Alaron's body shook violently as Aurora, Devrim, their guards, and Brinn raced into the room. Nurlan and Devrim held down the boy to keep him from hurting himself, while Junayd went to fetch the doctor.

The convulsions went on for a minute before the prince went completely still. If not for his breathing, those present would have assumed he was dead.

"What happened?" Mairwen asked, horrified. She had promised her brother healing, and had instead brought terrifying tremors.

Brinn watched him, wondering the same thing. She had seen many humans, including most of those in the room, drink the water with no negative side effects. The doctor had been using the water too and had not mentioned anything like this.

"I think perhaps the magic did not want to leave his body peacefully. Or maybe the damage was so bad, that his body fought the treatment," the elf tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

Closing her eyes, Brinn used her wind magic to listen to the prince as she had before. His heart was beating stronger and his lungs sounded clearer. That was a good sign. She pressed her lips together.

"What is it?" Aurora asked. There was something in the elf's face that worried the Empress.

Brinn hesitated, biting her finger as she thought. "His heart and breathing are much improved, but…"

"Wow! That was quite an exhilarating trip. I feel like I could run all the way to Obsequence and back!" Alaron's eyes popped open, and he sat up easily.

"You are ok!" Mairwen hugged her brother, nearly breaking his ribs in the process. "You scared me!"

"I should not have drank so fast," he admitted. "It gave me quite the head rush." Alaron scratched his head. "Scared you? What did I miss?"

The doctor and Junayd came rushing in just in time to hear the boy's final words. The older gentleman bowed and opened his medical bag. "It is I who missed something. But I am glad to see you are awake, Your Highness. I came as soon as I could. General Junayd said you were convulsing."

"I was? I do not remember that," the prince was genuinely confused. "Anyway, I am fine now as you can see."

The physician looked around at the other's faces. They all still seemed concerned. "Allow me to check you, Prince Alaron. It will only take a moment."

"I do not think that is necessary…" Alaron began, but stopped as he looked toward his twin. Her blue eyes were frantic. The boy's heart clenched. "Very well, but make it quick," he told the physician.

With Mairwen holding his hand, the boy submitted to another examination. The Empress paced impatiently while Devrim watched every move the physician made. The elf made her own observations from afar. Dutifully, the soldiers tried to busy themselves, but generally just appeared to be awkwardly avoiding each other's gaze. For a time, the only sound was the doctors tools against the bag as he removed and replaced them.

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In her extended walk about the room, Aurora kept glancing at the prince to discern his progress. She could almost convince herself that his skin was less grey and his eyes shone brighter. His movement was certainly less labored. The shaking of his hands was all but gone. Perhaps there was hope!

The doctor completed the last of his tests. His face was neutral, which frustrated Aurora to no end.

"Well?" The Empress pressed her hands against her stomach, bracing herself for the answer.

Not ready to make his assessment, the physician made a request. "I would like to speak with Brinn in the hall for a moment. The spymaster seems to have some knowledge on this matter. If it pleases Your Majesty." The doctor bowed to show his respect.

"Yes, of course," Aurora agreed. She watched them leave and counted the minutes until they returned. Alaron stretched his arms and legs about as if he was waking from a long sleep. Everyone watched him in tense silence.

"Your Majesty," Brinn said as she peeked in the door. "We would appreciate a word with you."

"If it is about my diagnosis," Alaron interrupted, "I would prefer we get it over with. No use coddling me from the news."

Aurora agreed with the prince, and the doctor and Brinn reentered.

"I have mixed news," the doctor began. "The good news is that the water seems to have helped significantly. Alaron's heart is beating stronger."

"That is good news!" Mairwen agreed. Her smile grew wide as she squeezed her brother's arm.

"What is the bad news?" Alaron could see their hesitance. Brinn in particular looked concerned. He could attest to the fact he felt much better, like when one recovers from a cold. He hoped the feeling would not be fleeting.

"Spymaster Brinn would be better suited to answer that question," the Doctor answered.

The elf sighed. She had hoped not to be bearer of bad news. "Very well. I cannot explain it, but I can sense the magic in things. Magic affects the air around it. I can 'see' the waves it puts off. I never looked for these waves in the prince, because why should I? Humans should not use magic," she emphasized that point. "If I had been more alert, I might have caught this earlier. I am sorry." Brinn felt responsible for almost everything that was happening. She did not like to fail.

"This is not your fault, and there is no use dwelling in what should have been." The Empress was all too familiar with that game. It was a game against oneself that could never be won. "Please continue with your findings," Aurora urged Brinn.

"The water seems to have purged most of the magic from the boy's body, but not all. I can still sense some magic radiating from him when I focus." The elf closed her eyes to examine again. Small wavelets passed through the air from Alaron to her. Brinn frowned and nodded. "I am not mistaken. The root of the magic is still there."

"But I am feeling better," Alaron protested. "Perhaps it is some other sickness and not magic that has caused me to be ill."

"If only that were true," Brinn sighed. She hit her leg in exasperation. "Alas, I am sure of what I have found."

"Is that it? Did we fail?" Devrim needed to know. An anger against the unseen force gripped him.

"Do not lose hope, Your Majesty. Perhaps the prince needs time for the medicine to complete its work. Healing can take time," the Doctor suggested. He packed up his tools and closed the bag. "He will not be dying any time soon as long as he does not practice magic. I recommend you leave the cuffs on the boy to prevent him from being tempted."

The itch to do magic, though weakened, was still alive inside Alaron. His anger was kindled. "You cannot stop me from practicing what I love. I will do as I please! I am a prince, for Fate's sake!"

"A prince with no future if you continue down this path," Aurora told him as she clutched her heart.

"I will calm my brother down. He will see reason in time. I am sure of it," Mairwen promised.

Aurora glanced at Devrim, who also seemed ready to burst. It was best to end the meeting on a peaceful note. "I will leave Prince Alaron to your comfort." The Empress gave an encouraging nod toward her daughter. "We will send Gandr and Eira to guard you both. And I will be personally checking on your progress, my son." Aurora emphasized the last words and left before Alaron could make a rebuttal.

In the hall, the doctor left them. Junayd and Nurlan fell back to give the other three a chance to speak more privately.

"Do you really think a few days will help Alaron's healing?" Aurora asked Brinn. The elf had neither agreed nor disagreed with the doctor's assessment before.

The spymaster pulled at her chin as she contemplated. "It is hard to tell. Humans are tricky. But I do not think it will help if I am honest." Brinn did not want to lie. They needed to be ready.

"You have been wrong before," Devrim objected. "I say give him a week. Surely His Highness will be fully healed by then." The Emperor placed his hands on his hips confidently.

"I hope you are right, my love," Aurora looked at Devrim with a small smile. Then her face turned grim. "Because things are only going to get harder for him from here."