Page 214 of The Cradle of Ice

Abbess Shayr led them to a temple that was just slabs of marble, crusted with layers of moss and lichen. It looked to be the oldest of them all.

She ducked under the lintel of the doorway. The three of them followed. It was steamy and warm inside, but the air felt oddly light versus moist and heavy. The spicy perfume in the air was sharper, strong enough to be tasted on the tongue.

The pool inside was shored in marble, dropping in steps into the dark waters, where a lone supplicant of the Goddess X’or soaked. Another visitor was already in attendance, seated at the edge, feet dangling in the water.

“Ack!” Mead gulped and slid his nakedness into the water. “Give some warnin’ when a lady’s comin’ in.”

In the bath, Jester grinned, though it looked strained. “Don’t mind ’im. My brother was hopin’ for some young lass to traipse in and catch him perched there, showing off his wares like a shopkeep.”

Mead sank farther, looking willing to drown.

“How’s the leg?” Kanthe asked.

“See for yourself.”

Jester lifted his stump. The end was covered with some sort of fine net. A wiggling leech, striped black and crimson, dropped back into the water.

“Keep your limb submerged,” Abbess Shayr warned with a scolding frown. “Let the vulnus do their work.”

“If I soak my arse cheeks much longer, they’ll be as wrinkled as two hairy—”

“Four more days,” the woman said firmly. “If you want to keep the rest of your leg attached to that arse.”

Jester grumbled but dropped his limb back down.

The abbess turned to them. “As you can see, one of our patients is irritable but faring well. The vulnus and these waters will help him heal cleanly. It shortens the mending of such wounds in half.”

“Amazing,” Frell said. “How does that work?”

“Only the goddess knows. The vulnus and these waters have been here longer than the Klashe. But alchymists have studied both. The vulnus remove vulgar tissue, hence their name, allowing healthy growth. It’s believed the waters and secretions of the leeches further encourage tissues to mend.”

“And what of my father?” Rami asked, his earlier airy tone now weighted with worry.

Abbess Shayr took a deep breath. “Some wounds even the vulnus can’t reach and our waters can’t heal. I will take you to him.”

She led them back out. Kanthe shared a worried look with Frell. Tykhan had tried to assure Rami that Makar’s bridling would leave no lasting damage. Still, the Klashean prince was not willing to take Tykhan’s word, especially from a figure that had fabricated his presence for centuries.

Even Kanthe had his doubts.

The abbess took them along another path to the most ornate of the temples. It was sculpted with gods and goddesses, adorned with crowns of gold. The marble had been scrubbed to a pristine sheen. In the shadows of the ancient grove, it nearly glowed.

The paths and surrounding woods also shone with the armor of scores of imperial patrols. Accompanied by Prince Rami, their group was allowed to pass unchallenged.

They crossed to tall gold doors where two Paladins opened the way before them.

Kanthe kept his face lowered, picturing the fate of the royal Paladins at the Augury’s villa.

Abbess Shayr bowed them inside, allowing Rami privacy with his father.

Frell returned that bow. “Thank you, Abbess. We should be able to return to the emperor’s palacio on our own.” He nodded to the guards. “As it is, we have plenty of escorts.”

She smiled, though it turned a touch sad as she glanced inside. “I wish we could do more.”

Guilt flared through Kanthe. The abbess and her sisters had been nothing but kind, and their group had returned such compassion with lies.

Kanthe hurried after Frell and Rami.

The chamber inside was gilded and pristine. Lanterns glowed along the walls. The emperor sat waist-deep in the crimson basin. His remaining nakedness was hidden under a cloak that draped into the water and across the neighboring marble. Still, it failed to add any majesty to the patient. Makar’s chin rested on his collarbone. Twin ropes of drool ran from his lips. His hair was soaked by the steam and clung to his skull.