Artesans of Albia: 02 - King's Champion by Cas Peace Read Free Book Online

planned to do or even thought about, it had just happened; she had instinctively known what to do. This was completely different. She didn’t have the faintest idea how it would work, and she didn’t want to let Sullyan down.
    “What do you want me to do?” she asked.
    Eyes still closed, the younger woman said, “Take my hand and hold it fast. I will not be able to reach you if you let go. Just close your eyes and let me guide you.”
    Rienne did so. Without the distraction of sight, her other senses came alive, heightened beyond anything she had ever known. She felt the others as they came into the structure Robin was forming, even recognizing Marik’s alien psyche. She felt as if she was floating above herself, cushioned on a swirling cloud of ever-changing colors. And then she heard Sullyan’s voice in her mind, surprised that the mental tones were as warm and lilting as her physical voice had been before her ordeal.
    Rienne? Concentrate on me now. You know where the worst hurts are. You cannot completely heal them, but you can close the flesh and strengthen muscles and tendons. Begin with the lesser wounds.
    Suddenly, Rienne could sense the various places where she had stitched Sullyan’s skin. Without even thinking, she used the deep amber power Robin held out to her to meld the flesh and make it strong. Energy seemed to flow over and around Sullyan’s body, doing whatever Rienne commanded, and she felt vaguely intoxicated, as if she could heal the world.
    Robin, warned Sullyan, hold back. You are giving her too much. Remember whose power you are handling.
    Rienne felt some of the force draining away and could almost have cried for the loss. Sullyan’s voice brought her attention back. Rienne, I need you to deal with the ribs now. Can you see, two are broken and one is cracked? Seal the cracked one first, it needs no moving.
    Rienne did so, sealing the cracked bone easily before turning her attention to the broken ones. She felt Robin preparing to use the power to dull the inevitable pain, but Sullyan stopped him.
    No, Robin, I need to feel where the ends are to ensure they align correctly. Go ahead, Rienne.
    Rienne could sense the sweat standing out on Sullyan’s face as she fought not to cry out at the pain of the broken bones being set. She was gasping for breath when Rienne finished. These physical hurts attended to, Rienne was about to open her eyes when something caught her attention. Deep within Sullyan’s soul she sensed a site of great damage and poison. She yearned toward it, eager to cauterize and cleanse. Reaching once again for the power in Robin’s hands, she felt him release it as she approached this vast darkness. The Major had relaxed her vigil in the aftermath of the pain and didn’t immediately react to what Rienne was doing. Suddenly, the healer felt a backlash of refusal and rejection so strong and violent it hurt. The irresistible force flung her away from the area.
    Don’t stop me, Sullyan, she pleaded. I can heal you of that. It will kill you otherwise.
    There was pain and panic in Sullyan’s tone. No, Rienne. You cannot heal there. You will destroy us both if you try. Rienne, HEAR ME!
    The healer fought, desperate to follow her instincts, but Sullyan was too strong. Once again, Rienne was forced away. She heard the Major calling on Marik and watched while the Count’s power, weak though it was, enveloped the terrible area, walling it off.
    Puzzled and hurt, she opened her eyes. “Why did you stop me? Don’t you know that it will—?”
    Painfully, Sullyan gripped her hands, preventing her from finishing her sentence. “Leave it, Rienne.” Exhausted, she lay back in Robin’s arms. “Let me sleep now. Robin, wake me at dawn, do you hear? Time is pressing, and there are things that must be done. Bulldog, make sure he obeys me.”
    Robin glared. “You don’t need to set Bull on me. I’ll do as you ask.”
    “See that you do,” she murmured, smiling.
    Rienne watched as the