Page 12

STUDY

A ll Cas could do was wait until they were finished with whatever they were doing inside Emryn’s head. Until then, he propped his chin in his hand and tried to think the puzzle through.

If there was a connection between him and Emryn, it would exist somewhere inside his head, and if he could find it, it might answer some questions for him instead of him needing to be guided by Asan and Emryn.

Not that he minded a little bit of guidance, but this was bordering on the ridiculous. If he didn’t know better he’d say that Asan had no idea what was really going on.

And maybe that was true. If it was, he truly wouldn’t fault his mentor for it. He was operating on cobbled together bits of myth and what Emryn had said. Cas wouldn’t be surprised if that was all his old teacher had to go on.

And if that was the case, then he would go scout the inside of his own head and see what he could glean.

Cas turned inward, looking at his conduits, at his core, and then down further, into his psyche.

And that was where he saw it. A single shining thread that was lodged into a mass that absolutely shouldn’t be there.

The mass was trying to grow, Cas could see the shudder in it.

But there was a shield around the mass, and each time it tried to expand, the shield would condense and hold it to a single point.

The shield looked like an opal, if an opal had been made of coruscating flame. It looked like the fire that Emryn had wielded during his healing, and if that were true, then he’d found the place where her healing was going.

Cas didn’t dare touch the thread or the shield. He had no idea what would happen if he did. Would it rebound on Emryn and how would she handle that as weak as she was?

But on the other hand, what would it do to the mass that he was looking at if he removed the shield?

He really didn’t want to find out.

Cas left his head, turning back outward to find both Asan and Emryn looking at him.

“Your findings, Cas?”

“There’s something there.” Cas tapped his forehead. “And there’s a thread leading to a shield that’s keeping it from expanding.”

“As I suspected,” Asan nodded, turning to look at Emryn. “The illness was not eradicated, simply caged. We will examine it, but for the sake of you healing, there is a reciprocation that must be put in place.”

“What?” Emryn looked confused and no little bit frightened.

“To put it bluntly, you are going to die if the feedback loop you placed is not closed.”

Emryn shook her head. “To close a loop like that is to provoke a bond, and there’s no possible way-”

“If you die, you take him with you.” Asan said bluntly. “None of us can sustain the connection needed.”

“N-no,” Emryn sat heavily. “I-”

“It’s the only way you both live.” Asan said quietly.

Emryn looked at Cas, desperate fear in her eyes. “If it were just me, I would die.”

“What, why?”

“Because the tie is permanent, Highness.” Emryn’s voice was so shaky that it was hard to understand her. “I am one healer, you are prince of Rodilla.”

“And my life is not worth more than yours.” Cas said firmly before looking at Asan. “Is there no way it can be undone once everything has passed?”

Asan shook his head. “And by the laws of the nation, it would be a binding marriage.”

“Well, that would get the council off my head.” Cas said, trying to lighten the mood. “In all seriousness, Emryn, if it is the only way we both live-”

“It costs me my vow,” Emryn sounded broken. “But that means that I have kept it to the last, and perhaps, with what I am, that is all I can hope for.”

“What do you mean, Emryn?” Cas asked, wanting nothing more than to hold her until she looked less broken.

“It will not matter for too much longer.”

“Enough of that,” Asan shook his head. “This is not doom to either of you. We will announce it to the Council and see it done before the day is over.

“They are going to have an apoplexy.” Cas said, almost relishing the idea. “It will be good for them. Give them something to argue about other than my marriage.”

“We will see Her Majesty to begin with,” Asan said. “That will clear the way to the Council.”

“Yes, mother would not like that surprise.” Cas nodded, reaching to take Emryn by the hand and help her from the chair. “I know this is moving fast, Emryn, but-”

“It doesn’t matter, Highness.” Emryn’s voice was tiny, shattered. “If you live, that is my duty.”

“I hope, if we are to be married, you might come to think of me as something other than a duty at some point.”

“I will remain apart,” Emryn said quietly. “You will continue to live as you like, and I will do my duty.”

He would discuss that with her later. For now, he needed to figure out how to explain this to his mother. And then to the council, and then he needed to figure out how to soothe Emryn.

As Asan had said, this was not doom to either of them. It would garner him a lot of support among the common people as well. Even though the Head Healer was likely to be on the side of the Council in having an apoplexy.

“We should see my mother,” Cas said, tucking Emryn’s shaking, cold hand into the crook of his elbow. “It’s going to be alright, Emryn.”

“It will be what it is, Highness.” Emryn straightened her shoulders. “I will do my duty.”

Cas sighed inwardly and guided Emryn out of her rooms and down the hall. His mother kept morning court and should still be in the small audience hall.

Which she was, and she raised a curious eyebrow at them as they walked in. Looking over Cas’ head where Asan was walking in their wake. “Yes, Highness?”

“Majesty, I come on a matter of great importance.” Cas looked around at the nobility. “I would ask for a private audience.”

“I grant your request.” The queen raised her hands and clapped. “You may go, my nobles. I will see you in Council.”

They all bowed and filed out, each of them casting confused looks at Emryn, who was shaking, but still managing to keep to her feet.

“Now,” the Queen said as the door shut. “What’s all this about? Why do the pair of you look like doom?”

Asan stepped to the fore and bowed. “It has been a rough morning for them, Majesty.”

“My First Wizard, what brings you down from your mountain?”

“A call from your heir, Majesty.” Asan related the call he’d received from Cas and everything that had come after.

With some rather glaring exceptions.

“Wait,” His mother pinched the bridge of her nose. “Are you telling me that my son is still ill?”

“Practically yes, in reality, he is being bolstered by Emryn, which is why he exhibits no symptoms.”

“Alright?”

“If it continues, Majesty, Healer Emryn will die.” Asan said carefully. “Once her bolster is gone, the illness will return and there is no other that will be able to forestall it.”

“And the solution?” The queen flicked her eyes to Emryn.

“A bond,” Asan said shortly. “A closure of the loop between them will ensure that Healer Emryn remains able to keep the illness in stasis until such a time as I can divine how to remove it permanently.”