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"Kat!"I opened my eyes again, shuddering very slightly. I looked up and saw Krolaun looking at me in concern. Near my shoulder knelt the Queen, her blue-green eyes watching me as well. I blinked, clearing away the cobwebs in my mind.
"Krol...?
"Oh, thank the Bright Ones," he sighed in relief, "Do you hurt anywhere else?"
"No," I replied, "Just tired."
He waved a hand over my eyes and I could feel the magic encircling me, "Then sleep..." he murmured.
His spell worked well, for sleep did indeed find me--but this time I was not plagued by nightmares.
I woke up again for the third time, and groaned. My head was a throbbing mass, it felt like the worst hangover multiplied tenfold. The back of my neck ached and my eyes felt sore. I heard the door open, but, somehow I knew who it was.
"Did anyone get the description of that warhorse? I think it ran me over..."
"No," Krolaun smiled, "but I got in a few good licks for you. How are you feeling?"
I rubbed at my shoulder, "Better than I did yesterday."
"Well, you must have still been out when they escorted those two hell-witches to the dungeons, in chains and all."
"I must've missed that," I said, smiling slightly at the elf's fervor.
"Bast escorted them," he added.
"That's good," I nodded, "The Stars know that they would have tried something otherwise."
There were a few moments of silence before Krolaun looked at me, "Do you think that you are ready for a true test of your might, against her?" he paused, "Without the Power of One?"
I looked at him seriously, "I have spent the last eight years of my life running from her, and those like her. It is time I stopped running. Power or no, running from this will not make it go away. No matter what, I am ready."
"Good," he said, "Let's get you out of bed and in to see the Queen. She will be worried about you."
I shoved myself out of bed, the blankets falling from my shoulders. I ran a hand through my sleep-tossed hair as I threw my legs out of the bed. I tugged my tunic back into some semblance of proper form. Krolaun opened the door of the chamber, gesturing for me to precede him. With a final tug on my tunic, I stepped out into the Throne Room.
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield