But where in a medieval castle could she do that?

"Travis. . . ."

Beltan's eyes were hazed again as he spoke. Travis eased him back down on the bench and leaned over.

"What is it, Beltan?"

The knight's voice was fainter now. "I don't think I've got much longer.

So I just wanted to tell you something. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not sorry after all."

Travis shook his head. "I don't understand, Beltan. Not sorry for what?"

591.

The knight lifted his head and touched his bloodstained lips to Travis's own. Then Beltan fell back to the bench, and his eyes fluttered shut. Travis looked up, his gray eyes wide, his lips necked with red.

Melia clasped a hand to her throat. "Is he . . . ?"

"No," Grace said. "He's not dead. But he will be soon if I don't do something. Only I don't have the tools here." She shook her head. "I need medicine now, not magic." Travis gazed down at the unconscious knight. "I understand, Grace. Why he was so upset when I told him to 609 get away from me after we fought Eriaun that first time. I was so hot--it was dangerous for him to touch me. And the roaring. I couldn't hear what he was saying. ..." Grace remembered the conversation between Beltan and Melia she had once overheard. "He loves you, Travis. That was what he was trying to tell you. He loves you more than his own life." Travis looked up at Melia, and the lady nodded. "Do you love him as well, dear?" she said softly. "Can you love him?" Travis gazed again at the fallen knight. "I don't know. Yes, I think.

Maybe--I'm not sure. But I've got to find out. You've got to save him, Grace." She sighed. "If I could get him back to Denver Memorial, I could do it." Melia glided closer. "Remember, dear. There is a way."

Both Grace and Travis stared at the regal woman, then they locked eyes.

Scant minutes later they were ready. Grace stood with Travis beside Beltan. They had wrapped the knight in Falken's cloak, and Travis wore Beltan's clothes, which Aryn had found at the entrance to the baths.

"You remember what to do?" Falken said, his faded k1- i .. Grace glanced at Travis, and he nodded. "We'll both picture the hospital," she said.Melia clasped her hands together. "Do be careful, dears."

Grace gripped the silver half-coin-the one Brother Cy had given her what seemed an age ago. Travis held the other half of the coin. Grace hoped the coin would indeed take them to Denver Memorial. She wasn't sure they would have mucli time once they got to Earth, that her magic would sustain Beltan for long. As they readied themselves for the journey, Travis had told her that runes did work on Earth, but they were not as strong as on Eldh. Would it be the same for the Weirding? "May Sia watch over you," Lirith said. The witch stood beside Aryn, holding the young woman's left hand in her own. "We'll miss you," the baroness said, her blue eyes bright with sorrow. Durge stood to one side. He had been silent as they readied themselves, and now Grace saw why. A tear rolled down one of his weathered cheeks. She reached a hand toward him. "Oh, Durge. . . ." "Come back to us, my lady," he said, a trembling note in his somber voice. "Whenever you may." "We've got to go, Grace." She met Travis's eyes. "Let's do it." "You know," he said softly, "the dragon was wrong. Spardis was after all. But we didn't die here." Grace sensed the shadow that lurked just behind her, never to be shut away again, and she laid a hand atop Travis's own, feeling his new, pink skin. "No, the dragon was right," 610 she murmured. "We did."

Travis said nothing. Instead he faced her, Beltan on