Chapter 26

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Sebastian made his way to the house of healing. He was paying attention to the body language of people as he passed, hoping to assess the mood of the castle.  Fearing the news of the patients tended the previous evening.  Checking the position of the sun to gauge what time it was he noticed it was low in the east so still the same day. 

Approaching the door to the house of healing Sebastian caught the sounds of a commotion inside.  Picking up his pace he rushed through the door to see Amarna on the floor bleeding.  The blood pooled around her from the wound on her head.  A man standing over her, a candlestick dripping blood in his hands, held in a death grip.  Letting out a bellowing roar he charged the man, bowling him over.  It was at this point Sebastian realized he was in dragon form.  People rushing from rooms around the foyer all just froze in shock. 

“D, D, Dragon,” screeched someone from the top of the stairs and then collapsed, tumbling down.  She hit the bottom with a sickening crunch.  That seemed to be the cue to everyone else that there was a problem.  Rushing about gathering supplies some went to attend to the girl at the bottom of the stairs, others to help Amarna and yet more to deal with the man trapped under Sebastian’s claws. 

“Sir dragon if you wouldn’t mind moving your foot so we can attend to his injuries?  Also, your wing joint is bleeding and must be seen to.  If you would follow Lugh here, he will see what he can do for it.” 

Sebastian raised his foot off the fallen man noting the pierced skin.  Looking around, he saw ten people yet could only sense the life essence of eight.  His stomach tied itself in knots and he retched at the realization he had caused the death of two people.  “He is dead, and so is she I am afraid,” his head indicating the lady at the bottom of the steps.  Turning he followed Lugh into another room to have his wing joint seen to.  

Knowing the poor healer could not reach his injury while standing, he folded his legs underneath himself and lay down on the floor.  His wing burning and throbbing, as Lugh began tending to the bleeding.  Every shift of the wing was like having the knife driven into the wound over and over again.  Sebastian bellowing in pain passed out. 

"Sebastian!! Drat, where are you, boy? Why aren’t you answering?" 

The echoing voice of Sigmund reverberated through his pain-addled skull.  Carefully raising his head, he surveyed his surroundings.  He was still in the house of healing and in no condition to go anywhere.  The pain in his wing reminded him, he had caused the death of an innocent healer. 

The blast of emotional angst Sebastian released was palpable enough to be felt radiating through the house of healing and into the palace.  The force with which it travelled was enough to knock the unwary over.  The unexpected power triggered something deep in Amarna, as she was awakening from her earlier attack, she sat bolt upright. 

“Erik!  Where is he?  That power blast is going to have unforeseen effects we will need to deal with.  I want any healer still on their feet going through the city helping where needed,” Amarna bellowed. 

  Amarna, her healer's bag in hand entered Sebastian's room.  Seeing him in his draconic form nearly caused her legs to give out.  With care, she approached. 

"Amarna, I killed her...  I don’t even know her name and now she is dead." 

“I have no idea what you are talking about. The last thing I remember was being called to assist then blam; lights out, until your blast of mental anguish flooded the area.”  A look of concern crossed her face.  “There is going to be ramifications of that outcry of yours.  I have sent healers throughout the city to find all those who were ‘flattened’ by that wave.”  She reached out with her senses to check on Sebastian’s condition.  There was swelling in his shoulder and his life energies were flaring sporadically.  The shoulder she could deal with, the energies however would need a different skill; one she did not have.  She feared the outcome if it was not dealt with in a timely fashion.  She considered where someone with the skills and ability to deal with this problem may be.  The only ones capable of something on this level that she knew of are the Fae.  They can be insular and unlikely to be of much help.  They prefer not to leave their realms or travel if they can avoid it. 

Sebastian sat up, “Amarna your presence is requested by Sergei and Sigmund in our chambers.”  As he was rising, Amarna placed a hand on his good shoulder, restraining him with a look.  Gathering her bag, she gave him a look which said stay put, as she left.  Lowering himself back down he began to doze off. 

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