A Mage's Secret Heart ch23

Once the gurney was made Shailen gently picked up Kegan and lay him on it. He seen that He wasn’t looking very well and barely had the strength to keep his eyes open from the blood loss he had sustained. He sighed as he covered him with a blanket to help protect him from the chilly autumn air and then nodded at Calista as he hopped upon his mount. Calista nodded as she seen him nod and she gave Snowy a little kick and they were off with Shailen right behind them. The journey back to Ifriat was about a weeks ride at a steady trot but Calista knew that Kegan might not have that much time so she kept Snowy a gallop to cover more ground in less time. She stopped him ever now and then and let him graze and drink while she checked on Kegan who seemed to be getting worse every time she saw him. Shailen agreed that he looked bad and that they needed to hurry. 1

Calista kept a steady pace for them on their way back to Ifriat, only stopping when she absolutely needed to. When ever she did however she would take a look at Kegan who continued to sleep. She had noticed however that his nose had grown hot and dry instead of the usual wet and cold that it had always been. She knew then that infection had set into the wound and that her companion was in major trouble. She sighed as she tried to clean his wound and treat the infection but she was no doctor, nor was Shailen and their efforts did little to stop it. By the time that Calista finally did make it back to Ifriat it had been four days since Kegan had been injured and the infection was rather strong in his system. Calista’s emotions were mixed as she rode back into town with the cheers of happiness of her return and people jugging her and congratulating her on her victory. She smiled as she made it through the crowds leading Snowy behind her with Shailen behind him, looking for the only person who knew what to do about Kegan. She however didn’t see Devante anywhere. She sighed with dismay and shook her head and was headed back to check on Kegan when she heard a familiar oh so welcomed voice “welcome back milady.” Said Devante “I see my escort has served you well.” he said. Calista nodded as she ran and hugged her friend tears in her eyes “he’s hurt Devante, He’s been hurt badly and I don’t know what to do.” She said. Devante looked at her worry clouding his eyes “where is he?” he asked. Calista grabbed his hand and lead him over to the gurney where Kegan lay sleeping his breaths shallow and weak. Devante shook his head as he went over and lay a hand on the wolf that he knew as Cyan “I’m sorry white robe.” he said softly to him “You’ve done your job, and have done it well I thank you.” he said as he petted the soft pelt of the wolf. Calista looked at Devante “white robe?” she asked “You mean Kegan is a man, not a wolf?” she asked. Devante nodded “Yes, I told him that if he became your protector and protected you that you may in return give him your heart, but it seems as though I was wrong and you have given your heart to another.” he said as he looked at Shailen. Calista shook her head “I can’t believe you Devante, how could you pull a stunt like this and put his life on the line like that, and in more ways than one.” she said. Devante sighed “because I wanted you to safely return to this village, I missed my friend while she was away at war and I worried about her.” he said as he looked over at Kegan. “Who is he?” Calista asked “Return him to his rightful form I want to see him.” she said. Devante sighed and nodded “Very well.” he said as he lay his hand on Kegan’s head and began to chant a spell and slowly the form of the wolf was replaced by the naked figure of Cyan laying on the gurney his brow furrowed and sweaty with fever and his face flushed. His wound now covered his stomach and side going a little onto his back the skin around it red as his fevered face and yellow puss ran from it as he changed. Calista shook her head as she seen who it was “The white mage from the duel.” she said softly. Devante smiled “I’m surprised you even remember.” he said as he looked down at Cyan. Calista shook her head as she heard voices behind her of shock and disgust “you’ve ruined him Devante.” she said as she walked away. Devante sighed and looked down at Cyan and shook his head as he looked at the white robes watching shock in their eyes that the missing Cyan was actually helping a black robe. 2

Devante seen one of them run back towards the academy, to tell the professors no doubt and he knew that if they got their hands on him there was no telling what they would do to Cyan. He couldn’t bare him to suffer anymore than what he no doubt was right now so he wrapped him up in the blanket tighter and picked him up as he took him back to his house and lay him in his bed. He told his servants to fetch him the herbs and things he would need to help fight off the infection that was taking over his body and slowly killing him. The servants returned with what he had asked and Devante slowly started to clean the wound of the infection and he heard groans of pain coming from Cyan. He then mixed up a warm tea that would fight off the infection from the inside. He slowly lifted Cyan’s head and parted his lips pouring the liquid down his throat. Cyan swallowed a little but the rest just flowed out of the side of his mouth onto the sheets below so Devante lay him back down and watched him hoping he got better.3