Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 32

[ Taiya ]

“Ughhh.” I moaned. There was a foul taste in my mouth and a foul ache everywhere else. A hot hand on my shoulder shook me again. Reluctantly I opened my eyes to see Han hovering over me. Her violet eyes were full of worry.

“Han?” I tried to get some moisture in my mouth. “I want to stay in bed.” I whinged. Not only did I feel awful physically but the events of the prior night were hot and steaming in my brain just like the vomit I’d spewed in the hallway in front of none other than the Princess.

She stroked my face with tenderness, a knowing look in her eyes but Han still waved for me to get out of bed.

“Bath?” Asking or begging? I wasn’t sure. At some point in the week my sheets had been changed to ones imbued with the heat of orange magic. It was mid-spring and the nights were mild but it made no difference. I was colder everyday. At first the sheets had helped. This morning, however, they might as well have been dipped in snow.

Han nodded and helped me up. After a stiff walk to the bathroom and a bath so hot that my skin was bright red all over, I took residence in my favourite turquoise chair by the hearth. Red as I was, the cold was creeping back. The fire was roaring and tea was poured, lavender as opposed to the usual morning cup of green tea with lemon.

The silent Chambermaid fussed over me, plumping pillows, tucking blankets and keeping my teacup filled. If Grace were here she would have snapped at her or made some remark that would have sent Han away. For all the uncertainty I felt about myself and this situation there was no doubt in my mind that Han was nothing but genuinely concerned for my well being. The feeling was nice. Although the scar on her neck still unsettled me.

Han tended to the fire, making the flames burn hotter, before pulling a brush from the pouch on her apron. My hair was perfect, Izla had seen to that, so the only purpose Han’s action had was to comfort me.

“I hope Healer Poflorin will be by soon.” Pain was beginning to unfurl in the middle of my stomach. Han paused her brushing to gently pat my head. Trying to relax I closed my eyes and focused on the feeling of the brush and Han’s fingers through my hair. If Poflorin wasn’t here soon then I would have him called for. The sensation within was developing to the point that my stomach felt like a dishcloth being rung out. I squeezed my hands together to keep from making a noise that would give my mounting discomfort away.

The wait for my morning Healer visit was relatively short but it was not the usual affair.

“Good morning, Lady Esther.” Jakar called into the sitting room. He had probably given a polite bow but my eyes were closed at the time. “You have guests, shall I send them in?” He asked in a deep, calming voice. I didn’t think to question who or why, instead I nodded. “Very well, My Lady.” He replied, albeit a little sourly, before returning to his post and permitting my guests entry.

I didn’t blame him for being offended. He had been very polite and I had not extended the same courtesy. The slight was not intentional, it was just that I felt if I uttered even one word I would become incapable of holding myself from becoming a sobbing mess.

“Good morning, Lady Ether.” Healer Asperonin announced on entering the sitting room. Han stiffened behind me and then busied herself, putting away the hair brush before taking my tea cup and clearing the tea tray away. My lips were sticking together as I tried to part them and any sound I might have made was caught in my throat. The Head Healer simply continued as if I had not been rude. “Today I have come with Healer Tarrin and Healer Lyle. Healer Poflorin is also here but shall not be attending to you today; he is unwell.” He said everything in a very matter-of-fact manner, the tone of his voice giving nothing away.

I looked across the room at the four waiting Healers. Asperonin and Poflorin were easy to recognise, despite how my vision was blurred, meaning the other two had to be Tarrin and Lyle. One was short and one was a woman and that was all I could discern. My eyes refused to focus and my head was not far behind.

“Come.” The Head Healer commanded his little following and they all moved across the room towards me; visions of white and gold with their tunics and hair. “How are you feeling today?” He asked, standing in front of me. I did not answer his question. I couldn’t.

“Lady Esther,” Asperonin continued in a curt tone, offence clearly taken, “while I acknowledge the previous misunderstanding may have left you with some misgivings there is no reason to behave so poorly under the current circumstances.” He finished, an edge of anger underlining each word. Perhaps he thought I wished to embarrass him in front of the other Healers but the truth was that I didn’t want to further embarrass myself. I was about to try for a reply when a hair brush hit him square in the chest.

"Hannalin!!" Asperonin was angry, her name came out as though it were a curse. "What is the meaning of such a disrespectful action!?" He boomed. The room was silent and the Healer scowled as Han gestured wildly.

"You are not making any sense, girl." He sneered in a way that made my blood boil. Han was enraged, she whipped out a pad of paper and scrawled on it before stopping past Asperonin and giving the note to Poflorin to read.

Poflorin was blurry to look at but I could hear in his voice that he was most certainly unwell.

"Father, I think it best to just lay hands. She is clearly unwell." He told Asperonin tiredly. I was also tired and hardly breathing. Every breath stirred the pain and it was becoming unbearable. I wanted to beg for him to take the pain.

Han growled, aggravated that Poflorin hadn't communicated what it was that she had to say. Josephine sauntered in, uninvited, adding to the unwelcome audience as the female Healer touched my cheek.

"Tarrin?" Asperonin question when the woman pulled her hand away as though she had been stung.

"She is in a very bad way, Head Healer." Her face was a smudge of features but her voice rang clear as a bell in my ears. Melodious as her voice was a thread of panic still seeped from it.

"Tarrin, Lyle, create an arch." Asperonin barked, finally finding some urgency. I clung to the sound of his voice. Pain was pressing on me and I wondered if I was going to scream or pass out. "They will ease the pain while I refill the necklace. It will be unpleasant but I assure you it is the most prudent course of action."

Unpleasant was an understatement.

Tarrin and Lyle were either side of me. She had a hand on my hip and he had a hand on my face and the hand that was not on me was pressed to the other healers. They both winced and my pain eased for a moment.

"Deep breath." Asperonin said softly, almost tenderly. His hands went to the necklace the moment I managed to get some air into my lungs. Pain exploded across every cell of my body and my stomach twisted hard. Ye Gods, what pain would I be in if it weren't for the other two Healers?

The white hot pain was too much to bear and my stomach clenched forcefully bringing vomit into my mouth, spewing over my lips, on Asperonin's hands, down my front and into my lap.

"Almost there, just a little more. You're doing very well Esther." Asperonin's intention was to bring some comfort but his words to me felt hollow. Regardless of any sentiment I needed him to finish soon so I could clear the vomit that was stopping me from breathing.

The second his hands were removed Han had a bowl held out before me. I was shocked to see that it was blood that I had vomited up. Asperonin told Tarrin and Lyle to stop and he washed his hands in the bowl of water that Han had set out.

When I was done spitting she wiped my face and whatever else of my bare skin had vomit on. I was going to need to bathe and change. This day was a nightmare and it was only just getting started.

"Poflorin, come here." His Father waved him over.

"Father," The young Healer said cautiously, "I think the Lady should rest for today."

"This is important, it will only take a moment." Asperonin insisted but he wasn't as short with Poflorin and I hoped that meant they were making some progress.

Now the pain was gone my vision had returned to normal and the only feelings I had left were of humiliation and self pity. As Poflorin approached I took a sweeping glance across the room. Josephine looked like she was trying very hard not to be amused by my misfortune, Tarrin and Lyle looked exhausted, Han was glaring at Asperonin and Poflorin did in fact look unwell. His eyes had dark smudges beneath them, his face appeared drawn and his complexion almost grey. I noticed that Poflorin's hair was braided, intricately so, like the first time he had come to my chambers but it was not fresh; it appeared slept on.

“First, touch the necklace, feel the difference in the adherence of the imbuement.” Healer Asperonin spoke as if I weren’t right in front of him and I couldn’t decide if I was greatful or aggravated. Very quickly I settled myself, realising I was actually too tired to care. Poflorin’s face scrunched in concentration as he ran a finger down the delicate rope chain. “Feel how it has greater density and isn’t moving? Done correctly it should feel this way, like mass and not like flow.”

“Yes, Father.” There was a little sullenness there, which confused me. Asperonin seemed to be simply teaching. Only yesterday morning Poflorin had admitted to me that he wasn’t yet officially titled and hadn’t passed any qualifications, he should be pleased that he had been given instruction.

“Now arch with me and I will show you a different assessment.” Poflorin reluctantly placed his left palm against his Father’s right. “Two fingers.” Asperonin held up his left hand with only the index and middle finger extended. Poflorin copied. “Start at the temple.” He said reaching out. I flinched away from his touch unintentionally and Josephine made a very unladylike noise. A snort of laughter. Her response irked Asperonin. He shot her a withering look before turning back to me.

I decided to close my eyes. It was uncomfortable enough that Poflorin and his Father were both looking at me so intently; let alone that the other four people in the room were doing the same.

“From the temple travel down the side of the face, under the ear to the base of the skull. Then, send a small pulse down the spine. Down the spine to the nape, across the tops of the shoulders and then back via the clavicle. At the centre follow the sternum. Pause at the halfway point, wait at least two breaths.” They waited while I obliged with two reasonably deep breaths. “Now we move along the bottom of the rib cage. Do you feel that? High on the Fundus of the stomach? An ulcer. That is why there was blood in the vomit. Move down the sides, stopping at the top of the pelvis. Follow just above the crease, working toward around an inch above the pubis as well as in line with the navel.” I tried hard not to be embarrassed but my cheeks flushed red in spite of my determination. Not only were they both touching me in areas I would rather not be, especially with an audience, but they were trailing their fingers through the vomit that was still down me.

“That was very different. I haven’t seen that in the usual texts. Chakras are quite common in the writings, along with their attributes but I haven’t seen a technique that specifically utilises them.” Poflorin stated. “The ulcer wasn’t there yesterday, at least not to that extent, there wasn’t any blood in her vomit.”

"The technique is very specific in use and not widely known. The severity of the inflammation has likely hidden the ulcer." Asperonin stated. It seemed they were trying very hard to be polite with each other. "Try from the Sanitatem Fluxus, otherwise known as the common position and feel the difference."

Still having an 'arch' between them (whatever that meant) they assumed the stance I was used to - one hand (Asperonin's) on the side of my head, one above my hip (Poflorin's).

"That's insane!" Poflorin exclaimed. "The difference between the two is unparalleled. Why are we using the Sanitatem Fluxus when the one involving chakras is superior?" They conversed over me as though I were not there, making me feel extremely conscious of my position; a fragile Lady far from home with no magic. Only my title gave me any standing.

"All the techniques have their place, Sanitatem Fluxus is the most commonly used because it is the most effective; both in terms of the volume of magic it uses and functionality. Consider the usual facts. Most charges have an obvious ailment that requires no or little investigation. On the whole a charge can tell you what is wrong, or where, making pinpointing unnecessary." Asperonin spoke as though he were conducting a lesson and I was a meer teaching tool. I couldn't say that it was unexpected of him but I had thought more highly of Poflorin and now he was just ignoring me. "This chakra based technique is called the Hilom Fluxus, it is based on energy flow from chakra points on the body. It has several variations and is an advanced technique."

"Wha…" Poflorin started but I coughed 'politely' reminding them that I was right here; with an ulcer in my 'Fundus' - whatever that was. "My apologies, Lady Esther." He put out his hands out ready to heal but the Head Healer swatted him away.

"You need to rest, my son." He said before pressing on my abdomen. Healing energy poured through me for a moment and then he removed his hands and started to converse with Tarrin, Lyle and Poflorin like this was a class.

"Get out." I growled, finally finding my voice. "ALL of you."