Chapter 46 THE SORCERER'S VISIT
“No,” Athalia whispered, her voice thin. “Stay a moment.”
“But Your Majesty...”
“Stay.”
Lira obeyed, though her worry deepened. She supported Athalia as she changed positions, helping her lean back against the cushions.
The pressure grew stronger and Athalia’s vision blurred at the edges. It felt as though something inside her was feeding hungrily, greedily and pulling warmth straight from her veins.
Her fingers trembled.
She muttered under her breath, “What if this child… becomes the end of me.”
Lira swallowed hard. “Your Majesty, I must call someone. If this continues, you will collapse.”
“No one must know,” Athalia whispered. “Not yet.”
“But you are getting worse.”
Athalia closed her eyes, breathing carefully. “Just… give me one moment.”
She tried to gather her strength, but the wave of weakness washed over her again. Her head dropped slightly, and that was enough to break Lira’s resolve.
“I will return quickly,” Lira said firmly. “I cannot watch this and do nothing.”
She stood and hurried toward the door.
Athalia did not have the strength to stop her.
Lira stepped into the hallway, moving fast. She had only taken a few steps when she heard a faint whisper, almost like a breeze brushing past her ear.
“Lira…”
She froze.
The hall was empty.
She looked around. “Who goes there?”
No one answered, yet she felt something soft but heavy settle over her mind, like a warm cloth pressed to her forehead. Her thoughts blurred and her breathing slowed.
A voice slipped gently into her head. It was calm, smooth, and persuasive.
“You must walk… to the courtyard. Keep walking…”
Lira tried to argue, but her mind no longer felt like her own.
“Yes…” she murmured without emotion.
Her feet obeyed the unseen command. She walked steadily toward the far end of the hall, away from the Queen’s chamber, away from the physician’s room. Her eyes turned glassy.
For hours I had been waiting for the right moment to enter the palace. I had watched servants come and go, watched Athalia’s routines, and watched the guards switch their shifts. I had been patient, for patience was the weapon that never failed me.
My name as a sorcerer had once carried fear in all five regions of the kingdom, but after her pact with Athalia, I had remained hidden, waiting for the child to grow to avenge my beef with the King. Hidden in the shadows, I listened for an opportunity to slip inside the palace and now it has arrived.
I stepped out from the far end of the corridor to a place where no one should have been and adjusted the hood of her travelling cloak. My face was covered, revealing only my calm steel-colored eyes.
No guard noticed me and their eyes slid past me as though I were simply air. I had prepared well.
My disguise was simple but effective with plain robes of a travelling physician, a leather pouch filled with harmless herbs, and over that, an illusion so soft that even trained eyes would not recognize it unless they stared for too long.
I walked calmly toward Athalia’s chamber door and inside, Athalia struggled against exhaustion.
She opened her eyes faintly when she heard footsteps.
“Lira?” she called weakly.
The door opened slowly.
I stepped inside.
“Your Majesty,” I said in a level voice, “I heard that you are unwell.”
Athalia frowned faintly. “Who are you? The palace physician?”
I bowed to her. “I was passing nearby when one of your servants called for help. She seemed distressed so I followed her voice and came here.”
Athalia blinked slowly. “Lira called you?”
“Yes,” I said without a flicker of hesitation. “She rushed down the hallway searching for help. I came instead, for the palace physician was not in his quarters.”
Athalia watched her closely. She felt weak, unfocused, but something in my voice carried a strange warmth that eased her suspicion.
I stepped closer.
“May I examine you, Your Majesty?”
Athalia hesitated. Her breath shook. “Very well. But be quick.”
I knelt before her and set the wooden box on the table I opened it carefully. Inside was a round glass globe, faintly glowing with a silver-blue light.
Athalia’s eyes widened slightly. “What is that?”
“A diagnostic orb,” I answered smoothly. “It senses pressure inside the body and reveals what strain lies beneath. I will use it to ease the burden you feel.”
Athalia nodded faintly. She was too tired to question further.
I held the globe in both hands. The glow deepened, swirling softly like mist. I whispered under my breath words Athalia could not understand and the orb shifted from blue to a pale, calming white.
“Breathe slowly,” I said.
Athalia inhaled weakly.
i raised the globe and hovered it over Athalia’s abdomen. The light extended like threads, weaving gentle warmth across the Queen’s skin.
Almost immediately, Athalia felt the pressure inside her loosen. A weight she had carried for months slowly lifted, just enough for her to take a full breath.
She exhaled in relief. “What are you doing?”
“Suppressing the strain,” I said. “The child is too strong. Your body cannot match its hunger. This will calm it for now.”
Athalia looked at her with surprise. “You know?”
“I felt the imbalance the moment I stepped inside,” I replied calmly. “You have been suffering in silence.”
A faint tremble of emotion crossed Athalia’s face. “I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice,” I said softly.
I lowered the globe, returning it to its box. The white glow faded and the air settled.
Athalia leaned back against her cushions. For the first time in weeks, she felt her limbs lighten and the pain no longer crushed her chest.
She spoke quietly, almost to herself, “I can breathe again.”
I stood and walked to the side table, pouring Athalia a cup of water.
“Drink this,” I instructed. “Your strength will return slowly.”
Athalia drank, her hands steadying.
“Who are you?” she asked suddenly.
I paused. “A physician.”
“A physician… with a globe that works like magic?”
“A tool is only as mysterious as you make it,” she replied with a subtle smile. “What matters is that you feel relief.”
Athalia seemed to study me carefully. But at that moment, she needed help more than she needed certainty.
“What is your name?” Athalia asked.
“Selene,” I lied easily.
“Selene…” Athalia repeated. “I want you to remain in the palace. As my personal physician.”
I bowed my head. “If that is your wish.”
“It is,” Athalia said firmly. “No one else has been able to help me. Stay by my side until this child is born.”
I lifted my gaze, and for a heartbeat Athalia saw the faintest glimmer of satisfaction behind the calm expression but I hid it quickly.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
My face remained serene, but my thoughts were sharp as a blade. The pact had begun to bear fruit and now I stood exactly where I needed it to be, inside the palace, beside the Queen, trusted, and closer than ever to the child that carried the power of my vengeance.