7. Chapter 7

7

Chapter 7

D ahlia was horrified. The arrows must have been poisoned with something to have made Ilex unconscious so quickly. She had no idea how she was going to get them back to the cottage, though. They were massive, and she was…not.

She had come running when she heard sounds of an altercation, and she was glad she had trusted her instincts. Ilex had been kind to her—she wasn't going to just stand by and watch those awful men hurt them. Her summoning the golem may have been…overkill. Even she could admit that. She wasn't sure what exactly had come over her, but she knew in her soul that she had to protect them. How could those men have wanted to hurt someone so beautiful as Ilex?

She looked around her, trying to focus on a way to transport Ilex back to the comfort of their home. After a bit, she had the energy to reanimate the bones she had used for the golem into her closest approximation of a horse.

She had used too much magic today, and the effort was exhausting. These castings weren't like the more permanent spells she had worked on Fluffy and Misty—those were self-sustaining until she actively cast another spell to end them. These more impromptu spells required her continuous focus and effort. By the time she released her hold on the horse creature to deposit Ilex outside their cottage, she was nearly spent.

Ilex began to stir at the jostling of being dumped onto the ground on top of what was now a pile of bones. She rushed to their side.

"Ilex, it's Dahlia. I'm here with you," she said in as soothing a tone as she could muster.

"Dahlia," they said, their voice a raw croak.

"I think those arrows had poison on them, Ilex. We have to get them out of you and get some sort of antidote. Do you think you can stand and get inside with my support?" She asked, unable to keep the worry from her tone. She couldn't believe this sweet Dryad had been hurt so badly when they were just trying to be a good host to her.

Ilex nodded weakly, and the two of them worked to maneuver them into a sitting position, then up to standing. Ilex leaned heavily on Dahlia as they hobbled into the cottage, and they settled down into the nest-like structure at the corner of the one-room cottage.

Ilex's emerald eyes were barely open, and Dahlia knew this must be bad. She had no idea what sort of poison they could have used, but she knew the leaves of the ciùine plant had anti-inflammatory properties. That would be a good place to start, at least.

"Ilex, I have to go find a few plants to help you, but I'll be back soon, alright?" She explained as she grabbed one of the cups Ilex had set out for her and filled it with water, placing it beside the nest. As she bent down, Ilex caught her wrist gently.

"Thank you, Dahlia," they said simply. She gave them a worried smile in return and set out into the surrounding woods to gather what she needed.

As she wandered, Dahlia thought about how staying to help Ilex would make her late to the gathering in Ichorna. She found she didn't care one bit. Something about Ilex felt so familiar, and they had been kind to her—she wasn't just going to leave them.