Healing Arts (59)

I placed myself in the corner opposite to miss Hope watching in the silence. I had never returned to the Healers' Hall since my ignoble arrival upon Atlantis which made this the first true chance to witness their healing techniques. I could not be revealed as much from all the moments of talking to Meli of this as what my eyes, ears, and inner sight perceived before me.

Annianka knelt by the padded pallet where the patient was gently laid upon to be treated. A large triple tiered trunk sat open next to her containing a myriad of crystals and stones separated in individual sections. She had already placed a dozen or more of those mixed crystals and stones in a complex pattern of colours upon the woman's naked body. A soft buzzing told me the stones vibrated trying to synchronize with the body part they were placed upon. Annianka would cautiously move them slightly to help them connect properly with the part they resonated with. My mind's eye saw the slow pulsing lines forming an odd shaped net around the crystals as the reached out for each other. Small flickering flames jumped from Annianka's fingertips to the stone she touched which radiated out along the connecting lines of the net that stretched on the body. A quick pop followed by a sizzle sounded to my focused hearing when the flame jumped into the touched crystal to pulse down the net lines.

I continued watching, listening, and sensing in silence as new stones or crystals where added by Annianka to the expanding healing net she created to cover the woman's naked body. I resisted the urge of using my heightened skills to diagnose the unconscious patient's illness to focus on my silent observation. The buzzing turned slowly into lower toned humming in the room as the healing net's synchronicity moved closer to the bio-electronic pulse of the body. The pop and sizzle became intermittent in the background hum as the net reached completion. The resonating hum continued slipping deeper in tone as Annianka charged the last few crystals with her healing fire. I waited in expectation to hear the silence that would signal final synchronization attained between body and healing stones. As Annianka's finger charged the last crystal nestled between the woman's forehead and her hairline, silence filled the room for a scant minute while I heard Annianka sigh in relief.

The squealing sound of metal scrapping off metal screamed through the silence of the room. Miss Hope dropped to her knees and elbows as her clawed hands covered her ears protectively. I side stepped inward to catch Annianka as she was thrown back from the source of the violent sound. The patient's body floated three feet from the pallet as she writhed flinging the healing stones and crystals wildly in the room. As I moved to stand protecting miss Hope, I slipped Annianka behind me. My sword was in hand slicing at the projectiles shooting and rebounding toward us. I could see without using my inner sight that the stones glowed with the flaming magical healing ability of Annianka. My arm and sword blurred as it sliced through the charged stones that ricocheted from all the flat surfaces of the room. I felt Annianka curled up behind me as her magic rose barriers from the stones to each side of miss Hope and herself.

“Kestrel?” her worried voice whispered in my mind.

“Close the top and do not worry about me.” I ordered mentally. My sword continued slicing the stones and crystals to the floor. I placed enough force in my blows to embed their remains into the floor where they smoked. The body dropped to the pallet with my slicing through the last airborne crystal. “Clear!” I screamed into the silence. I once more felt Annianka's power swirling out as she deconstructed their protective stone shield. I glanced back to spot Annianka examining miss Hope's left ear. “How is her hearing?” I asked at a normal volume. As I waited for a reply, I visually scanned the room looking for a clue about this seeming attack.

“It will take an hour or two before it returns fully.” Annianka replied. “No true damage to them.” she continued calmly. I glanced back to see the snarl on miss Hope's face as Annianka peered in the feline's right ear. “Thanks those that sent your sword to my side my loving mate.” she added in a whisper to me.

“Do you know what happened?” I replied. The mild blush on my cheeks had answered her whispered comment. “Or is this a typical Atlantian healing?” I added quickly.

“It was the last stone I placed.” she returned. “That stone was either changed after I charged it or something changed the charge negative in that stone which could possible be from her own body.” she explained slowly. “I saw the colour change which is impossible to my knowledge.” she added annoyed. I cautiously moved to kneel on the other side of the patient. Annianka mirrored my motion to return kneeling in her original position opposing my placement.

“Does she have earth wielder abilities?” I mused.

“No.” she interjected back. I began scanning the patient's body sensing Annianka doing the same. “I cannot find an illness in her.” she remarked.

“I found the same results.” I confirmed.

“A minor water ability.” she returned.

“No earth, nor fire, nor air.” I stated.

“But a minor spirit spark.” she informed me.

“Could an external source have caused it to happen?” I suggested. “Possibly the same source that made her slip into unconsciousness?” I hazarded softly.

“Either of us would have felt another presence doing so.” she retorted. “We would see a second entity if it was some form of possession.” she continued. I let part of my mind slide out of the flow of time to examine the events as they first occurred. I found nothing. No stone replacement or negative charging occurred before the patient hovered and twisted as all the stones and crystals screamed in pain.

“I shall send word to the magical investigation department to fully examine this room.” miss Hope growled loudly.

“It would be of no use.” I stated loud. She glared at me for a moment before I mentally repeated my words to her. She growled a little louder at me. “This way you can hear our words.” I added softly in her mind.

“Why would it be useless?” she roared. I saw Annianka cringe at the roar before her shoulders straightened.

“Because the two most powerful beings present could find nothing.” Annianka retorted hard. I felt the whispered telepathic copy of her words sent to miss Hope's mind with the same vehemence.

“And it may bring questions from the Council about Her Holiness.” I whispered in miss Hope's mind alone. Her growl came to a sudden choking stop followed by a nearly imperceptible gulp.

“As you see fit Holiness.” she replied less loud.

“No reason for her to have lost consciousness to begin with.” Annianka muttered half to herself. “Unless the healing some how worked instantly on the disease.” she continued mumbling. “But she should have regained consciousness by now, right?” she added.

“Relax sweetness.” I whispered to her. “Let her rest while observing her.” I continued softly. I could easily spark the parts of her mind needed to force her out of unconsciousness but refused to do this before making sure everything else was alright. I knew Annianka felt the same way in this situation. “Her body may still need a bit more time to reawaken from the condition that made her collapse.” I suggested easier. She sighed and nodded sadly to me while I examined the patient's mind more closely.

“You are still examining her?” she accused me petulantly. I felt the touch of her mind following mine as I slipped around the patient's cerebral cells.

“Yes.” I interjected softly. “But I am not finding any cellular damage so far to explain her episode outside nor the violent reaction to the healing net.” I explained slowly.

“Move to the muscles afterwards.” she remarked to me. “I will verify the internal organs in her torso before examining the bones at that level.” she continued easily. Another hour, nearly two, passed as we together gave her cells a clear pass lacking irregularity that could cause this woman's illness.

“The younger son mentioned that she had appeared in ill health for some time now.” I reported. “He also reported a pair of dizziness episodes during her walk with her boys.” I continued calmly. “Including pre-sentience regarding her collapse making her use a route taking her by your tower.”

“Which relates to many different diseases and possibilities.” Annianka retorted. “Did the boy mention any other symptoms?” I shook my head as a reply. “What about a chemical imbalance?” she suggested. “Or a foreign element in her system causing this.” she added.

“I will check the brain liquid and her skin.” I returned easily.

“I will verify her blood and breath.” she stated back.

“What can I do?” miss Hope pipped in.

“Send word to her partner to report to us.” Annianka replied.

“And word to the Healers' Hall to transport her there if she remains unconscious.” I added in.

“Yes.” Annianka interjected. “And making arrangement for her boys to be collected from the school if we are not available.” she continued.

“Send the request to Nä'Tash-Dēn.” I reported. “Her daughter is a friend of her sons.” I explained. “And they know of the situation.” I concluded quickly.

“I will send Royal Guard cadets immediately.” miss Hope accepted quickly. She stepped out of the room in her typical silent manner.

“I am happy she can hear again.” I said quietly.

“You dislike her hearing our tender words.” Annianka returned.

“It is not her hearing our words that make me nervous.” I replied casually.

“I am certain your performance entertains her half as much as it satiates my body.” she answered. A slight blush touched her cheeks. An hour passed in silent examination.

“No cerebral imbalances nor foreign matter found.” I reported.

“Nothing odd in her circulatory system.” she stated. As another hour crawled by, I moved my intense mental exam from the patient's skin to her hair and nails still finding no answers.

“Still nothing.” I commented. “Any other possibilities?” I continued easily. Annianka shook her head back at me as she shrugged. “I know we can spark her brain forcing her to regain consciousness.” I hazarded softly.

“But it can cause damage to her brain.” she replied quickly. “Causing damage outweighs learning more symptoms with no real disease present.” she continued haltingly. I felt her pulling away from the unconscious woman receding deeper into thoughts as miss Hope reentered the room with a pair of servants. Each servant carried a tray of food in their hands.

“You must eat!” the tigress rebuked us. “After your meal, you can speak with her mate.” she informed Annianka. “It will give a chance for Lord Kestrel to collect her sons with Nä'Tash-Dēn and trio of elder cadets.” she told me. “A transportation team from the Healers' Hall is waiting here presently to deliver her to the Hall upon your orders.” she concluded. I rose from my knees to assist Annianka to the corner of the room where the servants waited to serve our meal to us. My near noon arrival prevented me from taking a meal until now.

“None of this makes sense.” She grumbled exasperated. She sat cross-legged with her back against the wall mimicking my placement on the other wall perfectly. She did not seem to notice that it expose most of her legs and gave me a view best reserved for in private. “Something must have been missed.” she retorted to herself. “What could keep her unconscious if she is fully healthy?”

“Physical, mental, or even emotional exhaustion could cause this.” I remarked. It was a simplistic possibility but valid if she suffered a lengthy illness. “A deep sleep that simulates unconsciousness is the most prevalent answer.” I explained easily. I collected a purplish-red grape in my fingertips holding it before her. “Eat for now sweetness.” I ordered her gently. “We can deal with all of it later.” I added softly.

“Your Hand speaks truthfully.” the servant at her side stated. She then blushed as I glanced at her and to the young man at my side who glared in her direction.

“Please forgive my sister's speaking without permission Holiness.” the man said softly. He glanced downward as Annianka glanced up at him. “She does not yet know her place as a simple servant in Your Presence.” he added quickly.

“It is acceptable to me that she speaks her mind.” Annianka returned bluntly at him.

“Wise and honourable words should never be held back by something as petty as rank when in private.” I told him. He turned slightly to stare down in disbelief at me. “Others may chastise you for her words but it is not the way of Her Holiness.” I explained casually to him. “Do you not require extra hands around your tower Holy Annianka?” She popped a large piece of cheese in her mouth to avoid answering.

“She will ignore that suggestion Lord Kestrel.” miss Hope stated with a minor growl. I tsk-tsked at Annianka over this little matter.

“You need a handmaiden and gentlemen-butler to assist in the maintenance of this tower.” I explained easily.

“You can punish me for that later.” she mentally suggested to me. I ignored this taunt before continuing.

“But that can be decided, like many other things, at a later time.” I concluded. We sat in an external silence while mentally we whispered tender and teasing words. I brought up the idea of accepting helpers a few more times with her during our discussion but she would constantly change the subject. I gave up attempting to change her mind and turned more silent when the meal ended. I departed without a word to her as she returned to knell by her patient. Miss Hope nodded to me as she open the door for me to walk away with the servants following me out.

“Her Holiness seems very different from most of those in power.” the man stated to me.

“She is a very special person.” I replied softly.

“She bears the title of Heart of Atlantis better than any I have heard in our past.” the woman whispered as she walked behind me. I turned to them before the outer doors with a sigh noticing miss Hope behind them. “We would be more than happy working in Her Holiness' service.” she told me.

“She could use the help of a young lady of your mental skills.” miss Hope said in a purring voice. The girl jumped before turning to curtsy low before miss Hope. Her older brother simply bowed quickly to her before returning his gaze at me. “But she holds firm against having assistance.” she continued.

“But she could not refuse if she does not know about them assisting or if the Council decrees it.” I returned easily. “They could start immediately and I can have word send to Burdish to have the Council pass this edict quickly.” I suggested.

“You truly are an underhanded person.” miss Hope replied.

“It is for the good of Her Holiness, even if she cannot see it directly.” I stated. She smiled a cattish grin as she nodded. “But for now, I must retrieve that woman's children.” I continued easily. “Have them working on the less used portions of the tower until I can have that decree passed miss Hope.” I concluded.

“As you suggest Lord Kestrel.” she replied. I bowed to her before stepping through the door to find Nä'Tash-Dēn arriving to meet me. She pulled up her hood as she stopped by me.

“Once again I get your company.” I said softly. A trio of cadets sprung out from behind her to stand around us. “Still unsure about needing an escort to collect two young boys.” I added softly.

“The cadets need to learn that a simple escort may be required from them as Royal Guards.” Nä'Tash-Dēn returned. “After this morning incident, the Council will be more watchful signifying that we should do the same.” she explained with a minor growl in her tones. “We also show that our cadets are better trained than their supposed Guards.” she added. The edge of her hood lifted enough for me to spot the smirk she wore with her words. I nodded to her before we moved together with the cadets down the street at an normal pace.