Agent of the Dragon

Hallyk never flinched, his steady regard bored into Rhysa--who ignored it as she looked at her hands in her lap. “There’s a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’ in there.”

“And precious little evidence,” agreed Rhysa.

“How can you be sure it wasn’t a private vendetta?”

“I can’t. But think about it for a second. A vendetta is about retaliation and vengeance. That means the target would be made to suffer. Lady Kasteryn would have known, at most, something was wrong a split second before being killed. No suffering. No time to know and understand who did it, or why, both usual elements in a vendetta killing.”

The prince nodded. “It makes sense. We can’t rule vendetta out, but we can think of it as a secondary motive.” He stood. “Your idea is coherent and within the bounds of reason, if a little far fetched. It’s a possibility we can’t ignore. I must bring this to the attention of my parents.” He turned and headed quickly to the door.

Before he left, he turned, once more Hallyk, not the prince, his voice gentle. “This is why we want you as a Royal Agent. Now, I apologize for leaving you abruptly, but if you’re right, this can’t wait.” Rhysa nodded, but Hallyk, once more the prince, had already turned and left the apartments.

Rhysa stayed in the chair, her mind a delirium of thoughts and images and memories. She tried to impose some kind of order, but her agitation wouldn’t let calm invade the chaos. She needed something to focus on, but there were so many things needing her attention, she couldn’t stay with a train of thought long enough to make a difference. Into this internal storm the sound of someone knocking on the door fell like rock into a river in flood--barely noticeable. When it sounded again, though, Rhysa stood and answered the door.

Aryn Cavass stood in the hall, a page at her side. Rhysa thanked the page and invited Aryn in. Once the door was closed and locked, Rhysa turned and saw the dressmaker had disappeared--Hathorina, her father’s friend, faced her. Rhysa broke down again.

This time, Hathorina gathered her in arms that sheltered and comforted. Rhysa didn’t know Hathorina any better than three nights back, but she did have memories of her father trusting this woman. With her new-found memories, she was prepared to trust whoever her father had trusted. So she let Hathorina hold her as she sobbed out her sorrow and fear and agitation.

When Rhysa had sobbed herself out, Hathorina stepped back and held Rhysa at arm’s length. “So. You remember, now.”

“Some of it.” Rhysa’s voice was still thick and slightly stammering with echoes of sobs.

“Hmmm. Was that before or after the catastrophe at Kasteryn manor?”

“Before. Now I’m trying to put these memories together even as I’m trying to put House Kasteryn back together.”

“I imagine that’s a bit confusing.”

Rhysa smiled. “Just a bit. I need your help.”

“What can I do?”

The simple, direct answer rocked Rhysa back like a kick in the gut. “That fast?”

“Your father was my friend. I was willing to do what I could a couple nights ago when I discovered you still lived. Now that you remember more, I am even more willing to help.” She looked around the room meaningfully. “I see you’ve managed to find allies in House Korolevsko.”

“I have. Though they don’t have the--talent--I need, just now.”

“And that is?”

“The talent you used to create the gowns a few nights ago. More specifically, the talent you used for the final fittings.”

“Ah. Why?”

“Elise.”

A mixture of understanding, cynicism, relief, and sorrow ghosted through Hathorina’s expression.. “What can I do?” repeated her father’s friend.

“I need your help in fully healing her.”

Hathorina pursed her lips. “What makes you think I can help?”

“During the final fitting of the gown, I realized how you were able to create a new piece so quickly and accurately. You don’t precisely create fabric, but you do take what fabric is there and blend the edges together so instead of two separate pieces of fabric, or even two pieces of fabric sewn together, you have only a single piece of fabric.”

Hathorina nodded hesitantly and, Rhysa thought, a trifle reluctantly. “That’s as good a description as any.” Her reply was careful. “But how can that help you?”

“Bones and skin and muscle and even blood vessels heal naturally. What I want to do is use your ‘blending’ technique on her ligaments, tendons, and nerves. At the moment, the best that can be done for Elise is to tie them together.” Rhysa caught the faint flicker of disgust on Hathorina’s face. “I see you don’t think much of that, either.”

“No, I don’t. Unfortunately, I can’t teach you that kind of magic. It stems from who I am.”

“I’d guessed that. I saw the difference in how you use magic.”

“I thought you might have. So how can I help? I don’t have much knowledge of medicine.”

Rhysa smiled with relief. “If that’s all. Unlike your magic, knowledge can be taught. Most of what you’d need to know will be obvious anyway. Bryn has already tied together the pieces that need to be blended.”

“Bryn, is it? Very well; I’d prefer no one else be present. Also, the sooner we can do this, the better.”

Rhysa nodded. “I was going to go ask if Elise could be transferred here. Bryn and his journeymen have done the rest of the difficult work. I can supply what else needs to be done.”

Hathorina looked at Rhysa, and Rhysa thought she saw a hint of pride. “When will you need me?”

“Tomorrow morning, I think.”

“I’ll be here.”

After seeing her guest off, Rhysa decided to risk getting lost in the maze of palace corridors--she set off to find Hallyk. Fortunately, she found a palace servant who gave her directions to where the prince was. The prince was willing to loan her a messenger carriage, and Rhysa headed to House Hermestus. Rhysa found Bryn making his rounds and stopped him to ask about Elise.

“She’s doing well enough. She’s sleeping a lot. Given the amount of blood she’s lost, it’s no surprise. She’s out of danger.”

Rhysa told him about her suspicions concerning Lady Kasteryn’s death, and her predictions about what might happen. Bryn gave her an odd look. “Jayse was here earlier, telling me the same. Did you speak with him?”

“No. But I’m relieved he’s thought of it. Maybe he can find something out to prevent it. In any case, I’m concerned about Elise’s safety. Can you see your way to allowing her to move to the palace? She can stay in my apartments.” Rhysa paused guiltily. “That sounds so odd. ‘My apartments’ in the palace.” She shook off the brief mood and returned her attention to Bryn.

Bryn smiled. “It takes some getting used to, I know. As for Elise, I’m not sure I want her moved, yet. She’s still under observation.”

“You said she was out of danger.”

“She is. But I want to make sure she doesn’t slip back into shock.”

“Huh.” It was a reasonable concern, and one she hadn’t considered. “Is it likely?”

“Not likely, no. But it’s a possibility.”

“How often are you checking her for signs of shock?”

“About every hour, or so.”

“Shock is fairly easy to recognize. What if I got someone to keep an eye on her?”

Bryn looked doubtful. “I don’t know, Rhysa. I’m really hesitant to let her out of my care until I know there’s no danger.”

“But we’re talking about something you admit isn’t likely to happen.”

“Are you willing to bet your friend’s life on ‘likely’?”

That brought Rhysa up short. Bryn saw her expression, and his response was gentle. “I know what she means to you. I know you hate to be separated from her. Goodness knows she hates being unable to see you--and is very voluble about it.”

The touch of asperity in Bryn’s voice lightened Rhysa’s heart. “Can I at least see her while I’m here?” Bryn nodded and left her at Elise’s door.

Rhysa opened the door cautiously, not wanting to wake her friend if Elise was asleep. There was a young man in a House Hermestus tunic bending over her with a syringe in his hand. Something wasn’t right. She entered and shut the door, allowing it to click shut. The panicked twitch of his hands let Rhysa know everything.

Even as she shouted, Rhysa tapped the magic overlay and severed his hand with a blade of magic. He gaped at blood spraying from a wound he hadn’t even felt. She didn’t give him a chance to do anything else, she decapitated him with the same blade of magic, and shoved the head, body, and blood away from Elise’s bed. His body hadn’t yet hit the floor by the time Rhysa stood Elise’s bed and pulled the syringe out of Elise’s arm.

Rhysa quickly Scanned Elise, starting at the entry point. As she’d expected, there was a poison of some kind spreading through Elise. Rhysa sank a net of magic into her friend’s body and began to strain the poison from the blood. The poison stopped spreading. Gathering more energy, Rhysa began to contract the net, centering it on the nearly invisible hole left by the syringe. A pale blue liquid oozed from the wound. The last of the poison dribbled from the entry point just as the door behind her opened with a bang. Someone stifled a shriek, and she felt someone else catch her as she collapsed.

Bryn eased her into a chair and turned to examine Elise, who was just waking up from hearing the door burst open. Rhysa watched Bryn intently as he Scanned Elise, then gently pushed her back into sleep. When he stepped back and breathed a sigh, Rhysa relaxed. Rhysa felt a light touch on her shoulder. She was out of the chair, daggers in hand, and looking into the startled face of Coramin before she realized.

Bryn chuckled. “You should have known better, Coramin, than to startle someone like Rhysa in a situation like this.”

Coramin looked chagrined. “I knew it. I just hadn’t encountered it before. I’m sorry, Rhysa. I just wanted to know if you needed anything.”

Rhysa laughed with relief, her fear-strength draining. “No, thank you.” She resheathed her daggers.

Bryn’s voice was professional. “Nevertheless, I want you to drink some water, at least. Coramin, please put in a half-dose of rehydration salts.”

Coramin went to a cabinet, pulled out a packet of powder, and started to pick up a pitcher of water from Elise’s bedside.

“Wait!” Rhysa’s command cracked. Coramin froze, then backed up a step. Rhysa walked to the pitcher and Scanned it. Finding it clean, she nodded. Then, she scanned the glasses. One of them had been dusted with another poison. She pointed it out to Bryn who, already looking grim, seemed to take on the aspect of Death.

Rhysa picked up one of the clean glasses and handed it to Coramin, who filled it with water, mixed the powder, and handed it back. She swallowed half the glass at a gulp and turned to Bryn. “Sorry about the mess.” A gesture with one hand indicated the remains she’d shoved against a wall with magic. They were lying in a still growing pool of blood. “I threw the hand holding the syringe on top of the body. I think some of the toxin is left. Maybe Jayse can do something with the poison in the syringe and the glass.”

Bryn nodded. “I’m afraid you were right. Elise should go to the palace with you. Coramin will go, too, to keep an eye on her until she’s completely out of danger: from poison as well as shock.”

Rhysa nodded, holding back relieved tears. It had been so close. If she’d even taken the time to draw a weapon, Elise could have died. It had been too close. A calm part of her mind recognized the first signs of hysteria, and she pulled herself back from the edge by force of will. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you were here, Rhysa. You did an excellent job.”

“Excellent?” Rhysa shook her head. “I’m too exhausted to have done an excellent job.”

Bryn grinned. “I wouldn’t worry about that. This was your first real situation, and exhaustion didn’t set in until after Elise was safe. Adrenaline will do that to you. Its effects also dehydrate, that’s why I wanted you to have some water.”

Rhysa finished the glass of water, poured herself another and went to stand by Elise’s bed. “I don’t want her waking up with blood stained sheets. Can she walk?”

Bryn considered for a moment, then shook his head. “Not for a few days, yet. The bones need more time to strengthen before we start her physical therapy. We could force a faster healing rate, but that puts a lot of strain on the patient, and we have the time to wait.” Rhysa glanced at the headless body and wondered if that were true. Still, Elise would be safe in the palace.

Rhysa nodded agreement. “Then let’s move her to a gurney and get her to the carriage.”

The transfer from bed to gurney, and from gurney to carriage, went smoothly. Elise only shifted slightly when she was settled in the carriage. Rhysa walked to the front to speak with the driver. “Take it slow. And keep it as smooth as you can. We’re not in a hurry, so take your time.” When the driver nodded his understanding, Rhysa walked back and climbed into the carriage. She sat on the floor to provide extra support for Elise. Before they left, Bryn poked his head through an open window to check on them. Rhysa asked him to send a fast messenger to the palace to have a gurney waiting for them. He sent Coramin.

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