Temple Hill - Drew Karpyshyn [40]
It took Lhasha less than five minutes to get both Corin's and her own things together, but in that time Corin's complexion had paled to a sickly gray. He was sweating profusely, and shivering. His head was bowed forward, staring at the floor-he didn't even look up when she came back into the room.
There was no way for her to know what kind of poison was in Corin's system, but he didn't look like he'd survive the hour if she didn't get him some help. The situation was urgent, but Lhasha didn't panic. A few seconds thinking things out would be worth the lost time if it kept her from making a critical mistake.
Fendel could help, or at least get someone else to help, but she couldn't leave Corin here in the room while she went to fetch the gnome. The Maces might show up and arrest him. Or worse. It wouldn't be long until the Masks sent someone to investigate why their assassins hadn't checked in. She'd have to take Corin with her.
Hopefully he could still walk.
She tossed a handful of coins on the table to cover the cost of replacing the bloodstained bedding, wrapped an arm around Corin's waist, and pulled.
"C'mon Corin," she said with a grunt. "On your feet. Let's go for a walk."
Corin didn't respond at first, he was dead weight. She couldn't even get him upright. After a few seconds he stood-very slowly.
"Keep moving, Corin," she said. "Let's go. Out the door."
Lhasha staggered beneath his mass, but thankfully Corin was still able to support much of his own weight. It was a struggle to get Corin down the stairs, but once she got him out onto the street, on the level ground, he was able to walk on his own.
The sky was just turning to dusk, and nobody paid much attention to the pair as they stumbled along. Most dismissed them as a drunk being carried home by this evening's chosen courtesan; those few who recognized the signs of poison knew better than to get involved in guild business. As they slowly made their way toward the Church of Gond, Lhasha kept up a litany of encouragement.
"Good, Corin. Another step. That's the way. Keep it going. One more. Again. You're doing fine."
Lhasha doubted if he even heard her. Corin's steps came in an unconscious rhythm… marching without thought or will. Lhasha guessed he had done his share of forced marches during his days as a White Shield-that was probably the only thing keeping him going now.
They were nearly two thirds of the way to Gond's church and Lhasha was starting to believe they'd actually make it. There was only a half dozen blocks to go. Then Corin tripped over a loose stone in the street. His weight shifted, and the full impact of his muscular frame came crashing down on Lhasha, dragging them both to the ground. Lhasha tried to absorb some of the blow as she hit the paving stones, but Corin's body slammed her to the street, knocking the wind from her lungs.
She gasped for air and tried to blink away the stars in her vision.
"Corin!" she coughed. "You have to get up."
There was no response from her burly companion. Lhasha pushed against his inert form, trying to roll him off so she could at least catch her breath, but his weight was too much for her to handle. She managed to slither out from beneath his body, and quickly felt for his breath. It was still there, but very faint and very, very slow.
She didn't want to leave him lying face down in the street, but she couldn't budge him. Abandoning him where he lay, Lhasha sprinted off toward Temple Hill.
***
Corin was oblivious to the outside world, but he had achieved a new level of consciousness, a hyper-sensitive awareness of his body's inner workings. Every system was shutting down, moving slower and slower. He couldn't fight the sensation. There was no need to fight it. He felt no pain, no anger, no sadness. Just fatigue, and soon even that would be gone. The blood was congealing in his veins, thickening until its flow became a mere crawl. After countless millions of beats throughout the course of his life his heart felt