The Dark Half of the Sun (The Young Ancients: Timon) by P.S. Power Page A

outside about ten seconds later. Then he hit the shelf in front of him with his left hand and made the ceiling glow enough for them all to see. It wasn't bright still, since he needed to know where he was going, but it was enough to work by. He had to crane his neck to see what was happening behind him and kind of wished he hadn't when he did. There was a woman who was covered with dried blood and filth, her face half smashed in. All of her limbs were going in the wrong directions too. She barely fit in the seat it was so bad.
    She also smelled horribly, which probably said something about how truly awful whatever had happened was. She didn't make a sound, just looking back at him with the one eye that wasn't swollen shut. It was enough to get him to set the controls to just hover in place, leaving them in the air for a bit, while he scrambled to find the healing amulet. The others looked pretty bad too, but they weren't anywhere near as damaged.
    "Here, I don't want to scare you... This will help you heal, but it will hurt. Maybe a lot." He'd used one before, when he'd gotten a cut chopping some vegetables. The thing was a miracle, but it did sting as it healed him. This wasn't some little slice on a finger. This woman was... He wasn't certain what to call it.
    It surprised him, but her right hand came out toward him, slowly reaching for the device, even though it had to be agony for her to even try it. He held it out then, not knowing why, clasped his hand over it for a second and pushed it firmly to her arm. It tried to heal him too, which made him feel awake and chipper suddenly, but nothing else. It was far worse for her.
    She screamed. He didn't let go though, knowing she needed it, no matter what.
    George started talking, his voice low, but encouraging, "hang in there. I know it hurts, but that will fade. It is fading, focus on that. Just a little longer..."
    He stopped, interrupted by several loud cracking sounds, that Timon finally understood to be her arms and legs re-breaking, so they could be fixed. It was a fast process, but it still took about five minutes before he recognized her. Captain Petra. They'd never really spoken much, but she'd been in charge of the ship that had taken him and the rest to Austra. A friend of his brother's, he thought.
    It went on for a long time, and he moved back to the controls, just as soon as the screaming stopped, heading back toward the Capital. No one had said to go that way, but it made sense.
    There were three more cracks that he noticed and a dozen pops, but other than heavy panting there was no more crying out. No one said much other than to be encouraging, until she managed to speak, sounding almost normal, about fifteen minutes later.
    "Is there any water?"
    There wasn't of course. It was something he should have thought to have on hand already, but just hadn't.
    "No, in the little basket behind my seat there's a bottle of juice. Drink that first. There's food and wine too and if we have to we can land and find a clean river." There was sound from behind him, a rustling, then some murmurs.
    "It's good. Thank you." This came out low and subdued.
    Captain Petra had an arm over her chest, and had handed the amulet over to George, who was doing his own panting, having been hurt more than it had looked like it seemed. Kara started struggling to get the blanket that was tied to the bottom of the other basket, then handed it off to the naked woman.
    Timon shrugged, tapped his own shirt front while concentrating and took his clothing device off. It left him naked, but he hadn't been through whatever she had and no one cared if little kids ran around without clothing. Not nobles at least and he really doubted the Royal Guards would be all that concerned.
    "Here. Use this." Then he kept flying, trying not to turn around. It was embarrassing, being naked in public and left him feeling exposed. Vulnerable in a way he hadn't even a few moments before. He certainly didn't want to see