Page 154 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
I reluctantly stepped back to let him do his thing. As he did, both Aerwyna and High Priest Dhaesis entered the tent along with an unconscious Rina. They greeted us both and Duke Trelawney.
“High Priest, please see to the Dame,” Father ordered.
I sat on the chair closest to Allie and buried my face in my hands. How had this happened? What was a wraithhusk doing in the Imperial Hunting Grounds? Why hadn’t I been able to protect her?
What was she even doing that close to the forest? That area was supposed to be off-limits to everyone who wasn’t a part of the hunt.
“I can’t speak to any injuries,” Duke Trelawney said. “But as far as mana goes, she’s suffering from depletion. I can only sense the faintest traces of it within her. High Priest Dhaesis will have to do the same check for her divine power. I can’t feel it at these levels.”
“How is Dame Draper?” Aerwyna asked from behind me.
“The poison will require an antidote, but I believe I’ve blocked its passage through her body for the moment,” High Priest Dhaesis replied. “She seems to have passed out from the pain, but I’ve healed her wound for now. She should wake soon.”
I looked up as he approached Allie.
“Is she the one responsible for the barrier?”
Fuck.
The High Priest. One of the people I wanted to hide her potential power from.
It didn’t matter now. I needed his help. Allie needed his help. We would have to deal with the matter of the temple interfering with her later—because they undoubtedly would.
I nodded. “She possesses both mana and divine power.”
“Interesting.” He took her hand, closing his eyes. “As with Duke Trelawney’s assessment of her mana, her divine power is depleted. It would have been tough for even me to use half as much divine power at once without feeling fatigued, so she may be lucky to be alive right now.” He turned to me, and his deep blue eyes held more than a hint of suspicion. “How is it that she’s in possession of both?”
“She’s a direct descendant of the Vermillions and the Lovetts.”
“Interesting.” The high priest turned back to her. “You are correct—we cannot heal her. The balance between the two powers is too perilous. Luckily, she has no physical injuries that will inhibit her recovery.”
“But the blood—”
“Is not hers. Her dress is intact, and I sensed no injuries in her.”
“Then what can we do?” Father asked.
“I’m afraid we must wait, Your Majesty. It’s a matter of Her Ladyship recovering in her own time.”
“How long will that take?”
“I cannot say. She appears to have great capacity for divine power, much more than some priests, so it could be a few days before she wakes.”
Duke Trelawney nodded. “I agree with His Holiness, Your Majesty. I have mages in the Tower with less mana than Lady Alicia. As we’re unable to assist her recovery due to the opposing natures of our powers, it may be best to temper our expectations of a swift recovery.”
I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth together, and thumped my fist against the arm of the chair.
That wasn’t good enough.
“How did this happen?” Father asked, folding his arms across his chest. “Wraithhusks haven’t been seen here in decades.”
Sir Chester cleared his throat. “We did a thorough final inspection of the hunting grounds early this morning and found nothing untoward, Your Majesty. There was only the abandoned nest of juvenile mudlungs a week ago, and no other monsters have been seen since. Except for the ones we purposely released for the hunt, of course.”
“Then someone brought it here.” I cast my gaze across everyone in the tent, linking my fingers together. It was the only way I could keep my temper in check. “And I intend to find out exactly who’s responsible for this.”
Father held up his hand. “Sir Chester, investigate this immediately.”
“I want Hayes to assist.”
