dreadlord squeezed Talus' shoulder for a moment, nodded to Noel who ignored her for the most part, then slipped from the room with Grey at her heels. She managed to make it back down the stairs before she broke. She slid down to sit against the wall of her kitchen out of view of the guards outside and anyone who would be coming down the stairs, pulled her knees up to her chest and sobbed.
It was relief of not losing Talus yet. It was grief over failing her own mission. It was the fear she might still have to do a large part of this - the revolution, the children - on her own if Talus had burnt himself out. Grey whimpered and pressed his nose between her legs to try and wriggle his way under her arms. At first Zana resisted: she wanted to be alone. But slowly her heart melted for the animal who had been with her through it all and she allowed him in, sobbing instead into his thick coat.
She wasn't sure how long she sat there just that it was until the sobbing had stopped and then a little more as she clung to her wolf.
"You won't leave me will you boy?" Her voice was as small and fragile as a childs. The response she got was a rough tongue over tear stained cheeks. Zana managed a wobbly smile before taking a deep breath and pushing herself to her feet.
Numbly she went through the motions of making some stew. She gave some bowls to the two outside first, much to their apparent surprise, then carried the rest upstairs.
Noel had made good progress. Like most
Dreadlords he worked in silence but Zana could see the telltale signs of tiredness in his face and the set of his jaw. She walked slowly about the room giving out bowls of hot stew and warm, thick bread, before taking the last lot to Talus just as Noel straightened and let the magic drop.
"I have done as much as your body can handle. Bones, internal bleeding, the more severe cuts," he began to wash his hands as he spoke. "As for your magic... it is hard to tell this early. I recommend two weeks of bedrest and a month of not trying to use your magic for now," he frowned. "Then you will come see me and we will reassess the situation. Zana? A word," he motioned to the door, collected his things and left.
"Try and get him to eat," Zana passed Talus' bowl to Raaf then followed Noel out of the room, shutting it behind them. She raised a brow at Noel expectantly.
"We were not finished before you left, Zana. That taint... it needs seeing too. I can feel something in you," his eyes panned over her disapprovingly. "I'm going to have to report it, you know I am. See me in my office tomorrow morning first thing."
"Yes Sir," Zana bowed her head. The 1st Level gave her another look and then shook his head as if clearing a thought and left. When she entered the room the tense feeling of having an unknown Dreadlord was gone. Lola and Raaf had made themselves comfy on the bed with Talus, and Jun was sat on the floor with Grey who was on his back enjoying a good belly rub. There was even a bit of laughter.
Zana leaned against the closed door and allowed herself a small smile as she watched.