The two accompanying me were back in the room in a second and I used my free hand to signal them to hold. I needed to take deep breaths to keep some kind of control. Panicking and accidentally killing her would only set this team back.
Reinhart’s other arm wrapped around my left shoulder forcing me to be a shield for her. She continued, “I was just smart and decided to turn what I had to my advantage. I didn’t need the Circle of Magi to put a ‘no touch’ order on me.”
As calmly as I could, I said, “You have five seconds to let go before I remove you.” I separated my fingers so Kitteren and Silver could see my countdown. And also so they could see the pure arcane energy I conjured in the palm of my hand.
“You can’t do anything - you’re just a Researcher. Now you will escort me out of here,” Reinhart’s voice told me she felt she had the advantage. She also used the same tone as when Brown had tried to command me six months ago, but with her power sealed she could not use it. If the pins were some kind of amplifier for the spell, mine sat in evidence thousands of miles away.
I ticked down three fingers while she spoke, forming a loose circle with my hand. Two. One. I changed the arcane energy to electricity and clenched my hand into a fist.
The bolts traveled up my left arm and headed directly toward where Reinhart held me. It had an instant effect. Turning, I held myself together as much as possible, watching her writhe on the floor for a few more seconds. Some part of me enjoyed it and took pleasure in being the one looking down.
“You dare to assault a superior?!” Reinhart moved to get herself back together to stand up.
Rathal and another agent made their way past Kitteren and Silver to hold her down.
“As a bit of advice, it is generally considered impolite to attack someone without provocation. Now if you’ll excuse me,” I kept my voice even and walked out of the room.
Kitteren and Silver followed me into the hall and away from where they were hauling the screaming High Mage back to wherever they held the prisoners. The serious expression on my sister’s face broke and she started laughing. “Oh by the Gods, that was priceless.”
Silver’s expression had not changed. “I should look at your shoulder - make sure she didn’t do any more damage.”
I shook my head and handed him the folder. I needed to make it out of the hallway at least without losing my control. “Please excuse me. I would like to be alone.” I needed to get away before I started showing outward signs.
As soon as he took the folder, I accepted the crutch and made my way down the hall toward the supply area. I remembered it being closer than the infirmary and about as private as I could get.
The pounding in my ears kept getting louder as I walked through the empty hallways and the pain worsened. I let the door to the supply room close behind me as I moved farther in. I only managed a few more feet before I started shaking too hard and dropped the crutch. I clutched at my injured arm and sank to my knees. I could not hold it in anymore.
I had enough control left to slam my hand on the floor and in doing so, put up a bubble to keep the sound contained before I left out the scream I held. My power stayed sated despite my emotional turmoil. I let myself cry. The years of holding it all in attacked me at once to add to the physical pain I felt.
I did not know how long I carried on before I realized two things: the pain started to fade and someone rubbed my back. I did not look up to see who when I told them, “You shouldn’t be here.” My voice shook as I spoke.
“Yeah, well, obviously neither of us is good at listening to you,” Kitteren said. She paused for a moment before asking, “Silver, are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine. The usual spell to try and dissipate the pain wasn’t working - the only way to reduce it until she can take the medication is for me to share it,” Silver said, his voice strained.
“Don’t,” I managed before my voice cracked.
I looked up to see Silver sweating and rubbing his shoulder. He said, “Too late now. It’ll last for roughly an hour. Why didn’t you tell us how badly you were hurting?”
“Ketayl has always been good at hiding these types of things,” Mother’s voice joined the conversation.
Between the shame from having been caught and the exhaustion of letting free my emotional turmoil, I kept my head down. My curtain of hair hid my face from the others and I curled closer to the floor.
Someone knelt down in front of me. “Ketayl, you can drop your soundproofing bubble,” Mother said gently, trying to push the mass of hair behind my ear. “You don’t have to hide.”
Her voice soothed my frayed nerves and I strained to try and keep the bubble up in defiance, but it quickly flickered away. I curled down closer to the floor in shame. If only I could make myself smaller.
“That was an impressive bit of magic. I didn’t know you knew that one,” Mother said. “Also impressive how you handled Reinhart.”
“That might be an understatement,” Father said. How many more were in the room?
“Thank you,” Mother said, and it did not fit the conversation above me. Feminine hands with calluses from so many years of playing music lifted my head up. Mother’s eyes were soft and I wanted to move away to hide my face again. I could not look away despite the fact I knew I was a mess.
She shifted so my head rested against her shoulder and picked up something from her lap. Mother took the cool, damp cloth to my face. “Now, tell me if the incident with High Mage Bettencourt is real.”
I nodded, shaking.
“Did he join with you?”
I shook my head.
“Did he try?”
I nodded again. My head felt heavy and I struggled to keep my eyes open. I just wanted to rest.
“When in the Hells did that happen?!” Kitteren’s loud voice echoed in my ears and I winced at her volume.
“Kitteren,” Mother warned. Her voice softened again, “I think it’s time for you to rest. You should take the medication before Silver’s spell wears off.”
I nodded and accepted the pills and the bottle of water. I struggled to try to get up, but barely made it into a sitting position on my own.
“I’ve got her,” Mother said. The thought of fighting her left as fast as it came. I could not concentrate anymore.
I managed to get out one more phrase before giving into exhaustion: “I’m sorry.”
Chapter 20
“Come on, Ketayl, it’s time to go,” Mother’s soft voice cut through the haze.
“We should leave her be and let her rest. They’ll be fine until we get back,” Father said.
Someone stroked my hair.
Mother replied, “We’ll be gone quite a while with the prisoner transfer. She’s rested enough to at least finish healing her hip and I’d rather she be able to wander around at Don’s than be cooped up here. This place will not help her heal.”
“I’m not going to argue with you there. The medication should be wearing off soon. I’ll talk with Fan about what to send her with,” Father said.
Then the door opened and closed with a couple of soft clicks. I still did not feel like moving. I enjoyed this nice in-between state.
Someone sat on the edge of the bed and continued to stroke my hair. “What other secrets are you hiding? What other weight are you bearing?” Mother asked softly. “I doubt you’ll tell me any easier now - not with what we just put you through. Just don’t be too hard on the others, okay?”
I did not care at this point. The world happened to be perfect right this moment and I refused to darken it prematurely. I did not hurt, my mind calm, and my power slumbered. These things Mother spoke of were out of my view at the moment and I enjoyed the bliss.
I breathed deep the ocean air and let myself continue to drift.
Eventually a dull ache started to anchor me back in reality. I tried to move my right arm to see if I could work it out only to be reminded it had been bound to me. Then other things came to the forefront, one after another in quick succ
ession.
I sat up quickly and looked around - I needed to get out of here, embarrassed by what happened. How could I have not paid attention just a little longer to make sure no one followed me?
“Easy, lass, ye’re back in the infirmary,” Fan said. “Lindale and Dayko are makin’ arrangements so you can go rest some place more comfortable.”
She stood on the other side of the room. I could not seem to focus and cursed the pain medication again.
“How about we finish gettin’ yer hip healed while you wait?” Fan smiled and walked over. “I’m sure you’ll be glad to be rid of the crutch. Just lay back.”
I did as she asked and stared at the ceiling only wanting to be free of this. I wish I could also get rid of this sling.
“You know, me an’ the others been talkin’. Wanted to ask you to join our crew, but then we heard about the team ye’re buildin’. Just know if you need any of us, we’ll be more than happy to help out,” Fan said as she wheeled a stool around to my left and sat down.
“Thanks,” I said softly, hoping my voice did not sound too slurred.
Fan set the bed into a reclined position. “This will take a while an’ then you might have to sit tight on yer shoulder. It’ll heal fine on its own, but yer partner wants to try an’ push it along as much as yer body can handle. Can’t blame him - he should be able to cut your recovery time down to a couple of months or so.”
Why would Silver care how fast I healed? Did he express this wish before or after the most recent events? I started to get hungry despite the worry. It was one more thing to deal with.
I heard the door open and I did not bother to turn to see who it was. Maybe if I ignored them, they would leave.
“Fan, I could have done that,” Silver said.
The healing slowed while she waved him off with one hand. “Dependin’ on how she feels, she might have enough for you to help her shoulder along. Her hip isn’t as bad as I thought, but I’m glad I erred on the side of caution. Bet it hurt somethin’ fierce to put yer weight on it.”
She was not wrong, but I was not in the mood to be sociable. Silver came around to the other side from Fan and gave me a weird look.
“It’s okay - she just woke up. I’d be pretty quiet too,” Fan said as she continued her work. It started to get warm in here. Probably just my embarrassment.
Silver looked around for a moment before scooting another stool over. Once he sat down, he said, “We’ll be headed out as soon as you two are done.”
“Are you headed where Mackie was sayin’?” Fan asked.
I looked at her, curious as to what she was talking about.
Silver shook his head. “Lindale wants to try and narrow it down further first before dragging Ketayl from town to town up there.”
I turned my attention to him and hoped I did not have to voice my question.
“Mackie apparently understood what you were saying to Kitteren,” Silver explained. “She has a general area in the Highlands she says the two of you are from, but there are a number of communities in the region. It would be too much on your body right now.”
I cared little for who might have understood me. I could not retrace my journey to find our village if I wanted to. I did not want to return. That being the last secret I held at this stage.
“I guess I’m going to have to learn your dialect of common, huh?” Silver asked.
“No,” I whispered, unsure of my voice. I resisted the urge to fan myself as it quickly got warmer.
“Silver, can you help keep her cool?” Fan asked. “She’s reactin’ stronger than I expected with the medication still in effect. She’s gonna to end up with a high fever at this rate.”
He left my side, and I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. “I’m fine,” I said as Silver searched through the cabinets.
“I think not,” Fan chided. “Ye’re gonna to be drenched in sweat here soon. I’m sorry, Ketayl.”
It meant I would need to clean up again. I only hoped I would have enough concentration left to do it magically once Fan finished. I closed my eyes and thought through everything that occurred recently. If those two men had not abducted the girl in front of me, I would not be here. Or if I had not cared. I would likely only be aggravated over my family acting weird.
Because I could not let go of the past, I now stood here with it all on display for everyone to see. I only had myself to blame.
Something cool and wet touched my forehead and I looked up at Silver. I thought he looked concerned, but even with the cool cloth, the heat was starting to get to me and I did not know if I imagined it.
“Sorry I dragged you into my mess,” I said.
“I followed willingly. Just rest,” Silver said, wiping my face. I wanted to pull away, but I felt too drawn to the coolness of the cloth. He looked at Fan. “I’ve never seen this kind of reaction before.”
I tried to ignore them and think about other things. I needed to help get Sparky settled in the lab when I got back. Would my shoulder be healed enough by then so I would be able to use my arm? How long did Fan estimate again?
“Aye, it’s uncommon, but the medication is what is causin’ it. With forcin’ her body to heal faster, it’s also attackin’ what’s left of it in her system at the same time as if it was an illness an’ is causin’ the spike in temperature. Anythin’ she listed not havin’ a reaction with wasn’t gonna to cut it with pain management. I had to take a chance when I chose what she’s on.”
“She didn’t react like this when I was healing her shoulder before the numbing agent wore off completely.”
What day was it? The Summer Solstice took place on the 20th this year. I wondered what else might be going on in town for the festivities.
“Vastly different things, lad.”
Maybe I would just stay at the hotel. I had been really tired lately.
“I’m going to hold off healing her shoulder more - I don’t like this,” Silver said.
I wished they would stop treating me like glass.
Fan’s voice strained as she said, “Yer gonna to like it less when I send her with more of the medication. I want her to take a dose before she leaves an’ to get rest when you get there. It’ll last about four hours. Give yerself a window between doses to get her shoulder healed.”
“It’s still going to take weeks to fully repair between everything else. I already risked her life restoring it - I won’t do it again.” Why did Silver sound worried? Was there something going on?
Fan pointed out, “Sometimes lettin’ it heal naturally is best. I’ll leave it at yer discretion.”
“Do you really want to put up with her being a stubborn pain-in-the-ass for even longer if you let it heal that way?” Kitteren’s voice joined the conversation.
I cracked my eyes open to look over at her.
“Oh, you’re awake. We brought you a change of clothes,” Kitteren smiled. Mother stood next to her with a bag which looked like it came from a store.
“Clean these,” I managed to get out.
“What’s going on?” Mother asked, coming over to touch my sweat-dampened hair.
Fan explained her theory to them.
Mother nodded and opened her hand to Silver. “Give me that for a moment please.”
Silver handed her the cloth he just soaked in the bowl of water next to him. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t want to chance my spell interfering with Fan’s healing.”
She looked at him for a moment. “You’re doing more than enough. I should be the one apologizing to you.”
I closed my eyes again thinking of cooler things like snow or at least a chilled lavender tea. I had no warning before the cold cloth slipped under the collar of my shirt and I squirmed - it felt like ice.
“Easy, Ketayl,” Mother soothed. “I don’t think you’re going to be in any shape to clean your clothes. And once Fan is done, it’ll be easier to cool you off in the shower.”
“Just a few more minutes, lass,” I heard Fan assure.
&
nbsp; It was so hot. I could not hold onto a single thought for any length of time. I vaguely understood what Fan said.
Those few minutes felt like days.
~*~
As soon as the cold water hit me, the world came back into focus. I shivered - it felt like ice against my overheated skin. I tried to move away.
“No way, I got soaked with you - you’re staying,” Kitteren said. Then I realized she held me up under my good shoulder and had undressed to her undergarments. I took a moment to take stock of the situation. No sling, but I was still fully clothed. And now soaked and freezing.
“Why?” I asked through chattering teeth.
Mother came into view and said, “You were incoherent. We needed to get your body temperature down quickly once Fan finished. How do you feel?”
“Cold,” I managed. This vacation had to be near the top of worst vacations ever taken. It was definitely on my list. Granted, I had no others to measure against.
The water turned off. Mother came further into the small space. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes and cleaned up. Kitteren, go dry off and check on the final preparations - I’ll help your sister.”
Kitteren guided me to a small bench nearby and patted me on the head. “You be good.”
I glared at her, still shivering, wrapping my arms around myself. I found my right arm sluggish to respond and started to ache.
A hand stopped the movement before I could complete it. “You shouldn’t move your arm yet. Let me help you out of those wet clothes.”
Reluctantly, I let Mother help me since I shivered too hard to do it on my own. She wrapped me in a large, fluffy towel I suspected might have been pilfered from the hotel and then sat still in the main area of the small locker room while Mother brushed and dried my hair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and the massive bruise covering my right shoulder. The rest of me looked fairly beaten as well.
Kitteren came back in while I sat on the bench, letting Mother fuss with my hair. She winced when she looked at me. “That looks painful.”
Shattered Illusions (Terra Chronicles Book 2) Page 24