When Diana got up, she was embraced by the petite Kalyah, squeezing the last sobs from her. Not intentionally, she knew, the healer would probably have wept with her until they both were dehydrated. Wiping up and clearing out, Diana waited at the door to the hotel for a moment, looking at the poplar, expecting her mother to rise out. It wouldn’t take that long for her to narrow down which tree in the city was Diana’s.

“Did you go for a walk or did you just sit here making this?” Kalyah wondered, smiling at the small garden.

“No, I went for a walk,” Diana replied, recalling the fear of the Ash Makers. She needed information, items, and time to explain. Now was not the time, so she kept silent on the matter.

“Couldn’t handle all the metal, eh Druid?” the Pixie giggled.

“No, I could not,” she said.

Kalyah thought for a moment. “I think there’s supposed to be an old garden at the top of the building. The hosts have it on a map. Maybe I can convince them to give you the keys to it,” she said, grinning. “I haven't missed them staring at my ass. They might clear out the rooms faster with some encouragement.”

Diana regarded the Pixie, wondering if she was the way to get a map from the smugglers. “Are you talking about prostituting yourself?” she asked.

The healer shrugged. “I haven't been the most useful in fixing Jonah, I might as well apply my other talents,” she said.

“It’s with your help that he is able to rise before a week is done,” she replied, holding her staff close to her.

“That’s all on Niae and your blood,” Kalyah smirked. “Plus, I forget a lot better when I’ve been worshiping and I haven't had much time in the last few weeks. I can’t…” She breathed a long breath. “I can’t stop thinking about the crew and how they must be suffering with only the Heroes aboard. There’s no telling what Fia would make them do.”

“Soon, soon we will have them freed,” Diana urged. Should she have her mother start a trial or accusation now? The covens would never believe them. Fia had a hundred ways to cover her tracks, even the brew within them.

“I know, honey, I know,” Kalyah nodded. “So even if you don’t want the keys, I’ll be worshiping all around. Petra and Jilligan might try for me. Not against Niae either to be honest.”

Diana shook her head. “I am fine with Jonah alone,” she said, opening the back door.

“Oh, are you going to worship with him once he’s better?” Kalyah wondered with a waggle of her platinum brows.

The princess paused, looking down at the other woman. “Perhaps,” she remarked.

“Ooh.”

They had dressed Jonah in a white cotton tunic and shorts, the bedsheets and coverings having changed many times. The illness had thinned him and paled his russet brown skin. There was no trace of the clawing that had plagued him. Niae was overjoyed to wake him, and Diana had been hopeful for his recovery before she left. She never expected that three hours later he would be able to wake up. All the many emotions of the day faded from her when stirred on the gigantic bed, and only relief filled her. She laid beside him in the part where she had slept those miserable nights, holding his hand.

“Good morning, sweet child,” Niae said softly, sitting back. The final bit of medical tubing sat in her hands and she set it in the waste as he stared at her.

The Arch Priestess loomed over him, Kalyah was so small beside her.

“Who?” Jonah murmured. He turned to Diana, pointing at Niae and repeated his question.

“The woman that saved your life,” she said simply.

“Okay,” he nodded. “I missed you…” He clumsily fondled her face, hands naturally chilly. He laid a sloppy kiss on her nose, his lips dry.

“I missed you too,” she said as he turned fully over and threw his arms around her. “Oh dear, you missed me a lot it seems…”

“Is something wrong, dear girl?” Niae asked, rising up.

Jonah was pressing himself against Diana, legs struggling to wrap around hers. Her skirt was going everywhere and she helped him over the hurtle of her thigh. He held her to him, kissing the top of her head with a weakness to his body.

“No, nothing wrong, he’s just quite excited to see me again,” Diana replied, giggling.

Any coyness was lost as the Arch Priestess ran a scanning hand over him. “His penis is erect, I see,” she said. “That is good, many suffered from sterilization or complete loss of function. As you know, we stopped any claws from reaching his brain and we kept his testicles from bleeding as well.”

“The two most important parts of any man,” Diana said sarcastically.

Kalyah broke out into snickers.

Jonah was already snoring on the pillow above her head.

“I would not push him in this state,” Niae said with a grin. “It may be several days before he has the strength to perform.”

“Noted,” the princess said. She scratched his scalp and breathed in the scent of his hair. She desired him so much and she would enjoy being alone with him when he was willing.

“I thank the Goddess he recovered so quickly,” Niae said, breathing in relief. “The god of pestilence did not best us.”

“I thank Her too and you all. I am not much of a praying woman, but I’ll pray in thanks for his recovery,” Diana said, smiling at the four of them. Niae’s children were the most tired, Jonah having been their charge for the last twelve hours.

“The Goddess hears all, no matter the gap in time,” Niae said, bowing her head. “We will return in a few hours after a rest. He should be asleep for some time. Should anything happen, you have our number, dear.”

Kalyah got up and pet Jonah’s arm. “You came through, honey, you fought so hard,” she said quietly. “Thank the Goddess.”

“He had a good reason,” Niae said with a giggle.

Diana felt herself flush. She was the reason he was afflicted, she didn’t deserve to be the sole reason he came back. “May I talk to you in private, Niae?” she asked.

“Yes, dear,” she said.

Out in the darkened hallway the Arch Priestess’s hair and eyes shone brightly. Diana had to crane her neck to meet her gaze. Aiko cuddled with Jonah for the time being and Kalyah was helping the Niae’s children pack their supplies into the vehicle outside.

“What do you need, child?” Niae asked gently.

“Would you be able to make Ash Maker wards?” Diana wondered.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The High elf blinked. “Why do you require such precautions?”

“I don’t,” Diana said, not exactly a lie, she figured. “I would like them and Fia never provided them to Jonah and me.”

“Are you planning to confront Ash Makers here in Alp’a Linn?” Niae pressed in concern.

“There aren’t many around here I hope,” she replied in lue of a lie.

Like the queen, the Arch Priestess searched Diana’s face, except much slower and subdued, the latter only because of her age.

“I plan on leaving here and fighting the war on my own. The war, not people,” Diana went on. “I have no ill will for individual Ash Makers, maybe the ones that organized the plot, if they were Ash Makers.” She held up her hands in a peaceful gesture. “I only want protection and I am unable to make the wards myself. My journey truly starts in the city and it will be a long one. If you could help me further, then I would appreciate it. The church agrees on imprisonment, and I want that for Blodwyn. I have Kalyah with me, and the Corpine followers are meant to preach peace and she has. I was far more bloodthirsty when I first met her. I only want protection against those that might consider themselves my enemy. Kalyah is already warded, but Jonah and I are not.”

Niae nodded. “I see, they are no easy task to make, but I will have them for you as soon as possible,” she said, expression flat in thought.

“I’m sorry to ask you this so soon after you saved Jonah’s life,” Diana said, filled with more guilt.

Niae shook her head now. “I have lived to serve for nearly a millennia, my dear girl, I enjoy it immensely. After my rest, I will begin the prayers on the stones for your wards.”

Diana was about to ask to spare Kalyah the knowledge, but any more secrecy for the day and she would make herself sick. “Thank you, I can’t say that enough,” she said, bowing her head.

“I would do it a thousand times over, miss. May the Goddess bless your pursuits,” Niae said, bowing deeper back.

The two said their farewells and Diana returned to Jonah.

Jonah woke with aches all over his body, struggling to rise. The clock in front of his eyes made no sense. The numbers were off and the date was off by weeks. He briefly recalled being awakened by a giant woman and cuddling Diana. His drunken mind took in that he recovered quickly, so it couldn’t have been another two weeks. At least he hoped that it wasn’t.

His mouth dry, head pounding, it was an accomplishment to get up on his elbows. The room around him felt dream-like, dimmer than it was before, but no less strange. It might as well be an auditorium they were trying to live in. Was he still dreaming? He knew the missing days had been him asleep, hands gliding over him, voices interrupting the ethereal wonder of his dreams.

Diana rose from the bed now, her auburn hair so dark in the shade of the room. Snapping her fingers, orbs on the ceiling burst into clear light and the spacious gray room lit up. The princess put a hand to his brow, shadowing his eyes as he winced.

“How do you feel?” she asked, deep concern in her rich earth stare. She stacked pillows behind his back, caressing his arm.

Sitting up he felt better and he told her so.

“Fantastic,” she said, brushing his cheek. The warmth of her hands comforted him further. He saw what she wore now, one of his black tunics cut down her sternum, and a pair of white cotton panties that only showed because the shirt was rolled up to her belly. She laughed at his gaze, drawing in her strong slick legs to sit on her shins. “Is this a pleasant way to wake up, or should I take off more clothes?” she asked, holding his face, a smile bright on her pink lips. Her eyes were lightly shadowed and lined, her hair was freshly brushed and styled, and she smelled wonderful.

“You were waiting for me?” he asked, running his hands along her arms.

She frowned slightly. “Not long, but I owe you some titlation at least,” she said.

“Why?”

She scoffed a laugh. “I’m the reason you nearly died,” she said plainly.

He thought back for a moment. His last solid memory was puking his guts up in the bright city. “The Witch did it,” he said. “After I insulted her.”

Diana sighed. “Because I went roaring after her,” she said with tired frustration at herself. “There’s no point arguing the guilt Jonah, it’s on me. Like when I blasted you with wind into the wall, it is another sin I have to bear.”

“Not forever,” he replied. “I forgave you for that and I don’t blame you now.” He turned and tried to get off the bed. His joints shifted tightly, shooting pain in protest. Diana rushed to his side and held him there, arms wrapped around his core. Her head pressed into his collarbone, staring up with glassy eyes.

“Don’t rush yourself,” she said quietly. Aiko the tiger came up to his feet, chuffing at him, blinking lazily. “You’ve been sick for four days, and you’re lucky to have gotten better so soon,” the Druid went on.

Jonah put his arms around her. “I’m sorry I’m always in danger,” he said, kissing her head.

She gave a weak laugh. “I’ve been in plenty myself, more than I ever expected to be. You just got stuck with the consequences,” she said, squeezing him tight.

“I think it was worth cursing out the Witch,” he remarked, trying to sound brave. If he was alone, then he knew he could never feel like that.

Diana was stern in her gaze. “One day we will curse her out and she will rot forever in the Tombs,” she said boldly.

Jonah brought up his arm screen and scanned the recordings. “Oh fuck, no…” he breathed.

She watched the items scrolling past. “What? What’s wrong?” she asked.

He tapped the glass. “It’s…” The text kept going and going. There was no end to them, a blur of black. There were only a few untitled ones before, now they all were a random date and time. What was the date for the Witch’s confession? What was the date now? How long had the recording been? Spawning a speaker on his arm, he started to play them. Silence. Minutes of silence. After three minutes of nothing, fast forwarded, there were ones of ear grating static.

Head in his hands, Jonah’s face stung with tears. “There’s hundreds of them, and I don’t know why…” he said, voice quaking.

Running a soothing hand up his back, Diana gently shushed him. “It’s all right, it’s all right,” she said. “You’ll find them some day, don’t worry.”

“They might be gone, I’m not sure. Why did this happen?” he asked, his heart thudding in fear.

“The illness commonly causes memory loss and confusion, sweet boy,” Diana said, holding his face. Her thumbs caught tears and she pecked his lips. “The Arch Priestess kept your mind intact, but the memory on your limbs took a hit. If Niae had not been there, then you would have been such a mess, as Fia intended. I don’t understand your abilities, but I hope they aren’t lost. Even if they are, then… we will find a way to take the Heroes down without it. Relax my sweetheart, I’m happy to have you back at all.”

The terms of endearment slowed Jonah’s racing panic, flooding him with a quiet calm. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, as usual,” she said firmly. “Don’t worry about getting those recordings, only worry about getting better.”

Images flashed before his eyes. “I still have the pictures of the cells and your injuries,” he said. “Not that it helps without the context.”

“Good, but don’t worry, dear, it’s going to all be okay,” she urged him.

He struggled to his feet, trying to do it without her help. The moment that she stepped away, his legs gave and he nearly fell. Oh God, I’m back to this again, he thought as she supported him to the bathroom. A large toilet in the corner of the room with a door, which she shut for him, Aiko waiting outside it.

While trying to quietly use it, his guts twisting painfully, he heard the rolling of stone. Coming out he saw that Diana had dragged the bed much closer to the bathroom. “I wish I could bring the sink and shower closer,” she said, lowering her hands. She looked to the sink some ten feet away and the shower some hundred or so. “You would think the Grands would fill this with ornate tapestries and the finest silks. Apparently they have some philosophy about bedrooms only being for the essentials. Why they're arranged like this, I have no idea.”

Jonah leaned heavily against the wall, able to walk shakily towards the sink. “No, no, please, let me just do this,” he said, gesturing her away.

“Sweetie, don’t push yourself, you had a deadly illness for days, I should be helping you,” she said, hovering around him.

“I can make it to the sink,” he said, legs trembling.

She and the tiger kept following him, ready to take hold of him at a moment’s notice. Washing his hands, he saw what another encounter with death had done to him in the mirror. The rings dark around his eyes, cheeks thinned, and eyes bloodshot. Diana was so sweet on him still, and he saw her sympathy behind him in the reflection. Sighing deeply, he hung his head. She hugged him, face pressing into his back.

“You’ll be up on your own in no time, my dear,” she said gently.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why what?” she wondered.

“Why are you calling me all those nice things?” he asked firmly. “You’re not guilty of anything.”

She tilted her head, finding his face in his self-pity. “Because I mean them, that’s all,” she said, petting his cheek.

“Yeah, sorry,” he said. His hands scraped loudly across the ceramic sink and when he left it, he nearly fell over. She caught him and the tiger came beside him, just in case. “I hate being back here again!” His hand clinked on the sink. His stomach lurched with nausea, growling in its emptiness.

She brought him back to the bed and he ate some yogurt and sweet bread from a cooler. From the taste alone he could tell it was blessed. She insisted that he needed more rest and he laid down with her again. All the effort she put into her appearance, he thought, all to play nurse to me.

He wasn’t going to let her play that for long and he had recovered from worse before. What was a magical illness compared to losing all his limbs? He couldn’t be her equal in magic, she had trained her whole life, but he wasn’t going to be her greatest concern.