Dia knelt next to the bed, reaching out to the patient, her hand hovering over their abdomen. With a deep breath, she pushed her energy outwards, following a tightly knit pattern. She took a moment of indulgence to feel the spell’s form, how it arched and rushed into a twin set of meandering rivers of impossible geometry. The spell had once been impossible for her, but now it was nothing but rote performance.

Increasing the flow of energy, the pulsing power surged, and the pattern collapsed in on itself. Dia closed her eyes, focusing on the pulse that ran through her patient’s body like a chime. A second pulse, a second chime, and then a third, and a fourth. None of them returned any errant noises, so she collapsed the spell before it ignited a fifth time.

Opening her eyes, she looked down at Embla. The Malumari was as stiff as usual, laying perfectly still and looking straight at the ceiling. Dia could sense the maiden’s incredible power as it surged out, saturating every corner of Embla’s form. Only then did the patient relax, letting out a soft sigh.

“You should exercise,” Dia chided, standing up. “Without an outlet for your energy, your health might take a turn for the worse.” Smoothing out her uniform, she gave a slight nod. “Physically, you’re as healthy as you can be. There’s nothing more I could help you with.”

Embla remained still for a moment, closing her eyes. “I see.”

The silence stretched out in the small hut. Dia watched Embla for a moment. “My Lord wishes to speak to you.”

The patient stirred, glancing at her with a frown. “You don’t want him to.”

“Of course I don’t,” She huffed.

Embla’s pale brows furrowed. It was an amusing sight, white caterpillars starkly contrasting against her charcoal skin. “I don’t wish to speak to him, but if he wants to blab, I can’t stop him.” Her eyes turned back to the ceiling. “I am a prisoner, after all.”

Dia sighed inwardly. If Rick were treating her as a prisoner, things would be so much easier. She still couldn’t understand why he’d kept her like this. Was it because Urtha had vouched for her as an “honorable warrior”? That she was connected to one of Rick’s former students? Or something else? “Promise not to hurt him,” She stated, her jaw setting in place.

“Why should I?”

“Because I am asking it of you. If nothing else, as the one who healed you,” She straightened. “If you don’t, then I will tell him you refused, and that will be that.”

This caught Embla’s attention. A brow rose. “You would lie to him?” The question lingered unanswered, their eyes met as they tested out each other’s patience.

If there was one thing in this world that a healer had to master, it was the art of staring someone down. Even if said someone was powerful enough to crush you with a flick of their arm. It was a skill Dia had many opportunities to polish as of late. So she crossed her arms and kept the neutral 'stare of disappointment' unwavering.

Embla relented. “Very well. I promise.” She lay back down. “Do not expect answers out of me, however.”

“Of course not, you have your own human to serve.”

The barbed comment struck true and Embla scowled. Dia nodded smugly, approaching the entrance door and knocking twice. After a minute or so, the door opened and Rick stepped into the room.

“Good day.” He greeted with a slight bow of his head, giving Dia a quick smile before moving towards the chair at the center of the room.

There was a second chair tucked in the corner, but Dia took her position slightly behind and to the right of Rick. Her gaze focused on Embla, trying to keep a measure of the Malumari.

“A messenger from the nobles of Aubria showed up recently,” he declared with the same calmness one would use to talk about the weather. “I could make some predictions about what’ll happen to you if they retake Sinco, but it would be exhausting and you’re a big girl. You can make your own damn escape whenever you want.”

“You would track me down,” was her rebuttal.

“Of course I would. I want the Pinielf dead and you’re currently my best bet.” He leaned back in his chair, observing her for a moment. “But here’s what I don’t understand. I read about your people, the Dark Elves and how the kingdom turned on you, labeled you ‘Undesirables’ and hunted you.” Tilting his head slightly, he scratched his chin. “Since this was roughly sixty years ago, this leads me to believe you’ve been at this whole thing for most of your life. I doubt you would’ve made it this far without having a trick or two to shake off pursuit.”

Embla growled, fists clenching. “What is your point?”

“I’m trying to figure you out, that’s all,” he replied.

“You’re not going to bond me.”

Dia grimaced at the intensity of the words. Her gaze turned to Rick for a moment as he rubbed his chin. “That’s something I’m actually curious about. You’re bonded to Barry, and he’s as much a human as me. If he weren’t, the bond would’ve snapped by now.” He patted his own shoulder a moment, glancing at Dia. The gesture was obvious enough, she reached out and grasped his hand, squeezing it. With a slight smile and a nod, he turned back to the prisoner. “So I’m curious about that. Is the bond still just as strong? Is it weakening? There has to be limits here, understanding them would be useful to me as well.”

The Malumari’s mouth drew thin, remaining quiet.

“Fine, be that way.” Rick growled, leaning forward. “Time for the heavy guns. First off, you’re still bonded, which means that if you thought Barry’s life were in danger, you would’ve busted out of here without a second thought.” His tone was low. “You’re smart enough to know that I don’t want Barry dead. Even in the worst version of me you can imagine, I’d have a pretty strong interest in keeping him alive. Unless that version is also stupid, which, fair, I guess, you’re here after all and I don’t have a mile of stone separating us.” His shoulders slumped. “My only guess is that either you think going to him puts him in danger… or you can’t face the thought of meeting him again.”

With a snarl, Embla tensed in the bed. “I should kill you.”

“Join the line and wait your turn.”

Startled, she turned to look at him, only the scowl deepened. “You think I won’t?”

Now it was Rick’s turn to remain quiet, shrugging nonchalantly.

"I've seen what you've done with this city. I may be captive, but I'm not blind," Embla's voice was hard and cold. "You lavish the people in riches, coax them with promises, and then you will ask them to die for your cause. Not because they believe in you or your cause, but because you'll have tricked them into it."

Dia squeezed Rick’s shoulder and tensed, her other hand grasping the knife on her belt. She wouldn't be able to make a difference, not against the champion that lay on the bed. The knife in her hand was little more than reassurance. It meant her approach needed to rely on words. "His cause is just," she declared.

"A just cause is worthless if those that support it do so blindly."

At Embla’s words, Rick let out a hard, dry laugh. It was a raspy sound, full of bitterness. "Ok, I’ll bite. How do you expect the city to accept your philosophy?" He met the doubt in her eyes with a shake of his head. "What? If your idea is so good, then convincing me of it should be easy compared to everyone else."

She shook her head. "I know about your world already. You know the truth that maidens deserve freedom, but have not acted upon it." She glanced at Dia. "That one's proof enough."

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Dia snarled, stepping forward. "I serve of my own volition, because it is the right thing to do." A squeeze of Rick’s hand reminded Dia to calm down. She quickly returned to his side. "You had every chance to talk about your views, but you didn’t take it."

"This is not the first time I've been captured," Embla turned back to the ceiling. "Were I to convince you, you'd be imprisoned… or killed."

"Is slavery a fair cost for peace? I say nay, give me liberty or give me death." Rick’s words drew a moment of silence out of both maidens, his eyes boring holes into the Malumari. His lips turned into half a smirk. "The quote goes along those lines anyway."

"Barry said something similar." Embla gave a half nod, showing a half smile.

"Personally, I think it’s a stupid take. Really fucking moronic." The following silence was only interrupted by Rick’s derisive chuckle. "Anyone who thinks the phrase has any validity has their heads so far up their ass they don’t know up from down."

"Shut up." Her body tensed.

"It’s self-flagellation in a bottle." He let out a laugh, a cruel and cold sound. "Oh woe is me, I’m so powerless and dull-witted I can only consider my own death as the answer."

"I said, shut up." This time her words came with a pulse of power. Dia’s grip on Rick’s shoulder became like stone, her other hand grabbing hold of the knife on her belt.

"The only ones who preach that kind of crap are either the people that wouldn’t think twice to cut your head off, or the idiots they fooled to stand in line and offer their necks." He stood up, glaring at her. "Barry’s one of the latter, isn’t he?"

Embla lunged from the bed with enough force to turn both the bed and the wall into an explosion of splinters and cloth. It was a fumbling leap, but she wasn’t up against warriors; she was against Dia and a human. By the time Embla had reached Rick, Dia had barely managed to unsheathe her blade. But she couldn’t do anything. Embla kicked her away right as she pinned her target to the floor by the throat.

It happened in an instant.

No one moved.

Dia’s heart was clenched tightly. “You promised,” she whispered, her breath caught.

“You know I’m right, because we want the same damn thing,” Rick spoke through gritted teeth, clenching the slender arm that held him in place.

“Lies,” Embla hissed, clenching her other fist, ready to slam down and end the human there and then.

“I want a home for me and the people I care for.” He choked out the snarl. There was something wild in his eyes, a manic grin as he squeezed her arm, meeting her gaze. “And if half the kingdom needs to burn to the ground, then I’m bringing the torch.”

As soon as he spoke the words, Embla’s eyes widened and she recoiled, lunging back as if he were about to explode. Her back pressed firmly against the wall, her face a shade paler and mouth agape. “You…” Her voice trembled. “You tried to bond me.”

Dia didn’t wait a second, running to Rick’s side and helping him to sit up. He coughed as he struggled to recover his breath, and she hurried to cast a handful of minor diagnostic spells and immediately followed with some healing.

“The proper quote should be ‘Give me freedom or I’ll shank you in your sleep’,” Rick grimaced, rubbing his throat. “But only idiots go around talking about their desire to murder.” His eyes turned to Dia, an apologetic look crossing his face for a split second before he turned to look at Embla again. “You should’ve felt it as much as I did, your bond is on its last legs.”

The Malumari didn’t say anything, barely moving.

“Free ride ends here.” Slowly, Rick stood, taking Dia’s offered arm to get back on his feet. “What I care about is that the Pinielf’s head ends on a pike. You have a week to think of what you want in exchange for helping me with that problem.”

Embla hesitated. “And if I refuse?”

“There’s your door.” He gestured at the hole she’d made in the wall. “Good luck afterward.”

There were no more words to be said. Dia shot a venomous look at Embla. The Malumari met her gaze and immediately lowered her head to stare at the floor. Dia didn’t care whether it was shame, fear, or something else entirely. She focused on walking Rick out of the cabin and instructing the guards on the situation.

The instant they were clear of the place, Dia turned into an alleyway and dragged her human along with her. With a quiet command, she had the Orcish bodyguards spread out to ensure the two of them would have some privacy.

As soon as their eyes met, he grimaced. “I should’ve-”

“Shut up,” Dia stated flatly, pushing him against the wall. “You and her are never going to be in the same room. Ever.” Her palm pressed against his chest. “You will not bond with her.”

“Uh-”

“No more bonding with maidens that nearly kill you,” she growled. “Monica I understood, she was feral. Kiara was an accident, she didn’t know your tolerances were so low. Eva I’m still dealing with. No more, not one more. Am I clear? Because I’m afraid I’m not making myself clear enough.”

Rick winced. “Dia-”

“No, I don’t care. It’s my turn to be unreasonable,” she increased the pressure. “If destruction rains down on this city and you bond with the one responsible, I will blame you for that destruction,” she leaned closer. “If the earth opens up and you fall into it, and it turns out it was a maiden and you bond with her. I. Will. Blame. You.”

With a nod, he raised both hands in defeat. “Ok,” he conceded, letting out a slight grunt when she finally let him go. “I get it.”

“Good,” she returned the nod, sighing as she combed her hair back. “I know that you sometimes think too little of yourself, so I will explain it in as many ways as I can so that you understand. Your life is not your own anymore. As Lord…” Dia grimaced and shook her head, meeting his black eyes fully. “No. As my human, your life is not your own, okay? I meant it when I said that I would not outlive you, and I’m sure there are others who share this feeling,” she poked his forehead. “Get it through your skull. Every time you risk your life, you’re risking the life of everyone you care for.”

The words made him uncomfortable, exactly how she knew they would. The truth was not comfortable. This was a mess, maidens weren’t meant to give their humans “the talk,” but this would have to be as close an approximation as she could get to it. It wasn’t exactly helpful that the only human Rick was close to was from a land where humans were seen as some sort of pet.

“I’m sor-”

“No apologizing,” she hastily cut him off, finally stepping away. “You are my Lord, and you had a plan. If you thought that I needed to be kept in the dark, then I trust it was the right decision to make.”

Rick looked like he wanted to say something, but whatever it was, he pushed it aside. “I didn’t think bonding with her was possible. I did try earnestly for a bit there because I don’t like being crushed to death,” Dia nodded at his words, urging him to keep talking. “The goal was to rattle the bond.”

Huffing loudly, she crossed her arms. “Did it work?”

“I think so,” his gaze turned distant, as if staring at something very far away. “If we’re lucky, Barry felt it. The way I figure, death is the most violent way to break the bond and it’ll hurt like hell no matter how far away, but for it to break this way would probably be almost as bad.”

“You want to lure Barry into rescuing her,” she postulated.

“It’s what I’d do if you were in her shoes,” Dia preened a little at the seriousness in his tone. “That he hasn’t until now might mean he physically can’t, but it’s worth a shot,” she affirmed. “Either way, she’s too valuable to them, and too much of a risk to lose her. So, Barry knowing that she’s still alive should light a fire under their ass.”

“Good. I’ll make sure to tell Urtha and Kiara to discreetly keep an eye out,” Dia inwardly chided herself for indulging in the brief flight of fancy about being rescued, quickly shifting her focus to her next goal. “As compensation for putting yourself at needless risk instead of bringing your specialist to interrogate the prisoner, I want you to tell me about your world’s medicine. Share everything you know.”

Without waiting a moment, she seized his arm and pulled him back out onto the busy street. Rick’s bodyguards resumed their positions, shadowing their steps towards the busier parts of the city.

Rick blinked at that, his surprise apparent. “Uh, sure, though I’m no doctor. What do you need?” He shot her an apologetic smile. “Fair warning, it’s much worse than anything over here.”

She shook her head. “Perhaps, but I’ve been reaching dead ends with my research. I’m hoping the approach the healers in your world use is different enough to provide a new avenue for progress.” Dia sighed, dejected. “I can barely heal scars. The closest I can get to regenerating lost limbs is when I’m aiding an Orc’s already impressive healing abilities.”

“Maybe Orcs have a surplus of stem cells,” Rick muttered, his expression thoughtful. “I can't begin to comprehend how they expedite the regeneration process. I don’t believe there's anything in my world that can even compare, so there must be some involvement of that elemental energy stuff.”

“It’s…” Dia shook her head, stopping herself before she could delve deeper into the subject. That would take all day. “Stem cells, then?”

“Again, I’m no doctor, and stem cells are a complex topic.” He sheepishly scratched the back of his head. “My understanding is that stem cells are unique because they can transform into virtually any other type of cell the body might need. Humans have more of them when they’re young, but the quantity diminishes with age.”

She nodded, realizing their understanding of biology diverged in some aspects. “Tell me more about cells, please.” Dia offered him a reassuring squeeze, smiling up at him.

“I… sure,” he hesitated slightly. “Although, you should probably be the one educating me on this; you’re the medical expert.”

“I don’t mind,” she announced. “Assume I’m just a student.”

“I’d wonder why I have such an attractive student in my class.”

Dia blushed, brushing her hair behind her ear and leaning closer, relishing the warmth of his arm. His hand rested comfortably on her waist. Absent-mindedly, she stroked the purple fabric she wore in place of her collar.

“I suppose I should start with the mitochondria,” he said. “It’s the powerhouse of the cell.”