Oracle (Book 5) by Ben Cassidy

anger seemed to drain completely out of him. “Please,” he said in a whisper. “Please, I need to see her.”
    Grelda’s face softened, but only the tiniest little bit. “She…” The older nurse hesitated, as if unsure what to say next. “Look, you must try to understand. The girl is awake, but she is still not quite…herself.”
    Maklavir felt the room spin around him. He caught at the edge of the desk to steady himself.
    Joseph looked as if he would collapse himself. “What do you mean?”
    Iola broke into a fresh new round of weeping.
    Grelda diverted her attention to the other nurse, seemingly glad of the distraction. “Now that’s enough out of you, Iola. Eru knows there’s no room for that kind of emotional nonsense here.”
    “What do you mean she’s not herself?” Joseph repeated. His voice was more strident than ever.
    Grelda looked at the grizzled pathfinder again. “You must understand, sir, that Kara has been a coma for weeks. Months. It often takes time for a person to adjust again when they finally regain consciousness.” She hesitated a beat, as if unsure whether to add the final thought. “And as I am sure you know, if you really are her friend, that she was grievously wounded.”
    The two men glanced at each other.
    Kara had been shot by Kendril during the last stage of the battle for Vorten, when the Seteru spirit known as Indigoru had possessed her body through the pendant known as the Soulbinder. Some of the shards of the Soulbinder had cut deep into Kara’s chest. At least one or two had been lodged so deep that they could not be removed.
    Maklavir read the same fear in Joseph’s eyes that he was feeling himself.
    Joseph put a hand on the hilt to his rapier. “We need to see her. Now.”
    Grelda furrowed her brows. “Now? Do you have any idea how early it is? I can never—”
    “You need to understand me,” said Joseph in a low voice. “I am going to see Kara one way or the other.”
    Maklavir squeezed the man’s arm tight. “Joseph,” he said in a harsh whisper, “for the love of Eru, don’t make this worse.”
    Grelda looked angrily at both men. “This is highly irregular. The girl has barely been awake for more than an few hours—”
    Maklavir looked over at the nurse. “Grelda, please. You know me. I have always been prompt with the payments for Kara’s care, haven’t I? I’ve been here often to check up on her. Five minutes. That’s all we’re asking.”
    Joseph shot Maklavir a warning glance, but the diplomat ignored him.
    “Well,” Grelda gave a deep sigh. “You have always been the perfect gentleman, Maklavir.” She stared hard at Joseph. “Unlike your new friend here.” She gave a slow nod of her head. “Five minutes. No more. And if I say the visit is terminated earlier than that, you’ll both have to leave.”
    “Agreed,” Maklavir said swiftly.
    Joseph looked as if he wanted to leap forward and throttle the woman. “Agreed,” he said between clenched teeth.
    “All right then,” Grelda said, smoothing her white robe like a hen ruffling its feathers. “Follow me, if you please.” She looked over at Iola. “I’ll deal with you later.”
    The two men started to follow her.
    “Oh,” said Grelda suddenly, turning around on them, “one more thing. Your weapons will have to stay here.”
    Maklavir gave a smile that he did not feel in the slightest. “Of course, Grelda.” He unbuckled his sheathed sword and put it next to the front desk.
    Joseph didn’t move a muscle.
    Grelda glared at him. “It’s for the safety of the patients,” she said coldly. “There is no reason that you’ll need your sword in our establishment.”
    Maklavir looked over at Joseph. “For Eru’s sake, man,” he hissed, “what’s wrong with you? Drop the sword.”
    Joseph looked over at his friend with a face pale with anger.
    “Talin’s ashes,” said Maklavir in exasperation. “Do you want to see Kara or not?”
    With slow, measured movements, Joseph