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ed Kelson's torso upright enough to grasp him under his arms from behind； slipping his left arm past the injured wrist to hook at the elbow in Kelson's armpit and spare his wrist as much as possible。 It still hurt terribly； and Dhugal thought his ankle surely must collapse under him as well； but somehow he managed to drag the unconscious king as far as the cavern wall； perhaps a dozen paces away。 Just as they got there。 Kelson stirred feebly and began to gasp and choke； coughing up water explosively from his mouth and nose much as Dhugal had done when he first came to。 All Dhugal could do was hold him close until it passed； trying to warm him and praying that； rid of the water in his lungs and stomach； Kelson soon would e around。
But Kelson did not regain consciousness when the spasms ceased； though he did breathe easier； and his pulse seemed stronger。 Dhugal laid him on his back and loosened his clothing at the neck； cushioning his head with the wet overtunic he pulled off over his own head； then quickly ran his good hand over the rest of Kelson's body to check superficially for broken bones。 There was a fair…sized rip in the right leg of Kelson's leather breeches； with a massive bruise already purpling the thigh underneath； and doubtless he would develop other bruises elsewhere…Dhugal knew he was going to have a savage crop of them…but nothing appeared to be broken。
Nothing below the neck； at least； but how about above？ Dhugal could already see a lump swelling beneath a raw； bloody scrape above Kelson's right eyebrow； and a graze along the left side of his jaw promised another bruise； at least。 He prodded both spots lightly with a fingertip； but neither seemed serious enough to cause too much worry。
But when Dhugal again lifted Kelson's eyelids to check his pupils； only the left reacted immediately to light。 The right was dilated； and closed down only sluggishly when Dhugal beckoned his handfire closer。
Urgently； Dhugal ran his fingers under the wet black hair to hunt for fractures he had missed the first time； probing with his mind as well as his hand…and found； to his utter horror； that what he had judged； at first inspection； to be a matte of mud in the hair above Kelson's left ear concealed not only a slowly seeping wound； now clotting； but a depressed skull fracture that was nearly the size of a small walnut。
Fear clutched at Dhugal's throat as he found it； and tears came to his eyes。 He made himself take a closer look； praying that he was wrong； but he had seen such injuries too often before。 The prognosis generally was not good； even with a skilled surgeon's services and adequate facilities。 If Kelson regained consciousness soon； there was reason for guarded optimism…if the wound above the depression was only superficial； and no infection penetrated the skull…but his chances decreased for every minute he remained unconscious。
Nor were the signs any better as Dhugal tried to use his powers to rouse the king。 The shields that should have guarded Kelson's mind were almost nonexistent…intact all around； but shell…thin； breachable by anyone with even a modicum of power…but Dhugal did not want to risk destroying what little defense the shields might afford。 His mental nudge at the centers that controlled respiration did seem to ease Kelson's breathing a little； however。 That was not so very different from the monitoring he had begun to learn； while Kelson or his father went into deep trancing。
〃Shock's the worst threat； right now；〃 Dhugal told himself； bending to begin stripping off the outermost layers of Kelson's wet clothes…for that； unlike the head injury； was something he could do something about。 〃Gotta get these wet things off him and keep him warm。 I'll build a fire； somehow。 The air's not that cold…but。 God； I am！〃
The exertion helped Dhugal get warm； though； even if Kelson looked no better； stripped to a soggy singlet； than he had before。 Dhugal was light…headed by the time he was ready to go gather kindling to get a fire started； and his wrist was throbbing； so he decided to take time out to wrap it before he went。 With his teeth and his good hand； he managed to tear strips from the lining of the overtunic he had taken off Kelson； and though he was clumsy； trying to bandage his injury with his off hand； it did feel better when he had finished。 He considered making a closer inspection of his ankle as well； but discarded the notion immediately when he realized that the swelling now had immobilized his foot in the boot far better than he could have done on his own。 And a more careful probe with his powers confirmed that； if anything was broken； it was also being held in place by the boot； so he had best not mess with it for now。
Dealing with both his injuries left him a little weaker in the knees than he had hoped； however； so he decided to have a drink from the hitherto forgotten wine flask； to fortify himself before tackling the task of dragging wood back to Kelson。 Later； after he got the fire going； he would have to think about what they were going to eat； while Kelson recovered enough for them to worry about getting out of here in some other manner than the way they had e in； so he knew he needed to hoard what he had； but he did not know whether he could go out looking for wood without at least a swallow or two。
Dhugal's hands shook as he hugged the flask against his chest with his bandaged arm and tried to work the stopper out of the flask with his right hand。 He thought with pleasure of the taste of the good Fianna wine he knew Ciard had packed。
But before he could raise it to his lips。 Kelson stirred； moaning aloud as he tossed his head from one side to the other and shifted his legs； eyelids fluttering。
〃Kelson！ Thank God！〃 Dhugal murmured； wincing as he laid the fingertips of his injured wrist against the king's forehead。 〃Kelson； are you all right？ Can you hear me； Kel？〃
With another groan。 Kelson opened his eyes； focusing only slowly on Dhugal's face bent anxiously over him。
〃Where do you hurt worst？〃 Dhugal demanded。 〃Can you tell me？〃
〃Thirsty…〃
Though the swollen lips shaped the word but awkwardly； Dhugal rejoiced in even that glimmer of returning function。
〃You're thirsty。 Yes； of course。 Here； let me help you sit up a little。〃
〃So thirsty 。。。〃 Kelson repeated drowsily。
Elated； Dhugal slipped his injured arm under Kelson's head to raise it； cradling it carefully in the crook of his elbow as he held the flask's opening to his mouth。
〃It's wine。 Is that all right？〃 he whispered。 〃You've probably had enough water for a while。〃
Kelson did not answer； but only drank greedily； taking four or five deep swallows before pushing the flask aside。
〃'S good；〃 he murmured。 〃God； it feels like fire in m'stomach； though。 Have we got any food？〃
〃Afraid not。 Not right now； at any rate。 I was going to build us a fire； but I was afraid to leave you unconscious。 If you think you'll be all right alone for a few minutes； I'll get some wood and see if I can get it started。〃
〃'M not a baby；〃 Kelson said muzzily。 〃I'll probably just go back to sleep。〃
〃Sorry； but I can't let you do that；〃 Dhugal replied。 〃You were unconscious。 Kelson； I don't know for how long； but you've got a co