Dylenwhen, through the corner of his eye, he spotted someone just outsidea narrow side entryway a short distancefromwhere Laral was seated. The stranger was hefting something in hishand.Itwas a bottle filled with a liquid that gleamed with a reddish hue. Aburning cloth wick protruded from the stopper in the bottlesnarrow mouth.Foran instant, Riodan froze, shocked that anyone would use an incendiaryweapon within the palace grounds. Such devices were forbidden in allAisen for they were indiscriminate in the damage they caused.Innocent bystanders were injured or killed alongside intendedtargets.TheDeir flung the explosive at Laral. Racing forward, Riodan called outa warning to Talvas who stood nearby. The captain lunged forward andinstinctively used his arm to bat the bottle away from the prince.The bottles trajectory changed. As if in a nightmare, Riodanwatched it tumble through the air. It would land on the floor nearDylen.Withouta moments hesitation, Riodan swerved toward his lover and threwhimself at Dylen, bringing him down beneath him just as the bottlesmashed on the floor.Riodancried out as searing heat suffused his back. He dimly heard Dylenssavage imprecations as the latter scrambled out from under him.Riodan blacked out momentarily. When he became aware of hissurroundings once more, all he could make out was a confusing welterof noise and motion. Someone was screaming in agony. Another wasshouting for help.Alength of cloth had been thrown over him and hands beat down on it.In the midst of his pain, he realized his back from his nape andshoulders to his thighs were aflame. The smell of singed hair addedto his fear when he thought for a moment that his head had also beenset on fire. The blistering heat diminished somewhat as the flameswere put out, but the pain did not, and his breath came in agonizedgasps.Therewas the sound of running feet and then someone dropped down besideDylen. He cried out once more as the charred ruins of his tunic werehurriedly peeled from his burnt flesh. A cool hand touched his cheek,and he turned his head and looked blearily into Dylens anxiouseyes.Holdon, Rio, Dylen whispered. The physician is here.Somethingwas smeared on his back, and he moaned from the initial contact withhis overly tender skin. But very quickly, the pain receded tosomething more bearable, and he sighed with a little relief. He couldfeel the physicians hands on his back, slowly and thoroughlystroking the damaged flesh. Wherever his fingers lightly presseddown, there was a tingling sensation followed by sparks of feelingalike to the maddening jabs of a needle. But in their wake was afurther lessening of pain.Why,Rio? Dylen said, his voice catching. You would have avoided theworst of it had you stayed where you were. Yet you He pausedand let out a frustrated exhalation. Why did you do it?Riodanmanaged a small, tired smile. Why else? he murmured. At Dylensstricken expression, he reached for his hand and squeezed. Dontworry about me, Dy. Youre alive and well; thats all thatmatters.Deitysblood, Rio...Riodandid not hear the rest of Dylens anguished response for he finallyslipped into blessed oblivion.ChapterTwenty-ThreeInquiryThephysicians healing touch brought him some relief. But in betweenvisits he endured the incessant aches and relentless discomfort ofmending flesh