CHAPTER 50

“Binessa Tianna, I’m so glad we are finally able to reunite,” Dowager Savitik smiled broadly at Tianna, her face alight with true happiness. She looked paler than Tianna remembered, and a little thinner, too, more fragile.

“I hope you are well?” Tianna sat in her customary place on the pink couch. The table had been pushed to the side somewhat, and a new plush rug had been laid down between the seats. It touched Tianna that it had probably been purchased with Eveera and their visits in mind.

The Dowager scoffed and waved long fingers.

“A cold that developed a deeper chest congestion is all,” she handed Tianna a cup. Mint tea, just the way she liked it. The selection of treats looked familiar, too. Had the Dowager watched everything she had preferred over their last visits? She tilted her head...yes, she had. “It was your doctor friend who truly made the difference, had several unusual methods that cleared it right up.”

Tianna stared. Thanlos?

A smile tugged at her lips. Of course, Xor’annan had sent Thanlos, she was attached to the older woman.

“You’ve the look of a woman in love,” the Dowager commented.

Tianna startled. *Love*? Did she *love* Xor’annan?

“It is too soon to tell what it is,” she shook her head.

“Too soon or not, the heart knows. Tell me about him. The last we spoke you were uncertain, torn between two suitors. Which won out? Or did someone completely new sweep in and win your affection?”

Tianna found herself sharing the events of the last few days, minus the more personal bits. She described the hunt and Torgux’s reluctance to allow her to aid the fallen man, and how Xor’annan had saved Thanlos and his lover from the wrath of the village, bringing them to the city in his own employ. In fact, when Tianna had sat down with Thanlos at last, he revealed how he had never thought to be as free and happy as he was. Xor’annan paid for all his supplies and needs, and he ran his clinic in the poorer areas of the city, his drive to help supported and encouraged. His relationship with Devon was accepted and they shared a set of rooms within Xor’annan’s townhouse. The only stipulation was that Thanlos remain available to treat those of Xor’annan, or Eveera’s, house first and foremost should the need occur. A minor request for such an extensive gift.

The Dowager listened with the ferocity of one starved and when Tianna finished, she leaned back in her seat, a dreamy, hazed look on her face.

“Now that is something,” she said at last. “The Hadrian,” she glanced at Tianna, “you are most certainly destined to bring some much needed change. Tell me, have you read the book any farther?”

“I have.”

“And what do you think about the premise of the mirror?” her eyes sharpened. No, the Dowager did not miss much.

“It seems implausible,” Tianna replied keeping her tone cool and collected.

The older woman snorted. “And yet you and I both know it not to be so.”

Tianna allowed herself to smile. “I know how I gained that knowledge, how do you know of the mirrors?”

“I found one, once, when I was a young girl. I kept it secret for months, each day traveling through and exploring farther into a world that was not my own. The world on the other side was lush with vegetation and life...trees taller than any I had ever seen, before or since; birds of the most brilliant colors. Then, one day, I ventured to the place I knew the mirror to be and it was simply gone. At the time, I was vastly disappointed to have my adventure ended, but as I grew older, I realized how lucky I was that I was on the right side of the mirror when it vanished, for certainly I would have perished trapped in that other place, beautiful though it was.” She leaned forward, her interest sharp. “I was wise enough to keep the entire business to myself, but when I read In the Mirror I knew I wasn’t the only one to have found such a thing.”

“But how did you know* I* had?”

“You are too different,” the Dowager answered simply. “Certainly, I have seen many humans who have strength and spirit most Daemon won’t give them credit for, but not as you do. You look upon the Daemon as if you are equal. There is no hint of doubt in your demeanor that would have been bred into you had you come from this world. You are what I have long hoped I might see, for I have many friends who are human.”

Tianna considered the woman. She was being bluntly honest, that much was clear. Could it be that there were Daemon in the world keen to see the human race rise to equality?

“Now,” the Dowager broke through Tianna’s musings. “Do an old woman a favor and tell me about your world? It has been far, far too long since I have had an adventure.”

“Alright,” Tianna replied. “But first, I have a favor to ask.”

***

“Grab the Xorum powder, and the Kapi root extract please,” Thanlos looked over his shoulder to her. Tianna dug through the meticulously ordered medical bag. The wind picked up a little, shaking the sides of the clinic tent.

It had been two and a half weeks since the hunt, since Xor’annan had bonded her, and the separation was killing her. She *missed* him. The moment of their coming together had been so brief that sometimes she worried it might have been a dream. From the echoes of what she could feel, he was not fairing well, either. Still, he stayed away, as they had planned. It wouldn’t do any good to tip their hand too early.

Most of the Daemon courtiers had taken her reported behavior on the hunt in stride, despite Mizare’s insistence about how rude it was to ruin the fun of a venture you had been invited to. There were several key houses, however, that subsequently withdrew their invitations to her, which bothered Tianna not at all. What did spark a flare of anger was that Torgux had not made a single effort toward her since then. Not that she wanted his attention, but the knowledge of how flimsy his offer had been, how much it depended on her behaving in a predictable and controllable manner, stung a little.

She had spent the newfound free time arranging her new charity, a cooperative effort with Thanlos to aid the poor that lived outside the city wall.

Xor’annan had been right, of course, that simply handing out food or clothing would create an unhealthy dependency. So, instead, she saw to the purchase of a large plot of land and hired the more competent locals to clear it. Of course, to do their jobs properly they needed to be reasonably clothed and fed, and then paid daily so that they could go home and feed their families.

So far, it was working moderately well. There were a few problems with jealous and desperate men and women harassing those who had managed to secure the positions, but the extensive number of house guards she brought along cured the problem quickly. It was alright because this was just the beginning of her projects.

She had traveled to the area twice a day for nearly two weeks, visiting Thanlos and making certain her face was seen throughout. She’d even had the Dowager spread the word that she would be away from the palace nearly every day. So far, the enemy hadn’t taken the bait.

She handed Thanlos his supplies. There was a smaller youth on his table, scrawny and malnourished; so very little one could do for him until he got regular meals. Still, Thanlos worked, unintimidated by the odds.

“I’m heading back now,” she told him.

He tilted his head in acknowledgment, his hands busy separating and mixing the ingredients she had provided.

She spent the carriage ride up to the palace brooding. It didn’t appear like her plan was working, and her patience was wearing thin. Knowing that there was someone within the court waiting to make their move was driving her crazy. She wished they would just act and get it over with. Even having the Dowager spread the information of her lower city works, so that it was painfully obvious when Tianna would be vulnerable, hadn’t produced any results.

She couldn’t live like this much longer, and she *needed* to have Xor back.

The palace loomed before them before she pulled out of her dark thoughts. This afternoon was tea with the Queen. The Queen was smart, too, perhaps if she got a moment alone with the woman she could ask if she had any suggestions.

***

Eveera was miserable. Tianna looked down at the girl helplessly. She’d tried everything. Fed her, changed her, offered to let her *feed*. There was nothing for it, she just wouldn’t settle.

“If I may?” Chelsey had just finished Tianna’s hair, which was an admirable feat while she held the thrashing baby.

Chelsey moved in front of Tianna and lifted the fabric of the girl’s clothes, exposing her legs and tummy.

“Hmm, it is still hard to see them, but I believe I am right. It’s my guess Eveera has child pocks.”

Tianna’s stomach fell. What was rising frustration with the baby soon became cold hard fear. Chelsey noticed her expression and smiled kindly.

“Do human children not catch this? It is very common, nearly everyone gets it in childhood. Vastly uncomfortable, but rarely dangerous.”

And she could breathe again. Thank goodness. Eveera, having no clue what emotional turmoil she had just caused let, out a screech and tried to twist off Tianna’s lap, which would do no good because, as soon as she was put down, she cried and demanded to be picked back up.

“How is it treated?” Tianna asked.

“Well the pocks haven’t developed yet, so I imagine she’s just feeling uncomfortable. Sometimes oats in the bathwater can help the itchiness of the skin. You’ll want to dress her in long sleeves, and even breeches if you can find any her size, and cover her hands so that she cannot scratch the pocks and scar herself.”

“Okay, and once the pocks develop?”

“She will likely fever up a bit. But then it will be only a day or two and she will start to improve. The pocks will begin to clear up and they stop itching then.”

Okay, so it was basically chicken pox. She could manage this.

Zacharia, the man who managed her servants, poked his head through the bedroom door.

“You are going to be late, Binessa Tianna,” he warned.

“You cannot miss a tea the Queen has invited you to, and Eveera cannot go in this condition,” Chelsey told her. It was as if the woman had guessed the protests on Tianna’s mind. “My son had child pox when he was about her age. I will stay with her for a few hours if you want.”

Relief filled Tianna, and worry. She was getting very weird about leaving Eveera. Still, she hadn’t had time to send for Malwell, and if not him, then Chelsey was a close second for those she trusted.

“Alright, thank you Chelsey.”

“Of course, Binessa Tianna. But might I suggest you hire a nanny?”