Ravela's agents have captured Kemi and taken her back to the place of her nightmares. Where the Queen orders her to heal the sleeping princess. Can Kemi succeed where all other healers have failed? And has Lunete been poisoned, or is something more sinister at work? Kemi better solve the riddle of the sleeping princess and soon, or she, Marta and all the healers will suffer the queen's cruel wrath.

Kemeia Ascending
by armond

Part 2
 
Ravela

 
City of Marossa
Palace Infirmary
Early evening

“A novel approach, Ciro, I’ll give you that. I order you to bring me a healer to revive my comatose sister, and you bring me one in a coma herself.”

It is taking every ounce of restraint I possess not to blast something or someone. How long must I suffer the incompetence of fools? Lunete has no time to spare!

Before me, a young woman -barely more than a girl, really- lay in an infirmary cot, unmoving, her eyes shut tight. She wore a cheap woolen robe of a drab olive hue and her feet were bare and dirty. Yet lustrous black curls framed a face that was mysterious and dark. Exotic.

Next to her stood another woman, one well past her youthful days. She donned the rich green robe of a midwife. If I had to place the look on her face, I’d say it was somewhere between distress and attack dog.

“Mistress Kemi is not in a coma, ma’am. She drained herself healing men burned beyond all recognition. Never in all my years have I seen such a thing.” The midwife stroked the unconscious girl’s cheek, and I saw wonder lingering in her eyes. Then she crossed her arms and stared at me.

“Kemi will rouse soon enough I reckon. She needs her rest.”

My eyes traveled over the sleeping girl again because something felt …familiar ...about her.

“By all accounts, her healings were nothing short of miraculous, Queen Ravela.” Ciro shuffled his weary body across the room to stand near the cot. “Agent Devros reported she turned their charred black skin to healthy pink. Surely this one is sorgente.”

His faced wrinkled in an expression of uneasiness, one he’d worn every day since Lunete lapsed into her coma.

“Devros also reported a riot broke out when they took her. The people screamed at my agents to leave their healer alone.”

Riot was there? Damn the people! Lunete needed this healer more than they. For the first time in a year, I had hope. The girl's fiery magic called to my own. Though hers was a healing energy, and my sorgente flowed to high spell craft, we resonated. And this one was so strong. I felt it! She could be as strong as me.

No, I will keep this healer to see what she can do. I needed to know so much more, so the midwife now had my fullest attention.

“And your name is…”

“Marta Coona, yer highness, I'm a 4th level mid wife, trained in Selene's Halls.”

I nodded, considering her words, her thick Glamorgan accent. She wasn't young, I guessed early 40s, but to reach that level before one is silver-haired is remarkable. She must be highly skilled.

“You work with this healer? Who is she? Speak plain and true, your lives are in the balance.”

I cared not that the people think I'm wicked for imprisoning the healers. I know what they call me. My heart hardened the day Lunete was poisoned. My baby sister! She who hosted banquets for the poor. She who couldn’t abide seeing a stray dog on the streets of Marossa without taking the miserable mutt in and finding a home. Everyone, everyone loved her.

Save one. Cormac!

“Her name's Kemeia, though we call her Kemi, Majesty, and she arrived from the Anatol Isles some months ago. I'm paired with the lass, ya see. For she's a mute and I know the sign language.”

My eyes glanced from Marta to the sleeping almond skinned beauty. And she was a beauty; I could tell even with the hideous robe she wore. A mute too? Fascinating. And from the Anatol Isles? Her raven hair, and spicy complexion suggested it.

The Isles ...such a mystery to us mainlanders. Cormac made a diplomatic expedition there once early in my reign. He'd convinced me we needed to reach out to our neighbors to the south, but they rebuffed him. He had so many new ideas for our kingdom: alliances, road building projects, a university even and...

No! Cormac! Traitor!

I shook my head. No doubt some fascinating tale wrapped around the pretty little healer from the enigmatic isles, but I cared not. She would heal my sister or she would join the others to rot in prison. Or die. Lunete was running out of time.

“Wake her.”
 

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi
 
Palace - Infirmary
Early evening

I'm bouncing down some stairs.

No, that’s not right.

I'm tumbling down a mountain.

No, wrong again.

Someone was shaking me.

Dammit! Let me sleep!

I pried an eyelid up, to see Marta's face before me. A smile creep across my face, for I'd grown accustomed to the iron-willed midwife. Then I saw others nearby...

To my stood an aged man with white bushy eyebrows, wearing gray ministerial robes. I knew him well - Ciro, Ravela's chief adviser. One of the few bureaucrats I respected when I was here before... before she... before…

Ravela!

My eyes darted to the figure over Marta's right shoulder, and I saw her

Demoness!

Her face …oval in perfect dimensions, rosy and fair without blemish, framed by hair of spun gold. Her lips… full, pouty and deep rose red. Lips I'd kissed so many times. All other rulers in Argentia suffer by comparison to her, save maybe Glamorgan princesses.

A face, in my past, I’d loved. There was a time, when her heart and mind moved in a different direction.

Yet, looking in her eyes now I saw the truth. There, in her irises of forest green with flecks of gold:

Cruelty.

Icy cold.

Insanity.

Memories of my changing and endless sick torture slammed me and panic engulfed me:

ESCAPE! I had to get away from her! Now!

My head thrashed to the right and left looking for a door or window or...

Marta seized my face -the woman's grip was as strong as many soldiers I'd known- and she leaned to whisper in my ear:

“Peace, Kemi. You look nothing like the day I fished ye from the Muln. She hasn't a clue who ye are. Stick to the story.”

It took many deep breaths before the panic relaxed its vice grip on my chest. But finally, my brain started working.

Ravela didn't know? How could she not? Think! We'd been at the docks with the burn victims and now we were here in -I looked around once more - the Palace Infirmary. So Ravela must want me to try to heal Lunete and not resume her sadistic torture.

She …doesn't even know me.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

‘Stick to the story,’ Marta said. She was the one person in Wildevale I'd managed to tell of what Ravela did to me. It hadn't been easy; she’d been after me for months to tell what happened, or even who I was. One snowy afternoon several months ago, when she'd grown weary of calling me 'lass', she sat me down and made me tell. And somehow, in between my silent weeping, beating the ground with my fists, or her sitting on me to stop me from running, I eked out a sliver of my story.

Of how Ravela’s high spell magic transformed me; twisting me inside out. Her spell ripped and shredded all I was, a man, a captain, tall and in his prime, and left me as I am, this shattered feminine thing.

And I’d left out the worst part.

‘Oh lassie,’ Marta had whispered after I’d finished my tale, 'I grieve you’ve suffered so. I canna imagine. But who you were is dead; you’ve said the Queen has made it so. Screw her! We'll invent a new you. Ye look like you're fresh off the boat from the isles, so we'll call ye an Anatol name, hey? A name came to me in a dream just the other night. From this day forward, you’re Kemeía, wondrous mute healer from the Anatol Isles.’

Stick to the story. I swallowed and nodded to Marta I was calm. But, with the vile beast who sent me to hell standing steps away, only Selene knows how long it would last.
 

~o~O~o~

Ravela

 
Palace Infirmary
Early evening

“Is she touched, Mistress Coona? Tell me why I shouldn't be offended.”

Maybe I’d chain the young healer until she settled down. The raw terror in the girl’s eyes when she saw me was disconcerting. Or maybe I should be proud of how the mere sight of me inspires such horror.

I’m not. I’m exhausted.

“Begging yer pardon, ma’am, the lass was confused is all,” the midwife said as she stood from where she'd crouched beside the healer’s cot. With hand on hip, her eyes met mine. “She fainted from exhaustion at the docks, healing men burned so bad that by all rights they should be dead, only to awaken to face her queen? The very one who's been throwing all healers like her into her dark dungeons? Why, it’d give anyone a fright.”

Oh she’s a feisty one!

“Bold words, Mistress Coona. Now, any affront I may suffer will be more than soothed if your little healer...” I struggled to remember the name Marta had given.

“Kemi...” Marta supplied.

“Yes, all will be forgiven if Kemi can heal my sister. Should she fail, though her life, and yours, is forfeit.”

I crunched my forehead when the girl, Kemi, began making rapid movements with her hands. Sign talking, I guessed. “What did she say?”

“Mistress Kemi said she would like to confer with the healers emprisoned in your dungeon to see if she can learn from their mistakes before she tries.”

Kemi nodded her yes, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. She was still panic-stricken.

I frowned; was she stalling? It did make a certain amount of sense.

“Majesty, her request is reasonable and I recommend you grant it...” Ciro's voice trailed off.

That's when I noticed he, too, gazed at me with fearful eyes. Was I so horrible my own chief adviser lived in fear of me? And ...why was I just noticing now? Not ...noticing; I was aware of how unbalanced I've been for the last year. No, the question is, why is it bothering me now? This moment?

“Very well.” I held up my index finger. “One hour, my sweet sweet Kemi. I must attend to preparations for a royal feast tomorrow night. When I return, you will heal my sister of her affliction. Or else other things will happen to you. Unpleasant things.”

I wagged my finger at her the way I do when I begin a spell. And when I did? I swear the young woman turned whiter and almost threw up.

“Ciro, kindly escort these lovely ladies to our quaint dungeon, and release all the prisoners into the dungeon commons.”
 

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi
 
Palace Dungeon Commons
Twilight
“We're doomed. Dead men all.”

Wasn’t sure, but that was Master Healer Edric speaking? I'd never formally met any of them. None knew what to do with me; the stray dog Marta adopted who followed her rounds among the women of Marossa. From what Marta told me, the male master healers wanted as little to do with 'female health issues' as possible, so they were more than happy to ignore me. Until I started healing people.

“Kreios the fool nearly killed the princess this morning. To let an untrained healer loose on her will finish the job for sure. We'll be executed at dawn.”

Master Tadhgán spoke those words; I’d seen him walking at Selene's Halls on several occasions, always immersed in some weighty discussion, making large gestures with his hands. I thought he seemed full of himself. Philio would gawk at him as a lad does to a girl on his first crush.

Many of the healers grunted their agreement with Tadhgán’s assessment of my chances. One in particular blanched at their words; Master Kreios, I guessed.

Yes, I get they're worried. They didn't know me, nor had they seen me heal. Add to that the days or weeks some had been imprisoned, and they were a cranky pungent lot.

Marta's silence surprised me; the woman wasn't intimidated by anyone. Just moments ago she'd told Ravela off! But now she was quiet and her gaze was on one healer in particular. The one who'd been jailed the longest; his long white beard looked so unkempt, a family of mice could live in it and no one would be wiser. But for all his haggard look, his eyes sparkled and face showed kindness. He shrugged to her, as if saying he was embarrassed for the words of his brethren. I knew him, as did everyone in Marossa: Master Reynard, the Patriarch of the Healer's Guild.

The citizens of Marossa were outraged when the Queen began jailing the healers who failed to rouse Lunete from her coma, especially when she began by tossing their beloved Reynard into her dungeon. But after she continued jailing healer after healer, the outrage faded to numbness. All knew what happened if you crossed Ravela. All knew of Captain Cormac, the queen's own consort, who vanished, never to be seen again, when Lunete was first struck with her sleeping illness, and the evidence, the rumors said, pointed to him.

Everyone knew that story and no one truly knew it at all.

“We will be executed at dawn, I assure you, if we fail to prepare Kemi as best we can,” Reynard said, and walked to me.

“The thing is, we all made the same mistake.”

Mistake? I needed to know this! I made an emphatic swirling motion with my hand, telling him to continue.

“We were each dragged by armed guard to Lunete's infirmary room. Told she had been poisoned. And ordered to heal her, or face execution. You've heard the same, I imagine?”

“The lass has,” Marta spoke for me.

“You were wise to ask to speak with us, for here's the part we didn't know,” Reynard said. “I'll be brief in my telling, for we haven't much time.”

He told me for the months after Lunete lapsed into her coma, she was treated by the Palace's physician Master Jarlath. His diagnosis was Lunete had been poisoned by a tricky toxic Parasian herb called chamalla. Jarlath felt the safest treatment was to let the poison dissipate before attempting to revive the princess. Yet, that process was slower by the stasis spell upon Lunete's body. What should have taken days stretched on for months.

“The Queen’s patience wore thin, because she finally forced him to try to wake her, and when he failed…”

I signed my follow up question to Marta, who spoke it for me.

“She imprisoned him? If so, Kemi wonders if we shouldn’t be speaking with him, too, since he tended to Lunete the longest.”

How could I have forgotten Jarlath? A jovial fellow, even if he was 'in the cups' a little too often. He's helped and healed me and my men many times.

“She did indeed imprison the poor fellow. But we will get little help from him, for the queen was especially angered with him.”

When I gave him a questioning look, his shoulders drooped and his eyes darkened.

“Jarlath? Step forward.”

Everyone turned to a dim corner of the dungeon commons, so I did too. A figure stepped from the shadows…a man, except … oh Selene no! …he had the head of a jackass...

I turned away, my body quivering. Why Ravela, why? You have many sins to answer for.

Marta wrapped me in her arms and I welcomed her warmth.

“Return to your shadows, Jarlath,” Reynard said in a soft sad voice.

When I heard soft braying sobs, my heart fractured; I longed to ease his suffering.

‘You can, Kemi. Heal Lunete’.

I wondered what my private head voice meant, how healing Lunete would help Jarlath.

“As you see, Jarlath can’t help us,” Reynard said, shaking his head. “I cannot recall seeing such cruelty as this.”

I had. And far worse. But I wouldn’t think of that; now was not the time me to lose it.

“So we each assumed a poison afflicted the princess, yet when we melded with her, we found no poison at all, but as nasty a spell as any we’ve seen.”

A spell? What spell?

Reynard read my face and answered. “It’s hard to say for certain as we were only given one try. It seems similar to the obedience spell used by the fell Arcum mind mages which gives pain when the victim disobeys, but tightens tighter when a healer tries to remove it. Yet, it also acts like the sleep spell used by Parasian healers, when a patient has suffered brain trauma and must be forced into a coma to let the swelling subside.”

“You can see the problem,” Reynard said, speaking now to Marta. “We did the logical thing when we melded. We tried to snap the energy band of the spell. But the more we pulled, the tighter it grew, and…”

“The deeper the poor princess sank into her coma,” Marta finished his thought.

Marta faced the group, with her arms crossed. “I know ye think the lass hasn’t a chance to succeed where you’ve all failed, but you’re wrong! I’ve seen the little one do things no other healer in Argentia.”

“I have faith in her,” Reynard said. “For I feel her sorgente burning in her now. It’s a blast furnace! Like none I’ve ever felt! And in a healer. Do you think you can, Kemi?”

I had experience with Arcum mind spells before. When I was in charge of the Guard… before Ravela took me and…

...no! Not now! Concentrate!

…knowing I was dealing with a spell made a huge difference. Easier, maybe, for I had less experience with poisons. I signed my answer to Marta. Who gave the group a fierce grin.

“Yes Master Reynard, Kemi says she can.”

I thought I could! A plan formed in my mind. Sort of.

“Can ye face her again,” Marta whispered so only I would hear. “I hate to be sayin this, but our freedom depends on you. But I know what she did to you, and how much ye quail to be near her. Can ye?”

“Yes” I nodded.

Had I told her the truth? Or lied?
 

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi
 
Palace Infirmary - Lunete’s room
Dusk
 
“She wants me to do WHAT?”

I’d never been so frustrated by my inability to utter a sound as now. Signing complex spell instructions through Marta -who had scant spell experience- would have been a chore under the best of circumstances. But now, with the devil so close, I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking. Add in Ravela’s sadistic temper, coiled and ready to explode, and -abracadabra!- a recipe for more pain and cruelty. Still, for Lunete’s sake, I had to get it straight. So I took a deep breath and tried signing again.

“Kemi says, once she removes, um, lifts, the mind …erm, magic?” Marta was trying as hard as she could, Selene love her, but she was mangling it. “…you are to capture it in, uh… a ball?”

Ravela was silent for so long, I feared her mind was busy recalling a spell to cast on me. My body shivered remembering the pure agony of her last one.

“So …if I understand …Kemi believes a mind spell is on Lunete, an active one, and once she raises it, I’m to …cast a capture sphere to contain it. Is that right healer?”

Relieved, I bobbed my head. She understood! I hoped she would. In brighter days, before her madness, we even practiced something like this for training. I signed more instructions.

“And she says,” Marta relayed, “you need to be ready to capture it on her count.”

“Leave us, Ciro,” Ravela said as she turned to the adviser, who was standing nearby with several of the Guard. “And take these guardsmen with you.”

“Yes, Majesty.” Ciro, and the men, seemed more than happy to escape the room.

Once gone, Ravela walked in front of me and grabbed my face. I could feel her sorgente rising in her; gods she was strong!

“Oh, I’ll be ready, little healer. And if Lunete is harmed, if she suffers in any way, I will kill you here and now, in as excruciating a way as I can imagine. And I can imagine …much.”

My memories crashed back then; the burning pain, the endless torture. If I could have screamed, I would have. Instead, my body shivered and my heart beat raced.

Ravela smiled. “Why, I do believe you are more frightened now than when you awoke. Good!”

“Of course she’s scared, you idiot,” Marta hissed. “What she’s going to attempt would be difficult under any circumstances, and now you’ve paralyzed her with fear. Do you want your sister to die?”

I thought ignite Ravela off for sure, but it had a different effect. Uncertainty. Maybe no one spoke frankly to her anymore.

“No… no I don’t want that at all, I…” Ravela paused, removed her hands from my face, and stepped back. “Get on with it.”

I nodded, took a deep breath, and nodded to Ravela I was ready. With a gesture of her hand, the invisible stasis shield that covered Lunete lowered. And I placed my hands on her either side of her temples and melded.

Memories of the young princess filled my mind; happy ones, for the girl was a joy.

Lunete

You’ve become the stuff of fairytales now. The story of the sleeping princess and the insane queen has spread far and wide; I’d heard little else in the city this last year. It’s funny how a story takes on a life of its own, often ending far away from the truth.

The tale, as is now told, is of a beautiful princess, in a shimmering white silk gown, asleep on a bed of roses, under a crystal cover. Mysteriously cursed to sleep one hundred years, while her mad witch sister; bereaved with grief, wrecks vengeance on the poor people of Wildevale.

In fact, Ravela’s stasis spell had to be kept in place to keep her sister alive. Otherwise Lunete would have wasted away from lack of water and food. Her eyes are sunken and dark and her silky blonde hair has fallen out, leaving her bald.

As I opened my soul to her, as I melded, I saw that which the other healers had spoken of, an angry red energy band surrounding her brain. The brain, so wondrous; as a healer I’ve learned some of how it works. I've watched the mind sparks firing, each one, I imagined, a thought. Yet, the red band was suppressing those in Lunete, keeping her dull and unthinking.

The temptation was to pull on that band with my own energy. Snap it loose and free Lunete’s thoughts. So tempting. But that’s where the other healers failed.

Instead I connected my energy to it, and pushed. Rather than trying to rip it, I poured my energy into it. Because to unloosen a knot I knew you sometimes had to push, not pull. Pulling only made it worse. Simple, eh?

That was my theory anyway. I prayed it worked, because the only proven way I’d heard of removing an Arcum mind spell, was to kill the caster. And it would be I -and now Martha too- who would be pay with our lives, and the lives of the other healer, if this failed.

The energy band soon overloaded, yet I poured my own energy in faster still. Soon it must do something, and as I was not pulling, it could not tighten, so…

…it grew. Expanded. Larger and larger.

More power, Kemi, you have it. Use it.

That voice again! She’d spoken to me ever since Marta fished me from the river, but lately more and more. Oh well, I guess if there’s a crazy voice in your head, it helps if she makes good suggestions.

So I did as she said, I poured in my energy, my sorgente giving me more more more.

“I can see it,” I heard Marta whisper.

Good. That meant the band was large enough for me to try to move it. I gently lifted my energy stream, letting it rise, and the red band followed. Up, up, off of Lunete and floating above her. It wriggled and flopped in the air, reminding me of a gasping fish on a river bank. I made eye contact with Ravel, who, though open-mouthed, nodded she was ready.

I hoped to Selene so, because Lunete’s life now depended on timing. Holding three fingers up, I lowered them, one …two …three, and yanked back all my energy from the band.

As I did, I heard a *pop* and Ravela’s energy sphere snapped around the band, before it could reattach itself to Lunete. Yes!

When I withdrew my energy, the red band shrank, small within the sphere.

Ravela clutched the sphere in her palm moving it away from Lunete.

I heard a gasp. But it was neither Marta nor Ravela who made it.

It was Lunete.
 

~o~O~o~
 
Ravela

 
Palace Infirmary - Lunete’s room
Twilight
 
“R-ravela?”

I placed the sphere and the hideous spell creation it contained on the ground -I’d deal with it later- and rushed to my sister’s side. Kissing her cheeks, one after the other.

“Lunete?”

She smiled - smiled!!!- and spoke in a whisper.

“Mmmm. Soooo sleepy. Weird dreams.”

I looked at the healer, and then Marta in disbelief, in joy! Kemi backed away from me, moving to the other side of Lunete’s cot. Why? She must know I’d never harm her now; she’s saved my sister!

The midwife stepped to the bed to poke and prod my sister. Checking her pulse; looking into her eyes. She stepped back, smiling.

“Praise Selene, I believe the princess is past any danger, Highness,” Marta said. “I’ve tended patients who’ve awakened from comas before. Her eating should be light at first. And as her muscles have withered some, too, in spite of the stasis she was in, we’ll need to develop an exercise plan for her. We'll have her up and about in no time.”

Yes! Yes! Energy filled me, and not my sorgente energy either. I meant, the actual will and desire to do and act and live again!

“Coma? Who’s been in a coma, hmmm,” Lunete murmured, as she rolled to her side. “And can I please go to my bed? This thing I’m on is like a stiff board!”

“Hahahaha. Of course, love. We’ll move at once! To anywhere you wish!”

I began crying, my first tears in a year. Through tears of joy I looked at the healer.

“Name your reward, Kemi. Riches, lands, title, anything.”

The mysterious creature still wouldn’t make eye contact, but she signed for several moments to Marta.

“She says to be careful with the, er, thing in the sphere, Majesty. If it is freed, it will seek to wrap back around the princess' brain.”

I nodded; I’d determined as much. I had plans for the 'thing' in my sphere. For I knew how to use it to track down its maker, if he or she was nearby. Oh! The things I would do. For casting such spells carried a risk to the caster. One I would exploit.

But that would come later. For now…

“What reward, Kemi, tell me.”

Again she signed for several moments, and again Marta relayed her words.

“She says the healers should be released from your dungeon and Jarlath restored.”

Again I nodded. With Lunete awakened, there was no reason to keep them. Jarlath angered me, for I was certain the drunken fool's dithering worsened Lunete’s condition. But I would reverse my spell as she requested.

“But what do you want, Kemi? Tell me, I command it!”

Her signing message to Marta was short this time.

“Nothing, Majesty; she’s weary, and wants to go home.”

I wanted to wrap Kemi in my arms and tell her how eternally grateful I was for saving Lunete, but I could tell she longed to be away from me. I’d need her to visit regularly to help with Lunete’s recovery, for I trusted her care to no others. But for now, I would honor the little healer’s wishes. For now.

“So be it.”
 

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi

 
Selene's Hall
Midnight
 
Somehow even a band poofed into existence. Er, not so much a band, as two lute players and an old woman with an accordion. Still, they were loud, enthusiastic, and mostly on key:

Here's to the bull asleep in the pen
Drink! Drink!
Here's to the cock, asleep with the hens,
Drink! Drink!

Barrels of ale were rolled from a nearby pub, and men and women were drinking, laughing and dancing about the Hall.

For the healers were free and reunited with loved ones and the Princess lived. The first good news in Marissa in a year, and citizens were primed to party.

"Kemi! Kemi! Kemi!"

They kept picking me up and carrying me around. I supposed my days of anonymity were over. I didn’t mind. I was happy to see joy replace their fear and sadness. And I was so relieved to be away from the Palace. And from her.

When I was set back down to earth, I found Myrrine by my side.

"I was so worried when I heard they took you," she shouted into my ear. The roar of the crowd was so loud I barely heard her words.

"If they hadn't let you go, I planned on paying a little visit to the palace myself."

In a lightning fast move, two thin assassin's daggers appeared in her hands and she spun them. Just as quickly, they disappeared to some secret hiding place in her clothes.

When my mouth dropped open, she took advantage of my parted lips and swooped in to kiss me.

'What was that for,' I signed.

"You're a hero! And every hero deserves a kiss. Hope you didn't mind."

I didn't mind.

I signed something else then, and she burst into laughter. You see, several of the healers had been a little too thankful, and had hugged and pawed me more than was comfortable.

"Never fear, oh holy healer of healers hearers...” clearly, she was drunk, "...if they do it again, I'll stab em in the ass."
 

~o~O~o~
 
Ravela

 
25th day of Winterwane
Palace Dining Hall
Dusk
 
Hahahaha!

Everyone was peeing in their robes and gowns. They were that scared! For they saw me smiling for the first time in a year, and were certain I planned something spectacularly devious. They were wise; I had planned something.

The feast was small, no more than sixty or seventy guests. The Marossa City Council was well represented, with several council men and women in attendance, as were the heads of the Merchants Guild and the Crafts Guild. Hopefully they'd keep quiet; Ciro mentioned a list of grievances they had that was a mile long, but now was not the time.

Master Reynard of the Healers Guild was absent. I suppose I can forgive him; he’d spent the last several months in my luxurious dungeons and had no desire to return to the Palace anytime soon.

My Guard was present too, obviously. Captain Sechnall had sprinkled a dozen or so of his finest in resplendent red and gold uniforms about the sides of gaily decorated hall. And another half dozen archers behind curtains. He had spent some of the day with Lunete, and for once, his headaches lessened. He was also as eager as I to follow my plan.

Seated in the long table before me, were the Parasian and Arcum Ambassadors and their entourages. I wanted them in front, and not beside me.

Everyone stood, all eyes on me, waiting for me sit. After I did, I motioned for people to eat, and then waived my taster over to sample the first course: stag left in salt for a night, and stuffed chicken.

My taster also sipped my wine, a zesty, fruity vintage from the Anatols. When he nodded his poison free approval, I took a long drink; something about Kemi had put me in the mood for the spicy red.

“Her Majesty is glowing tonight.”

“Why thank you, Ambassador Kijek.”

Normally I ignored pandering and flattery, but tonight? I guessed he was right, because I spoke with Lunete this morning and this afternoon; it was no dream! She even ate a healthy bowl of apples and porridge.

We were well into the second course -two enormous pies, filled with deer, gosling, chickens and pigeons with stuffing made from minced veal, fat, hardboiled eggs, covered with saffron and flavored with cloves- when the question was asked.

“Good Queen, though I hesitate to disrupt this happy affair, I must ask, how fairs your sister? Has Princess Lunete’s condition improved? Our ears hear whispers this is so.”

My smile reappeared at Ambassador Aldana’s query. The real main course can now be served. I stood to address my guests.

“Joyous news, my subjects! Yesterday, through the efforts of a wondrous healer, Princess Lunete regained full consciousness. Her health improves by the hour!” I lifted my wine glass. “To the healer Kemeia of the Anatol Isles!”

Murmurs soon rippled through the hall, as the full import of my words hit home. Ciro reported a spontaneous celebration at Selene's Hall last night, when the healers I released returned there. My announcement confirmed it, and they sprang to their feet, cheering, applauding and toasting “to Kemeia!”

When the applause died and all were seated again to continue the meal, excited murmuring still rippled among the guests over the news. Ambassador Kijek leaned forward, and spoke in a low tone.

“Blessed blessed news! Was this healer able to tell you the nature of the princess’ affliction?”

Perfect! I couldn't have scripted it better. I reached under my table and pulled the sphere which held the binding spell still within. Letting it rest hidden in my palm a few seconds more.

“She was indeed, Ambassador. Someone placed a binding spell on my sister, one which suppressed her consciousness and kept her in a coma. Once the healer removed it, Lunete awakened, and spoke her first words in a year.”

They thought I wouldn’t see it, so quick was the exchange of glances between the two Ambassadors, but I did.

“Wondrous news indeed,” Aldana said. “She must be an exceptional healer! For we in Parasia, who’ve experience in dealing with similar spells practiced by the Arcum Mind Mages, were unaware it was possible to remove the spell, save by the death of the castor.”

“Difficult indeed,” Kijek added. “Though King Gritha condemns such practices, yet still it is practiced in Arcum by rogue mages. No offense; I don’t doubt what Your Majesty has said, this wondrous accomplishment by this healer, yet I too know of no way to remove such a hideous casting.”

“No offense taken, Ambassador.”

I pulled the sphere from under the table for all to see. The energy band pulsed angry red, straining to get free.

“But as you can see, here it is.”

The hall stilled, all eyes were riveted to what I held. I played with the sphere, tossing it up and down.

“You know, spell tracing is the simplest of magics. Even the weakest nique learns the skill and the beginning of his or her first apprentice year.”

“Majesty, perhaps this is not the time or place for this investigation?” Kijek leaned forward further and tried to speak in a low enough tone so only the few around us heard. “Let us enjoy the rest of this sumptuous feast, celebrate the news of Lunete’s recovery, and investigate the spell in the morning when we are fresh, rested and full of determination to find the castor of this horror.”

“But why wait,” I said, smiling again. “None in this room fear should fear such a test?”

I nodded to my captain to stand ready and spoke the words: rusisr sa sil mi'arsus, y sanni'ars suu.”

The red band convulsed and began to spin. I opened my hand; and the sphere floated, as if on a gentle breeze. Traveling slowly, until it stopped. Hovering above Ambassador Kijek’s head.

“Well well.”

With a snarl, he batted it away and jumped to his feet.

“You think you are so clever? You think you’ve won? You’ve lost everything and too stupid to know it.”

"Shut up, you fool," Aldana said in a low tone.

The murmurs in the hall grew loud, ugly, as all now stared at Kijek.

"No, speak freely, dearest friend. We would hear the Ambassador’s confession in full, my people.”

The murmurs hushed, leaving tense silence.

“Go on.”

“Gladly,” Kijek said, and spat. “Think back to a year ago, Ravela. You were feared, and not just by Arcum, but by Parasia and the other kingdoms, too. The young Queen, unparalleled in her sorgente power in all Argentia. Your consort, Cormac, a powerful nique. Leader of an army so devoted, his men would lay down their lives for him. You allied with no one. Were accountable to no one. How long did you think it would be before Amangons launched another war against us using you as the excuse? You threatened the peace of the kingdoms. We couldn't let that happen.”

The crowd's mutterings grew louder as he spoke, especially at the mention of Cormac, because I forbade it. But I motioned for Kijek to continue. Because when he finished, he would never speak again.

“Now, but twelve months later, Wildevale is the pariah among the kingdoms of Argentia. Your Consort mysteriously missing, your army in disarray, and your provinces in open rebellion. And you! Your implosion is the stuff of laughter from Glamorgan Highlands to the gates of the Ysial. I would tell you to fear an invasion, but honestly, who would want this shithole?

“It was child's play to sabotage you. Strike down those whom you most love. Bespell the beloved Lunete. Point the blame to Cormac. And stand back to watch. Now, one year later? Cormac gone. Wildevale, shunned by all the kingdoms, your people, on the edge of rebellion.

“Are you finished?” I asked softly.

“Not quite. Realizing how unstable you were, King Grithra has placed a doom upon you. If I fail to contact my agents within twenty-four hours, it shall be unleashed.”

I snorted; such a pathetic excuse of a threat.

“You shall most certainly not make contact within twenty-four hours, nor even twenty-four years my dearest Kijek.”

“In that case, I have one more thing to do.”

With a quick flick of his wrist, he threw a dagger at me. As did several of his retainers.

Captain Sechnall jumped in front of me, shielding me, taking the dagger strikes for me.

Archers, hidden behind the dining hall curtains, let loose a volley of arrows, striking Kijek and his men so truly, they were dead before their bodies hit the floor.

Yet the binding spell within the sphere did not die completely with Kijek’s passing. No, though faded, it still flickered, and floated softly and slowly, until it hovered over Aldana’s head.

More than Kijek’s magic infused the spell.

Well well well.

End Part 2

For once, all is well for the little healer, she escaped the palace and enjoyed a crisis free day. But soon, she is called again to the Palace, where she heals Captain Sechnall incompletely. Angry at what she thought was a violation of Selene's law, Marta forces Kemi's full story from her. Meanwhile, in the morgue that is deep in the Palace dungeon, something festers.

Kemeia Ascending
by armond

Part 3
 

Kemeía, Greek: the process or act of change, especially from one thing to another, as the change from base metal to gold.   
Kemi

 
25th day of Winterwane
Selene’s Hall
Master Reynard’s office
Dusk 

The sun slowly sank below the horizon, casting sparkles over Marossa Bay. An orange, red and pink spring sunset. So pretty.

“Kemi, are you listening?”

I turned away from the window in Master Reynard's office, and lied to Marta, bobbing my head “yes”.

“Mmhm, sure ye are. Come over here with the grownups then. It's your future we're talkin' after all.”

I huffed and moved away from the window to join them. Oh, I'd been listening a teeny bit. Reynard's little speech started with a heartfelt 'I can't begin to thank you enough for saving us', but then drifted to 'what the hells am I going to do with you?'

I hadn't meant to ignore them. It's just ...this was the first day since my change I truly relaxed. No one harming or hunting me. People liked me.

Sure, Marta and I made the rounds; I didn't lounge in bed eating magical elf chocolates. We delivered a big baby boy. Marta did the heavy lifting; and I wiped, swabbed and carried icky stuff away as needed. Fine, I carried away the 'after birth'; Marta would birth kittens herself if she knew I called it ‘icky stuff'. My only healing was a little mending to tears in the mother’s perineum caused by pushing the boy out.

Oh, and I fixed the broken foot of a man who's horse decided to stomp on him when he didn't give him a second carrot. It felt like a holiday.

“Your days of hiding are over,” Reynard said, rising from his desk. He clasped his hands behind his back and started pacing. It was amazing what a hot bath, a night’s sleep in his own bed, and several good meals had done for him. He looked so dignified in his deep green master healer's robe. I’d attended functions with him in my ‘old life’, but never had a chance to speak with him.

If I had known how unbalanced Ravela was, I might have sought out his help. Physical ailments I could heal, but I wondered, what could a healer do for an unwell mind? And one as sick as the Queen's? Maybe if I had known, and tried, my people wouldn’t be suffering under the Ravela today.

“Ah, Kemi, Ravela has been hard on Wildevale.” Reynard said, almost in answer to my thoughts. “The people of this city and kingdom are starved for good news. Already they buzz over what you did at the dock fire, and for the poor lad crushed by that wagon. News will spread like wildfire about what you did for Lunete. What they did to you last night was a tiny taste.”

I shook my head and signed an answer to Marta.

“She says no one knows what she looks like without her hood on, and she’ll stay hidden.”

I would! I wanted nothing to do with this ‘fame.’ Nor revenge for what was done to me, either. I only wanted to live out the rest of my life in solitude, helping and healing those who suffered wherever I could.

“But it’s not so simple, Kemi. Marta has been keeping me apprised of your miraculous healings…”

She’d been sharing intel with the Master Healer? Really? I put my hand on my hip and stared at my mentor. Come to think of it, they seemed awfully chummy. I began to question whether Marta was actually a widow. As if guessing my suspicions, she gave me a half smirk and turned back to Reynard. Hmm.

“…and I feel your sorgente; it is powerful and growing brighter. Even stronger than it was yesterday. I am beginning to wonder if what the people shout is true, that Selene has a mighty purpose for you…”

There are actually times when I’m glad I’ve been made mute. It stops me from saying something nasty or insulting. Mighty purpose? Such bullshit. There is no way I endured what I did at Ravela’s hands for a ‘higher purpose’.

‘I have a purpose for you, my Kemi.’

‘Oh? I suffered Ravela’s cruelty to prepare me for a ‘mighty purpose,’ I asked the voice in my head, the one I was starting to think was more than the insane mutterings of my broken mind. ‘Because if that’s so, it’s utterly cruel!’

‘No! I did not plan what happened to you. Kemi, my love, if my people are to have free will, then I must stand aside and let Fate have her way. It is my harshest burden. Yet I say to you, my cherished Kemeia, grow from your pain. Use it! Connect to others who suffer, to ease their hurt. I cannot remove the misery from the world without removing free will. All I can do is to comfort my people and soften Fate’s blow. For this, I have sent you into the world…

I’d not heard her -the voice- say so much before. And I didn’t want to think about whether what she said was true. I tried to tune it out, and tune back in to what Master Reynard was saying, but I received no relief, for his words echoed hers.

“…some say you may be Selene’s Healer herself, come again to the world! This morning, the High Priestess Varinia stood in this very room and told me her seers proclaim Selene’s Healer is in Marossa here and now! Are you she? Are you the one the prophecies?”

Why, why why? The world ground me up and spit me out, leaving me dead to my family and imprisoned me in this alien body. For gods’ sake, why won’t it leave me alone now? Yes, easing the pain of others felt as balm to my wounded soul, but this crazy ‘holy healer’ stuff? It was too much! I can’t do it. I’m broken. Leave me alone!

My eyes teared, and I didn’t want them to see. So I looked away to the window again. The sun had finally set and the first stars of evening were twinkling.

“Yet what do we know of you? Absolutely nothing,” Reynard continued. “You’ll get questions; hundreds and hundreds. People will beg to know about the wondrous little healer from the isles who carries the power of Selene in her. The Hall would need to protect you. We must... Kemi? Are you crying?”

“-Course she is! Divine healer? Prophecy? Yer throw'in an awful lot at the lass, Master Reynard.” Marta threw a protective arm around me, drawing me close. With her free arm, she wagged a finger at Reynard. “It'd be enough to flummox someone who'd trained in the Hall all her life, but Kemi's barely started her training. Look at the wee one! A puff of wind will sweep her off her feet.”

“An the lass has been through an awful rough patch too.” Marta jumped to her feet. I chuckled; the midwife was just warming up. “Whether she’s Selene’s famed Healer remains to be seen, but I vouch for her. I’ve grown fond of the little rat. Sure, she’s been a mule to get walking down Selene’s Path, but I’ll keep working her, and-”

Master Reynard’s door slammed open and several of the Queen’s Guard rushed in, crowding around me. The panic missing from me all day returned with a vengeance. I knew these guards well, the memories were burned in my soul. Branded.

“You. Healer Kemi. And you, Midwife Coona. You are needed at the palace. Captain Sechnall lies gravely injured. The Queen orders you to come. Now. A carriage waits outside.”

I turned to Marta, my eyes pleading for a rescue, because I did not want to return there, now, or ever.

“Hush your whining, child.” Marta whispered. “It’s simple. A man is suffering. You can heal him. We go.”

She was wrong. It wasn't that simple; every moment around the witch who did this to me was misery. And the man suffering? I suffered more from him than Marta could ever imagine.

But I am a healer.

I went.
 

~o~O~o~
 
Ravela

 
Palace Infirmary
Night 
 

“Finally! Hurry! He still breathes, but barely.”

My mind still swirled, so hard to think. The spell tracker worked beyond my wildest expectations, yet, in the end, was everything the Arcum vermin said true? That I’ve lost everything? And his threat of some 'doom'. An idle bluff, or something more?

First things first. My Captain sacrificed himself to save me. Part of me wondered why anyone would do that. Even with my obedience spell. It spoke to the character of the man. He must live.

But the Arcum daggers had buried deep into his chest and side. Worse, he became delirious so quickly, I suspected the dagger tips had been dipped in poison, belladonna most likely.

Kemi lowered her hood, and after gazing briefly at Sechnall with a look I couldn’t quite read -fear? Anger? Compassion?- she put her hands next to the worst wound on his chest. I felt her sorgente magic surge into him, fiery hot, and watched, amazed when the wound closed. But still, even after it did, she poured more energy in, hotter and hotter.

“What’s she doing?” I whispered to Marta.

“She’s burning out the poison while, um…” The midwife, placed her hand on Sechnall’s forehead and her eyes widened. “…while keeping his body temperature low. I didn’t even know that was possible!”

“Sorry …so sorry … forgive …didn’t want to…”

Sechnall was mumbling, and squirming on his cot, which I took as a good sign, since he’d grown stone cold before Kemi came.

“She made me …Corm…”

Kemi abruptly yanked her hands off him and backed away; I saw Marta’s expression change when Kemi did. She looked angry. No, pissed.

“Is everything ok?” I asked, uncertain about what was happening.

Kemi made several sign gestures, never once looking at me. She still fears me? Why?

“Mistress Kemi says the wound is healed and poison gone. He’ll be right as rain come morning, Majesty.”

“Good. Excellent. I am more and more impressed by your young healer, Mistress Coona. You shall bring her here daily, yes? Lunete must be monitored regularly. We’ve a midwife who serves in the palace, but I want Kemi.”

Yes, I’d reversed my spell on Jarath, this morning as I promised the girl, and sent him running out of the palace gates as fast as his chubby legs would carry him. Not that he needed any incentive; he couldn’t wait to leave.

What I wanted, what I would have, was Kemi. My enemies struck all I hold dear; she must be close when they strike again.

First I’d need to sort out her fear. I know she can't stand to be in the same room as me, but all that was needed, I think, was to show her I’ve changed. I will no longer be ‘The Mad Queen.’

The more I thought on it, the more I realized Kijek’s words struck me as deeply as his dagger had my captain.

I’d been manipulated so easily. So easily.

Someone. Will. Pay.

And what he said of Cormac? All the evidence implicated him. He betrayed me! The ‘blood gold’ he accepted, the confession of the Arcum spy, telling of their conspiracy to poison Lunete. The truthsayer, catching him in lie after lie after lie. It had been so clear!

Perhaps not so clear? Could I have been wrong? Because, what I did to him..

No. Later.

I would not think of these things. Later. I must talk to the truthsayer again, as I must further ...discuss ...these matters with Ambassador Aldana.

“Begging the Queen’s pardon, but do we have your permission to leave? It’s late, Kemi’s tired, and I have wee ones to feed.”

“What? Oh!”

My mind had wandered. Easily done, with so many balls in the air …relations to rebuild with the City Council and Guilds. A perverted plot to get to the bottom of. Rebellious provinces. And, oh yes, mustn’t forget, Wildevale is on the precipice of war with its neighbors.

“Yes, Mistress Coona, you have our leave.”

Before she could scamper out I intercepted Kemi and grabbed her hands. They were so small and quivered in my grasp.

“Thank you, Kemi. It seems I shall be saying that often.”

My words did nothing to calm her and she never once looked up at me, only nodding.

I stood thinking about it -about her- long after she fled. I had the feeling I’d hurt her terribly, though I could not for the life of me recall how or when. 

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi
 
A clearing on the banks of the Muln River
Night 
 

The moment we left the palace gate, Marta grabbed my arm and yanked me along the wooded river path. Where was she taking me? I couldn't break her grip and I couldn't tell her to stop. All I could do was follow. Or get dragged on the ground. We stopped in a clearing, where the dark Muln gently washes by a sandy bank.

“Here. It was here I fished you out one year ago. Tonight, for the first time, you made me wish I hadn’t.”

What? Why would she say that?

I turned my head so she wouldn’t see my hurt, but she was having none of it. She grabbed my face and wrenched it so I looked at hers.

“Cry all you want, it buys no sympathy with me! I don’t care if you have the power to heal the sun and moon and stars, you broke Selene’s promise, to heal any and all in need! You chose not to fully heal the Captain. I saw it! The moment you choose who receives Selene's gift and who does not, you are evil.”

Her words were hornet’s stings. I tried pulling away, but she wouldn’t let me; she gripped tighter and started shaking me.

“Why? What pain did you leave Captain Sechnall with? Who are you to judge him unworthy? Admit it! You chose not to heal him completely.”

It was true. I didn’t heal Devin fully. I could have, but I chose not to. I nodded yes.

Smack

She slapped me not as she did at the docks when I froze. This time she did it to make me feel pain.

Something broke in me.

Again.

I yanked from her grasp, and signed words. Ones I never wanted to say to anyone.

“WHAT?”

I signed them again slowly, my hands clenching into fists between sentences.

“Captain Sechnall raped you?”

I signed more.

“Wait ...wait …all of them? All of who? I don’t understand, Kemi.”

I signed and signed, my words spilling out. Once I started, I couldn’t stop my hands. I would make her understand. I would tell her everything.

She knew the queen changed me, knew I used to be a man. But not who.

I was the Queen’s Consort, Captain Cormac.

The queen and I loved each other. We would marry. Rule as Queen and King. Have children. Grow old together.

We we good together; right for each other. Whenever Ravela drifted into one of her moods, whenever she started acting erratically, I always seemed to balance her, though I wasn't sure how.

Her sorgente was so powerful, and I was a skilled and clever nique. Together, I thought us unstoppable.

I led the Queen’s Guard, and through them, Wildevale’s army. Under my command, were my comrades, my best friends, my lieutenants Sechnall and Malley. We enlisted together. Rose through the ranks side by side. Served in the same unit in the horrible Arcum border skirmishes of 22. We were closer than brothers. And the Guard? Our esprit de corps was unmatched by any other army in Argentia. I loved them all.

The first years after Ravela was crowned were a dream. We were doing so much good for Wildevale! I convinced Ravela to order dozens of projects badly needed throughout the kingdom. To repair and widen the roads, better connecting Marossa with Eldham and Hwen. To upgrade our navy vessels, but our merchant ships too. Wildevale's navy and merchant fleet used to be as respected on the sea as the Glamorgan cavalry was on the land, and I hoped to restore that reputation. And I knew our merchant fleet was a key to the kingdom's prosperity.

It was a heady time, and so exciting. And then we were to be married.

It crashed so quickly it was surreal.

Ravela was stunned when Lunete mysteriously fell into a coma over a year ago. Devastated. She worshiped her little sister; I’d never seen her so enraged. She wasn't thinking right, striking out at everyone. I tried to calm her as I had in the past, but she would have none of it.

Things turned worse. An Arcum spy was captured, who, under interrogation spun a farcical story of me, me! conspiring to poison Lunete. To blackmail Ravela, offering the antidote only if Wildevale allied with Arcum against Parasia. I thought Ravela would laugh off this tale, but she didn’t; something inside her had changed. She stripped me of my rank, and ordered, no, compelled with her spells, my own men to arrest me and throw me in a dungeon cell.

I was in shock. I kept thinking the nightmare must end soon, it must! That the truth would be told and I would be freed. How naive. The night after bags of Arcum gold were 'found' hidden in my quarters, Ravela came to my cell with a truthsayer.

At last! I thought, for truthsayers were incapable of speaking falsehood. She’d see. She’d release me. Except, for each accusation I denied, the sayer said “he lies” in his snively voice. Each time I proclaimed I was innocent, he said ‘he lies.’

‘He lies, he lies, he lies.’

Each time he spoke hammered another nail in my coffin.

The next night, Ravela came alone.

She’d had all the other prisoners removed. When she smiled at me, I knew I was damned; she wasn't my Ravela any longer. She'd become cold and cruel. Reptilian.

She started casting, spell after spell. I shielded as long as I could, but I was a nique against a sorgente, and quickly depleted the power I’d saved.

Then the pain began.

My body twisted inside and out. Bones cracked and reshaped, my skin felt like it melted. Every nerve in my body was on fire. I screamed until I was hoarse. I wept. Begged for mercy. Spoke whatever words I thought she wanted to hear.

‘Your voice bores me,’ she purred, 'and we can't have you spoiling the fun by telling your men who you are.' With another spell, it was gone. Not blocked. Not silenced. My vocal cords were ripped from my throat.

Selene granted me a small mercy then. I passed out from blood loss.

When I woke, I was naked, and changed. I was petite, scrawny, hairless, and

…a woman.

My wrists and ankles were chained to a bed in the Guard barracks.

Ravela sat next to me, smiling her insane grin.

‘Why,’ I mouthed to her. It burned to do even that.

‘You harmed me in every imaginable way, Cormac,' she answered in a sugary voice. 'Poisoned my sister, who lies in a coma from which she may never wake. Betrayed your country for Arcum gold. And you destroyed my heart.'

'Everything. Everything I loved, you took. And I thought, shall I stoop to your level and seek petty revenge? Take all you love?’

‘But no, I am a benevolent queen. I will show mercy. In response to your hate, I show love. I know how you love your men. And now, I will let them love you back. I’ve cast a little love spell on them. On all the Guard. I realize you aren’t the most attractive thing -maybe over time your body could develop more- but to them you are now -mmmmm- irresistible.'

Panic seized me and I yanked hard on my chains. I prayed to any gods or goddesses who could hear to free me, or at least let me die.

When I close my eyes, I still hear her laughter.

‘Fear not, lover. Once you die… sorry, once they fuck you to death, I’ll cast a spell to make them forget. Think of it as my last mercy to you.’

She gave me a long wet kiss on my lips and left.

The following weeks blurred together into never ending torture. I was taken, over and over and over, by my friends, my comrades, raping me again and again and again...

My mind shattered.

All was a blur of pain and humiliation after that, but at last, I think one of them strangled me as he fucked me, and when I blacked out, he must have thought me dead. And threw me into the river with the other garbage.

I stopped signing. My arms fell to my sides.

I turned to face the icy Muln flowing by. I was so weary. The dark memories had escaped the pit I'd stuffed them in and I'd never get them in again. Reynard thought I was 'destined for greatness'? Ha! I was broken in every possible way. I could never be fixed. I wondered if I shouldn’t jump back in the Muln and let the dark river finish the job.

Don't. You. Dare!

Marta slumped to the ground. She reached up and grabbed my arm pulling me down with her. When I looked at her face, I saw wet tear streaks shimmering in the moonlight. And she never cries. Her arms wrapped around me in a fierce hug.

“Gods! … how could she? ….such evil! …that's the most horrible thing I ...Kemi!”

Her sobs dwindled to silence. We sat unmoving for the longest time, listening to the soft whispers of the Muln as she flowed by. Then finally:

“And the first directive of a healer,” she whispered, “is to do no harm.”

I blinked, not expecting those words.

“Ravela's memory block. That's what you didn't heal. You stopped healing Captain Sechnall, not for revenge, but because you thought it would pain him more to remember those memories. I even heard him call to Cormac as you healed him.”

I nodded my head. Yes, of course yes. I learned when I melded with him the spells Ravela placed on him caused him agony, but... you see, Devin has such a true soul, matters were either black or white to him. It would hurt him more to recall the sick twisted things Ravela forced him, forced all of them, to do to me. In a way, Ravela raped them, too.

Marta leaned away from me a space, but still held my hands. When she spoke, her voice was barely above the river's murmur.

“Forgive me, for doubting you, for striking you. I thought in my ignorance, you were abusing the divine gifts Selene has given you. But it turns out, you were following the Healer's Way far more deeply than I ever imagined. I am so sorry and I beg your forgiveness.”

She lowered her head to the ground before me in supplication. I shook my head for her to stop that, and pulled her close to me. She sensed my need and wrapped me in her arms again with her bear strength, absorbing the shudders of my body as I silently sobbed. We sat that way the longest time, she kissing the top of my head and whispering how she'd never doubt me again. And me, soaking up her strength and love.

“You've been living with that inside ye for so long. You've told yourself there was no hope of healing for what happened. But now you've gotten it out, the real healing can begin.

Marta unlocked our hug and leaned a little away, to look at me.

“Are ye sure ye dinnae want revenge? Ah ken ah wid fur sure, lassie.”

Sometimes it took me a few moments to sort through Marta’s thick Glamorgan accent. Someday she’d have to confess her own story to me of how she ended up in Marossa, so far from the wooded highlands of her home on the other side of Argentia.

Revenge? I suppose that would make sense for most, revenge for the horrible way Ravela destroyed my life. But she didn’t just destroy it. She deconstructed it. What should I seek? Justice? Prove my innocence? Force her to reverse her spell? Go back to my old life?

There was no life to go back to.

I knew, in my deepest core, call it my own sorgente nature now, call it my new woman’s intuition, call it whatever you damn well please, I knew there was no going back.

And ...I'd made a different choice. I am a healer.

'You are My healer.'

No, no revenge. What I'd signed to Master Reynard earlier was true; all I wanted was to be left alone to live a quiet life, one where I could bring healing and comfort to others in pain. I signed this to Marta.

“But you've not been living, girl. Only surviving. Always looking over your shoulder. Hiding under your robes, in the shadows, or behind me. Denying what you've become.”

She stroked my unruly hair, tucking strands behind my ear.

“You're a mighty healer now, yes, and maybe you are Her Healer, come again to the world. But a pretty one, too, at least Ravela's spell did that. Or maybe it was your own sorgente's doing once it kicked in after she changed you. I've never heard of such a thing in all the kingdoms, going from nique to sorgente.”

I hadn't either. The only explanation I'd come up with in the year since my change, was I'd have been sorgente if I'd been born a woman.

Marta's voice was gentle, but her embrace tightened. “I was wrong about your healing of the Captain, but I do know this: you must start living again! No, more than that, you must embrace life again. The path to your healing lies there.”

I shook my head. No! Please! No! Why can't everyone leave me alone!

'Yes, Kemi, let go of bitterness and live again.'

'How?' I signed, in frustration. 'How do I 'embrace' life after what she did to me? How?'

“From now on, your training will take a different path. Now we work on you.”

Marta laughed at my questioning look.

“You’re a beautiful young woman, Kemi, it's time you learned what that means.”

Oh no no no.  

~o~O~o~
 
Kemi
 
3rd day of Rainmoot
Madame Chinedu's Parlor
Mid-Morning 
 

“For you see, the hips are the pleasure centers of our bodies.”

The woman, Madame Chinedu -she who's garish billboard over her front door proclaimed -Fortunes Told! Mystic Tattoos! Love Spices! Exotic Anatol Dance Lessons! - had her hands on my hips, pushing my hip up on my left side.

“And when you feel connected to your hips when you sit or walk, you’re graceful with no effort at all. And this makes you magically sexy to other people, eh?” The raven haired woman winked at me.

Oh no! No no no! That was so not what I needed.

I’d spent most of the last year hiding in shadows. Pretending I wasn’t what Ravela had turned me into. It worked for a while. Yes, biology periodically made me admit I was a woman, specifically once a month. For the first months after Marta fished me from the Muln, I easily passed as a boy.

Yet when I began to heal people, when my sorgente fired up, something started happening in my body, too. I filled out, became curvy. My hair turned a lustrous black and developed a curly life of its own. Finally even my bulky ugly apprentice robes betrayed me and stopped hiding what I was.

Marta extracted a promise from me to embrace who I now was, yes, but I hadn’t thought that would mean embracing sexy!

“Hahahaha! You look like you just swallowed a bug, Kemi,” Chinedu said, standing back from me. “Now again. Bend your knees, get into Honau Seated Position, raise your hip up on the side -that’s it, good!- Release, back to center into Honau position again. Now squeeze the other hip up and work it, Kemi, work it!”

Well knock me off my feet, I found myself smiling!

This was so different from the old ‘me’! He, -I- would have never gyrated my body this way. Oh, sure, I loved dancing; ballroom dancing with Ravela in better times. But this movement? Getting a sensual swing from my hips? Or learning the seductive saltatus dance? Never!

Yet I was loving it! I figured out pretty quickly the trick to the sway was to always come back to Honau position.

“Now, add the steps, but keep the sway, Kemi…”

This was my third lesson with Chinedu, and already the steps came more easily. It was like I could feel my old male stiffness falling away.

After another hour, our lesson was interrupted when a young boy -seven or so, I guessed- came clattering into Chinedu’s parlor, scratched and bloodied on his arms and legs, and sporting a magnificent black eye. He raced to Chinedu and buried his head in her skirts.

He was dark-skinned like Chinedu, and like me too; I knew she had a son and guessed this was he. Or else strange street urchins ran in to hug her.

“They were teasing you again,” Chinedu asked, her voice a blend of compassion and anger, the way only a mother’s can be.

At first I figured the other boys teased him because of his Anatol coloring, but when he tilted his head up and spoke “yeth,” I saw the problem. The poor little guy had a severe clefted lip.

As Chinedu murmured what comforts she could, I felt my healing energy warm. I could heal injury and illness, but what about deformities?

Oh yes, my healer, deformities too!

I blinked; hearing that voice again. More and more I suspected who she was. Which scared the crap out of me!

Gingerly I approached Chinedu, and tapped her shoulder. When she looked at me wondering what I wanted, I moved my hands just over his body and pantomimed laying them on him.

“Oh!” Understanding showed in her eyes, and she looked down at the boy. “Tamid? This woman is Kemi, and she’s going to make the ouchies go away, right?”

I nodded yes, scratches and bruises, but I planned to do so much more. The boy looked at me with wide almond eyes, waiting for me to speak.

“Kemi’s like you; she has trouble speaking too, only she can’t speak at all.”

I smiled at him, trying to reassure, and then I gently laid my hands on his face. Warmth flowed from me into his little body and he gave a light laugh.

“Hahaha, thap thickles!”

After a few moments, I pulled my hands back and looked to see the results. And smiled.

Tamid’s hand shot to his mouth and he rubbed it. His eyes grew wide.

“Hey!!!!! It’s… Mama! My lip is…”

He ran to the washbasin in the next room and jumped up and down, trying to see what had changed in the mirror.

“She fixed it! I can… speak real good!” Tamid slammed into me as he hugged my waist, nearly knocking me over. “Thanks Kemi! You're the best!”

“Call me donkey mouth will they? Ha! I’m gonna go show my friends!”

Tamid let go of me and scampered out the door of Chinedu's flat, screaming “Hey guys! Look!”

I was smiling, until I saw Chinedu’s face. Filled with a mother's deep gratitude, yes, but there was a gravity I’d not expected.

“You healed him.”

I shrugged. It’s what I do now. Heal, I mean. Well, I shrug a lot, too.

“No. You healed my son! His childhood, his life, will be so much better now without that deformity! I owe you, Kemi.”

I frowned; she sounded almost angry. Why?

“You’ve probably never heard the saying ‘better to find a Nglal's nest than to save a Kuuma's life, have you, Kemi?”

Oh shit! I bobbed my head. I had heard it.

I was one of the few northerners to visit the Anatols, or Cormac was. Several years ago, shortly after her coronation, I'd convinced Ravela to let me lead an official Wildevale delegation to Faylyn Island, the northern most of the Anatols, with hopes of establishing diplomatic relations, and maybe even signing a trade treaty. The local leaders -it was hard to tell what the system of government was- politely and graciously told us neither they nor any other Anatol island wanted anything to do with the mainland kingdoms to the north.

We northerners tended to think of the mysterious isles only in terms of their exotic spices and spicy women. But during the visit, I learned some of the culture of our distant southern neighbors. They'd shown me a Nglal they'd captured and caged. He was weak and injured, which was why they'd been able to capture him. But even so, my local guides fell down laughing when I made the mistake of looking into the man-eating serpent's eyes. The hypnotic compulsion to run to him was so strong! It's how they capture their prey, you see, their meals literally present themselves for eating.

I also learned the people of the isles don't call themselves Anatolans at all; that was a northern mainland name. They called themselves Kuumas.

And, more to the point, a critical Kuumas cultural aspect was they despised being indebted. They thought of it in terms of a soul debt; I never fully grasped the concept. But clearly that was what I'd run into here with Chinedu.

“You do know, don't you Kemi?” Chinedu smiled. It almost seemed evil. “Good. You've been to the isles, I'm thinking?”

I nodded my head warily.

She laughed then, and it was a warm one.

“Never fear, lass. It's just now you're in for a much different treatment than Marta planned.”

I blinked my bewilderment to her, and she smiled.

“You see, Marta paid me to teach you dance. She and I are friends, each living in a city far from our homelands, we were drawn together. And she was my midwife when Tamid was born.”

I nodded. I knew Marta had badgered Master Reynard into approving a “Kemi training fund” from the Healer’s Guild, based on my “special needs”. I didn't know she and Marta were friends. I didn't want to pry, as I knew people from the Anatols loathed speaking of their private lives to strangers. At least I'd known enough not to ask Chinedu about her 'husband'. Another thing I'd learned on my island visit was the idea of 'marriage' simply didn't exist.

“So dance was all it was going to be. But now, after what you did, I'm in your debt.”

I gulped, and she laughed and her eyes glittered and, maybe it was a trick of the early morning light, but they also glowed a little too.

“Be scared Kemi! Oh, I've figured out a little of why Marta wanted you to learn dance and movement. I can tell who you are now is not who you've been. If I had to guess, I'd say you used to be a man, and someone worked deep magic on you.”

I thought about denying it. But maybe she actually did have the Sight and wasn't just another fortune teller scammer. Or maybe I was just so clumsy, that it was the only explanation.

Anyway, I wanted to trust her; my circle of friends was so tiny. So I nodded “yes”.

“Don't you worry, lass. I care not who you were. Who you are, now, I care about a great deal, because you've just given my son a new life. So I can never fully repay you. But if you know anything about the Kuumas, then you know I have a soul debt to you, and must try.”

To refuse, or to try to 'forgive' the debt, I guessed, would be a grave insult. So instead, I nodded 'yes' and started gnawing on my fingernail.

“Here's how it's going to be. Marta has been telling everyone you're from the Anatols which is a lie of course. Except, I'm going to turn the lie into truth. You'll learn dance from me, yes, but that's just the start. You'll learn our language, our culture, our dress, our foods and spices, everything.” Then she leaned close to my ear and hotly whispered, “Even how to make a man or woman moan in sexual ecstasy all night long.”

I doubted I’d ever be attracted to men, especially after the nightmare I'd endured in the dungeon. But to other women? Honestly I'd never thought about it. Chinedu laughed again when my mouth flopped open.

“Monogamy? Sexual orientation? You northerners are so narrow minded.” She took my hand and led me to her 'salon' room of her flat, the room where she applies tattoos. “I'll have you looking like a proper little sexy and sultry Kuumas girl in no time.”

She stopped though, with a questioning look on her face.

“When you healed Tamid, you healed everything except his black eye. Why?”

I wished Marta was here to translate my sign language. This would be a hard concept to pantomime.

I made a circle with my finger around my eye, and then I beat my chest -well, my breasts- and flexed my bicep. And then looked hopefully into her face.

She looked perplexed only for a moment, and then she burst into laughter.

“You left it because it was manly? Because it was a shiner to be proud of?”

I nodded my head, relieved she'd gotten it.

“I'd have never thought of that! It will be good to have a male perspective around the place; it'll do Tamid such good. You'll be his big brother and sister, yes? You are goddess sent for sure, Kemi.”

Two hours later I wandered Marossa’s bustling and noisy market stalls looking for the one that served spicy Anatol kebabs. I was meeting Myrrine at Lalos to grab a quick bite of lunch before Marta and I made our afternoon rounds. Chinedu has ordered me to eat Anatol, or Kuumas, food whenever I could; part of my immersion program. She gave me a letter of introduction and told me to show my new tattoo to Lalo, the stall owner.

Did I say I wandered through the brightly colored booths, displaying goods from Argentia’s farthest corners?

I didn’t. I swayed.

Chinedu had tossed my dull olive robe in her fireplace and burned it before I knew what she was doing! Now I wore a light flowing red dress, embroidered at the hem with gold thread. It seemed sheer too; I swear you could almost see through it to my skin. A wispy sky colored shawl wrapped around me, and bangles jangled from my wrist. Under the bangles on my right wrist, I sported a new tiny white rose tattoo, one that identified me with Chinedu's clan. The way she explained it, it kinda meant I was her niece now, or daughter.

My marching orders were to come to her house early every morning to train and immerse. I suspected it meant cleaning chores too. Ha! We’d see about that!

Oh, one more thing? When I swayed, there were tiny bell chimes. Chinedu fastened a thin belt around my waste that placed small bells over each hip. She told me my homework was to sway as I walked in a way that made the bells chime each step.

Heads turned and eyes followed me as I passed through the brightly lit booths. I even got some catcalls.

I tried not to blush too brightly, thinking instead of Chinedu's words again:

'Work it, Kemi, work it.' 

~o~O~o~
 
Ravela

 
Palace – Lunete’s Bedroom
Mid-Morning 
 
“wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”

“Seriously? Don’t get me wrong, Sis. I’m thrilled you’re out of bed, but spinning madly about in your nightgown? You're giving our captain quite a show. Mistress Coona, please tell me this isn’t part of the exercise program you spoke of.”

“Yes, Lunete, don’t overdo it!” Captain Sechnall looked to be on the verge of throwing my sister back into bed. It was cute to see how protective he was of her. His green eyes sparkled whenever they were together and he grimaced less from his headaches. Perhaps I might risk loosening my compulsion spell on him.

“Hummph! Tell these grumps I’m fine Marta.” I laughed when she stuck her tongue out.

“A little spinning won’t kill ye,” Marta said. “but Princess, could ye stop that ruckus for a wee second though, love? I want to see how you’re doin.”

Lunete flopped onto her bed, giggling as she did. Soon, Marta held her wrist to check pulse, peered into her eyes and generally poked her as midwives and physicians do, so I waited for her assessment. But to me she looked flush and healthy. She even had a peach-fuzzy blonde hair sprouting on her head.

“You’re doing well, Princess. Any troubles digesting your meals?”

“I’m sooo sick of porridge. May I pleeeeeease have real food? I’d kill for a baked potato.”

“I take that as a definite ‘no trouble’ then. Yes, I think you’re ready for a little something more.”

“Define, ‘something more’ please, Midwife Coona.”

I stifled a giggle at the captain’s words. Military thinking; so precise and anal! Cormac was the only military man I knew who seemed immune to it. He was such a freethinker.

Cormac!

I blinked to snap my attention back because what he asked was important. I’d need to arrange a regime of tasters to screen her food once it she moved on from porridge.

“Yes, Marta, what should she eat and avoid, and what exercises should she do?”

Marta turned to me then. She regarded me differently now for some reason; her eyes were cool, distant. Maybe I read too much into it, but she seemed …repulsed. I wondered what changed to make her feel this way to me. I shrugged. Maybe someone told her a tale of one of my 'atrocities'. Ciro tells me there are many rumors of my misdeeds circulating among the people.

“Your Majesty. I wager she’s ready for bland foods, boiled vegetables and lightly spiced stews. I’ve made tea mix for vitality; one cup in the morning and one at night. As for exercises, her muscles are fit for more strenuous exercise. Long walks in the palace garden maybe? The spring air and sunlight will work miracles.”

“It’s Kemi who works miracles,” Lunete said. “She did something to my muscles earlier that took all the soreness away. I feel guilty; she should be healing people in real need and not my achy calves.”

“Where is the elusive Kemi?” Captain Sechnall said. “I wanted to see her to say thank you for saving my life.”

And I did too. Wanted to see her. There was something about having her around -even with her apprehension of me- that made me feel good. Balanced.

“Hahaha. She’s the reason I was spinning,” Lunete said, her eyes alight and twinkling. “She had to leave for her lessons.”

“Lessons? Like anatomy or something?”

“Nooo,” Lunete giggled again. “Mistress Coona made her leave to go to a dancing class! She's learning the saltatus! She must show us what she's learned tomorrow, Marta.”

“She'd be mortified, Princess,” Marta answered, alarm showing on her face. “I swear the girl has two left feet. I made her take the class to try to knock a little of her awkwardness out and keep her in touch with her heritage too.”

I blinked several times taking that in. I suppose it made sense; it was a spicy Anatol dance. I was unaware it was taught anywhere but the isles themselves.

Hmm. Dancing. I tried to remember the last ball we'd had in the palace. Well before Lunete fell into her coma, I recalled, the summer before. When Cormac and I danced until well past midnight, and then under twinkling stars, he kissed me...

Cormac! Lover!

My heart ached, and those last memories surfaced again. Of what I'd done to him. Looking back, I felt so removed, as if the person who did those things was completely different from me.

Was he innocent? Had I been wrong?

And if I was, then what I did to him, oh Selene! I used my magic to… to…

“R-ravela?” Lunete asked, her light mood gone. “Are you well? You look so sad!”

“Hmm?” I shook off those doubts and memories. I'd need to come to terms with them someday. And to terms with what was not …right …in me. But not now. Later, after I've pried the full truth from Aldana.

No, not now. Later.

“Maybe a ball is what we need, Sis. In honor of your recovery. Kemi will be invited too; we'll thank her in public for her service to you. ”

“You’ll wear that fancy uniform of yours, won’t you Devin?” My sister’s eyes went all dreamy. “Mmmm.”

The captain blushed, and I resisted looking at his tunic to see if blood was rushing to anywhere other than his face. I was about to tell them to ‘get a room,’ but then had to remind myself we were in her bedroom.

“And you will come with Kemi, Marta,” Lunete said, clapping her hands. “as her sign language interpreter. It is our wish and command.”

“It won't be the best piece o' news she receives,” Marta answered, as she packed her medical tools into her burlap satchel. “I can assure you of that.”

“Your Majesty! Captain! I must speak with you!” Ciro burst into the room, red faced and wheezing. The poor old fool must have run the length of the palace to find us. “We have a *cough* problem.”

“Are we under attack?” Captain Sechnall said, his hand moving to the broad sword sheathed at this belt.

“*cough* No *cough* Yes. I-.”

“Which is it? Out with it, man.” Something seemed wrong with my adviser, something more than being out of breath. His eyes were glassy and his skin was pale and clamy.

“It's the morgue. Ambassador Kijek’s body is ...smoking.”

After he spoke, the aged man crumpled to the floor and began coughing again. Marta ran to him; her hands checking pulse and fever, her eyes scanning and assessing.

“Oh Selene no!”

“What is it, Marta, speak!”

“I've seen this before, when I was a medic in the Glamorgan army.” Marta's hands shook. “In the 2nd Abirav War.”

“The war against King Amangons,” Sechnall asked.

“Yes,” Marta whispered. “When the fell King used disease as a weapon.”

“Amangon's Gift?” Sechnall's eyes widened, and he turned to look at Lunete, worry written on his face.

“Wait! Explain!” I was lost now. “What Gift? What's wrong with Ciro?”

“If I'm not mistaken, and I hope to Selene I am,” Sechnall said, “Mistress Coona believes Ciro has fallen ill with the plague.”

“You are not mistaken,” Marta said, with a voice that sounded like death. 
 

 
author's note: the story concludes in Part 4