“And your cycles?” Evie asked as she moved her hand inches from Warna’s stomach.
“Over, thank the Lady,” Warna sighed.
That brought another chuckle, but then Evie went silent, her face intent as she invoked her powers. Warna felt a tingle as her hands moved around her mid-section. “That’s amazing, you know,” she whispered.
“It’s a gift of the Lord of Light,” Evie said just as softly. “But it has its limits. Dominic can treat an entire village dying of sickness; at best I could treat a limited number before my own life was at risk.”
Warna’s eyes went wide at that thought, but she stayed quiet, letting Evie do her work.
Finally, Evie breathed a sigh and opened her eyes, pleased. “Gone. Not a trace of gwenwyth that I can find.”
Warna sat up, breathless with hope. “Dominic said that if you released me from care, he would lift his restrictions as well.”
“Then consider yourself free,” Evelyn said. “But bear in mind that it will be a while before your true strength returns. Rest when you are tired,” she warned. “Listen to your body.”
“I promise,” Warna said and on impulse swept the priestess into a hug. “Evie, thank you!”
To her delight, the hug was returned. Warna tightened her arms again, and then released, feeling absurdly happy. “Evie, please, visit as a friend in the future.”
Evie smiled back, but then her face dimmed. “I’d like that, Warna, truly. But the times are...difficult.”
“I know,” Warna sighed. “But if Dominic’s assigned to the Church in Palins, perhaps they’d assign you here?”
Evie wrinkled her nose. “As much as I’d like that, it’s doubtful. They like to reserve my powers for the nobles at Court.” She flashed a grin again. “Not that I let that stop me.”
“Dominic’s social climbing skills will be most welcome then,” Warna snorted.
“He’s very skilled, both as a healer and apparently in moving among the ranks of power. Not one of my abilities, I’m afraid,” Evie said. “But they won’t remove Dominic from his position here until they’ve found a qualified healer to replace him.”
“Use that as an excuse to visit,” Warna suggested.
“Lord Verice has said that I might call on him at any time.”
“I hope you take him up on that offer,” Warna said.
Evelyn gave her an odd look. “I will think on it,” she said. Then she smiled, her face once again calm and serene. She stood, reaching for her cloak. “For now, I’ve promised Dominic I’d look in on one of his patients to see if I can speed his healing. Apparently, the man is such a horrible patient that Dominic wants him healed and on his way before Dominic’s own bowels rupture in pure frustration.”
“Before you go,” Warna took a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you about—”
“Yes?”
Warna made her decision. “I want to talk about babies. Well, not having babies.” She blushed scarlet, trying to find the right words. “Preventing babies.”
Evie gave her a direct look. “Warna, I’ve scanned you. I’ve heard the rumors, but I know that you have not had relations with a male.”
“Yet,” Warna said.
I’d like totalk. Please come.
Warna.
Verice stared at the note, and felt an odd flutter in his chest.
“She first asked for hot kav, and a bath,” Ricard spoke with satisfaction, having delivered the note himself. “Dominic and Priestess have both given her their blessing. The Priestess even saw to Narthing. Nice of her,” he sniffed. “Unlike some healers we know.”
“Warna wants to talk,” Verice said, and felt that flutter again. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t talked since her recovery. But there’s always been healers or servants in the room, seeing to Warna’s care and comfort. There’d been no privacy.
Verice had felt oddly relieved at that when he’d visited. He wasn’t certain what to say to her, or how to express so many things. His admiration for her manipulation of the situation. His horror that she would drink gwenwyth and sacrifice herself. His terror at the knowledge that she’d do something so fundamentally stupid as to drink the entire cup without knowing what it would do to her, just to spite her foe.
