LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 23
Wayte raised an eyebrow at Dmitri’s order. Dmitri, realising that he’d just given his captor an order looked away in embarrassment. Wayte just shook his head and went out to Arcaedus who shuffled into the cell shortly after.
“Claudia my dear,” he started, “Am I to assume that you have not yet done any transmutations for us? You know I will make life easier for you if you do.”
Claudia shook her head, “No, I’m sorry, I haven’t. I can’t even reach the magic with the dampening field you put up.”
“Yes, it is quite a strong one,” replied Arcaedus, “The Lord insisted I use his inner spirit to strengthen it, and it seems that he is a lot stronger than any of us knew. We have to be careful around him.”
He turned to face Dmitri, his blind eyes seeming to look straight through him, “And you Dmitri, how are you finding it here? Oh don’t bother answering; I can smell the stench in this cell. But help Claudia with her problem and I am certain that we can help you find what you are looking for. Now, I must go, young Birkett worries so and I’m afraid that he may do something rash in an attempt to impress me.”
He shuffled out and Wayte came back in and tossed a pouch to Claudia. He looked at Dmitri, “I’m sorry Dmitri, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper last night. It is something about this place, sometimes I can’t even remember what I’ve done all day. Claudia, you can use the contents of that pouch to help Dmitri’s face to heal.”
“Thank you,” said Dmitri, “I know it is hard for you in this place, but you have to fight it. We can win against Draycott, I swear.”
Wayte nodded in agreement, “I know. I fight with every fibre of my being.”
“But be careful, we can’t survive this without you,” said Claudia, watching Wayte turning to leave. “One more thing Wayte,” she added and he turned to face her, “I forgive you,” she finished.
A sad smile appeared on Wayte’s face and he left.
Claudia lost no time in rummaging through the pouch and finding the materials she needed. Using one of the bowls that held their meal, which she unceremoniously dumped in a corner, she ground the leaves into a powder and after adding some water, made a paste. She added a few sprigs of various other ingredients and told Dmitri to hold still. She liberally applied a dollop of the paste around his swollen eye and rubbed it in. She then asked Dmitri to apply the rest to the various swollen and injured areas she had due to the ministrations of Guardsman Birkett.
As Dmitri was doing so, he spoke up, “Don’t worry Claudia, one way or another, Birkett will pay for what he has done.” He finished administering the ointment in silence and they sat like that together for a time until she reached out and took hold of Dmitri’s hand. He could feel a pressure on his mind and he closed his eyes and went to his empty white universe. Waiting for him was Claudia. She was radiant, gone was the purple aura, in its place was a shining golden glow. He reached out and took her hand. His magic flared within his mind and he heard Claudia gasp as she too felt her magic once more.
Opening his eyes, Dmitri reached out and drew the glyph for fire in the air and felt his magic stir. A small flame appeared and started dancing in his palm. He shook the flame away and picked up one of the metal spoons from the discarded breakfast; “Here,” he said, handing it to Claudia, “See if you can do something with this.”