Chapter Thirty-Four #2
The Prince’s expression was soft. “Of course it’s not just for you.
Perian, you’re trying to give me the one thing I’ve longed for for the past seven years.
Of course it’s for me, too. And like you said, it’s not as though there’s a better way to test this.
We don’t know any other way to try to make it work.
” His expression was stubborn. “We’re going to do this.
” His gaze softened. “I mean, as long as all of you are willing to do so. You don’t have to. ”
Yannoma actually rolled her eyes. “Of course, we’re going to do this, little prince. Why do you think we’re here?”
Trill nodded. “I want to help, truly. I’ve always wanted to help.”
He wasn’t sure he could truly express how much he wanted to help people and how often he had felt like he couldn’t. Since he’d found out what he could do, he’d tried to make small, barely noticeable changes to stay alive. But he’d always wanted to do more.
“Perhaps you could speak with our doctor, Elorinn,” the Queen suggested. “There may be some opportunities for future healing or emergencies that you would be able to assist with.”
Trill brightened. “Really?”
The Queen inclined her head. “It will be her decision, of course, but she has always supported Perian, and I don’t believe she will have any issues with what you are able to do.”
Perian was smiling at him and confirmed, “The doctor’s very kind. I can go with you, if you like.”
Nodding, Trill said, “Yes, thank you.”
“Actually,” Perian added, “we should totally ask for her advice. She was the one who told me that I’d healed Molun and helped me realize what I needed to do last time with Kee. She might have suggestions.”
She was the one, Trill remembered suddenly, who’d made Perian realize that he was a Life Mage. Was it possible she knew more than she’d said?
“Consult with the doctor,” the Queen agreed. “Perform what tests you are able. Let me know what resources you need, and I will ensure it happens.” She considered them for a long moment. “Thank you for trying to help my son.”
“Of course,” Perian said earnestly. “We want him to be well.”
There was a chorus of agreement and thanks, they all bowed, and then they were finally out of that room.
It was only once they were alone in the corridor, that Trill said, “Did that really happen?”
Yannoma’s voice was still a bit cynical. “It hasn’t happened yet.”
Perian blew out a breath. “You’re not wrong. I think the Queen is being genuine in what she says, and I think she intends to follow through on her promise. But it would be really good if healing Kee goes right.” He shot a glance at the Prince. “Primarily for you! We want you to be well!”
The Prince smiled. “I know. I also fully understand that we’re asking you to do something you’ve never done before, which hasn’t been attempted for hundreds of years or maybe not ever, with absolutely no instruction.
We all understand how complicated this is, and we know this might not turn out the way we want. ”
The stubborn look on Cormal’s face said it had better turn out the way they wanted. Trill really didn’t want to be responsible for anything happening to the Prince. He also couldn’t imagine what it would be like to never again be able to touch anyone or anything.
Perian led them to the doctor’s office, knocking on the door.
“Doctor? Are you here? I come with visitors.”
An older woman with hair beginning to go gray appeared from an inner room, her face lighting up when she saw Perian.
“How good to see you again, Perian. You’re still doing well?”
He nodded. “Yes, thank you. We’ve been to see the Queen, so I’m better than I was yesterday, anyway, when I was a bundle of nerves. Uh, we’re hoping for your help.”
“What can I do?” she asked seriously.
Perian introduced her to Trill and Yannoma, the only two she hadn’t met before, apparently. The doctor’s eyes lingered for a long moment on Yannoma before returning to Perian, who laid out everything related to the need to heal the Prince and what they’d tried so far.
She looked thoughtful. Her eyes went again to Yannoma. “You’ve agreed to help them?”
Yannoma gave something that was half nod, half shrug. “Perhaps they are just naive enough to be able to convince others to do something absurd.”
The doctor huffed an amused breath. “Yes, perhaps.” Her eyes strayed to Cormal. “They’ve certainly changed some stubborn minds.”
Cormal’s voice was self-deprecating. “I sometimes need a lot of time to process, but I can get there eventually.”
The doctor hesitated for a moment. “I might have something that will help. Or it might not help at all. I’m not sure.”
They exchanged glances. What did that mean?
“We’ll take any help we can get,” Perian assured her.
The doctor’s gaze had gone back to Yannoma. “You’re the one who’ll need to look at it. Will you promise to give it back to me afterwards?”
Yannoma was clearly puzzled, but she said, “Certainly.”
“Wait here a moment.”
The doctor disappeared back into the room she had come from. Everyone still looked puzzled, and this didn’t change when the doctor emerged with a book.
It looked old but lovingly cared for, bound in dark leather that had gone soft and worn at the corners. It wasn’t terribly thick.
The doctor hesitated for a moment but then handed it to Yannoma. “I hope it can help.”
Cormal sounded incensed when he said, “You’ve had a book this whole time and you never gave it to us? Even if you thought I was untrustworthy, surely you could have given it to Molun or Arvus or one of the others. Kinan’s life is at stake!”
He took a step forward, and the Prince edged in between Cormal and the doctor. Cormal looked at him, looked down at his own clenched fists, and let out a sharp sigh. He shook out his hands and stepped back.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
The doctor shot him a look. “It would not have done you any good. Look.”
Yannoma opened the book and revealed close, handwritten script… in a language Trill didn’t know. From the confused murmur of the others, this wasn’t the Old Tongue.
And then Yannoma sucked in a breath. “This is Carnalic.”
They all stared blankly at her and then their eyes flew to the doctor.
She nodded. “From a great-great-numerous times removed grandmother.” She hesitated for a moment. “Who was a Life Mage.”
“Oh,” Trill breathed, at the same time that Perian lurched forward and wrapped his arms around the doctor.
She looked very startled, but then her expression softened, and she hugged him back.
Gently, she said, “She didn’t survive the Great Cataclysm, nor her children, but her grandchildren did, and they managed to hide the book.
It’s been passed down from parent to child in my family this whole time, along with the secret of what a Life Mage is.
But I thought they might genuinely be gone, everyone in hiding and the blood growing thinner and thinner as it did in my family.
Only then Perian arrived. I suspected quite early what he was, but I was equally certain he didn’t know and so wouldn’t be able to read the book.
To my knowledge, I’ve never interacted with someone who could read it. ”
“It’s been a long time,” Yannoma said, still staring down at the book. “We do not have a lot of written history, or at least, I have never seen any. But I did learn. Long ago. I will have to sit with it and see what I can decipher.”
Trill couldn’t imagine trying to translate a language he hadn’t used in centuries.
“You’re welcome to work on it here if you’d like,” the doctor invited.
Trill’s thoughts were suddenly arrested. Was that—? He eyed the doctor and Yannoma. Yes, it definitely was.
Yannoma was smirking. “I’d like that. I’m not supposed to wander the castle on my own.”
“I’m sure we can send someone to fetch a Mage Warrior to escort you where you need to go afterwards.”
Perian was looking between them with confusion and then dawning understanding. He looked sort of stunned, and Trill remembered suddenly that Yannoma was his mother. Would this cause a problem?
But Perian said, “We can definitely send someone at dinner time. I’m sure you’ll be busy until then. Everybody stay safe and, uh, have fun.”
The rest of them looked at him with confusion until dawning realization crossed their faces. Molun looked intrigued. Cormal looked very uncomfortable. Arvus looked as stoic as ever, and the Prince’s attention was on Cormal.
Yannoma and the doctor were still staring at one another.
“If you would consider translating and writing down any pertinent sections, if there are any, that would be very much appreciated,” Perian said hurriedly. “All right, we’re leaving now.”
They made it out into the hallway before Molun said, “Wow,” and they all burst into laughter. Still grinning, he added, “That was not how I thought that was going to go.”
“I’m glad they’re interested in one another,” Perian said, looking a bit amused now.
“I’m really interested in what’s in that journal, but I’m sure they’ll get to it.
Of course, it might turn out to be recipes or an account of a life from hundreds of years ago—which would be really interesting but not necessarily useful to our present situation—but at least it’s more than we had before we went to visit the doctor.
” He turned to Trill. “Oh, I forgot to ask about you helping. I’m so sorry. ”
Trill just shook his head. “No, it’s all right. It was pretty clear there was not a good time to get in the middle of that. I mean, unless you like being in the middle.”
There was more laughter, and Molun tugged Trill closer so he could wrap his arm around him.
“You’re our middle,” Molun said happily.
More calmly, Arvus pointed out, “So long as you would like to be.”
Molun rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, we’re not actually trapping you between us.”
Trill winked at him. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
Molun’s expression turned to a bright grin. “Ooh, can we—”
“Is there anything else we need to do right now?” Cormal asked, face a little strained.