Maji Born

17 - Tinctures and Timelines

Escorting Eirian and Lavinia up the stairs was quite the task, but with the help of a maid, it was accomplished. Two soft feather beds awaited them on the third floor within an expansive room with glitzy gold-leafed wallpaper.

Devarak was ushered out before the maid stripped the ladies down and dressed them in thick woollen nightclothes. He was sent back downstairs to see the doctor, who was waiting in the foyer.

"Devarak I presume?"

Devarak nodded.

"Please," the doctor gestured for Devarak to remove his shirt and show him his wounds.

He did so and turned to let the doctor appraise the oozing gashes.

Several had turned slightly green while the rest seemed to be healing with relative success. The doctor tutted slightly, exaggerating the sound with each lash he checked.

"These are most definitely infected," he said, peering at three just below Devarak's rib cage, "I have an ointment that can be applied but you must bath first."

He looked at Devarak over his spectacles, "Daily, and until these heal properly you will need to apply the paste and bandage yourself up with each bath." He scribbled something on a sheet of parchment and continued to pace around Devarak.

"The majority of the gashes on you back have healed, it is just a few that could prove dangerous." He gestured for Devarak to don his tunic. Devarak did so, feeling the cuts sting as he pulled the tunic back over his head.

"Thank you, sir." He said.

The doctor gave him a funny look before fumbling in his case. He withdrew a small glass jar which contained a grey flaky powder.

"Here, take this. Blend it with a spoonful of water and stir till it is thick. Apply it daily after your bath and then bandage it. You should see improvements within the week."

He passed Devarak the jar and then the parchment. "These are your instructions in case you forget." then with a small nod the doctor turned and left the room. Devarak watched him go, listening as the front door slammed upon his exit.

Devarak folded up the parchment and placed it inside his pocket. Clutching tightly to the jar, Devarak left the foyer in search of a maid. He could feel his body relaxing. His mission had been a success the Queen had her stone and he had come out relatively unscathed. His thoughts lingered on the girls. Hoping that they were both alright after that morning's incident.

"You there!" Devarak spotted a maid making her way downstairs. She was a short woman, probably only a few years older than himself.

"Yes, sir?" She asked, pausing at the foot of the stairs.

"How are they?" He asked briskly. The maid kept her expression neutral.

"They are resting and should make a full recovery if they are left to sleep."

"Good."

"Is that everything sir?" The maid asked, clearly ready to return to whatever task she had been accomplishing prior to the disturbance in the foyer.

"I was hoping someone could draw me a bath."

"Of course sir, I'll send someone to assist you as soon as possible." The maid gave a small curtsy and left Devarak standing at the foot of the stairs.

Zehara sat in her room, the Ardor stone was laid out on her dressing table. She admired it with a cautious eye. After her chaotic introduction to it, she was not particularly inclined to pick it up again, though she knew that eventually, she would have to learn to control it if she wanted to sit the throne.

It was not a requirement with the Tazarine line but the Belestine's had considered it a sign of royal worth. To sit the throne without it would make her as worthy as the usurper. Possessing the power of the stone would cement her claim and leave no question as to her lineage.

Zehara gazed down at the stone, a feeling of agitation swelling in her belly. She had felt terrible about injuring Lavinia and Eirian. They had brought her what she needed and it had been discourteous as a host to leave them open to injury.

As little as she liked to admit it, Zehara liked the Tazarine girl. She had not been what she had expected. Though Lavinia looked frail she spoke with confidence and a certain sense of control that Zehara couldn't help but admire.

Zehara had a few friends at the university that were Jedart, but more of them were quiet and mousy. They tended to let others speak for them and listen to the conversation rather than add their own voices to it. She had a feeling that Lavinia had no such inclinations.

Zehara watched the golden energy swirl within the stone, sparkling ever so often as the light from outside filtering in through her window, striking it this way and that.

What was her plan now that she had the stone? It had seemed like an impossible task to retrieve it and now it sat in front of her along with a disowned Princess, a thief, and a refugee. She could feel the momentum picking up.

She would have to make her move soon or the moment would pass. Zehara rang the small silver bell above her dressing table without looking away from the stone and within a few minutes, a maid appeared in the doorway.

"You summoned my lady?"

Zehara tore her gaze away from the stone, "I did. Tell the Duke that we must meet with the council. I must also request that he gathers our allies."

The maid nodded and bowed on her way out of the room.

Zehara could hear her scurrying away down the stairs but her focus had returned to the stone. The Duke would call a meeting with the council of Zedar, he sat in on the meetings as a member of the general counsel. She needed to speak to the inner circle. She needed their support in her cause.

Her allies would be ready. They had been waiting for this moment, watching as she aged and reached maturity. Weeks earlier she had summoned all of them to a dinner to inform them of her plan to move forward toward her crown.

Zehara leaned back in her chair with a sigh. Soon she would return to a home she had never known, yet always yearned for.