But it wasn’t a hammer that Osmian produced. It was a dagger. A black blade carved from obsidian and heavily inlaid with alchemical runes. It glowed as it flew through the air at an angle impossible for Lilly to intercept. She watched it head straight for Alric as if in slow motion, knowing she was badly positioned.
Then, all of a sudden, Jimnel was there, diving in front of Alric and deflecting the blade. Zallra moved faster than Lilly could blink and snared the blue bottle off of Osmian’s worktable, while Luc and Lilly moved to intercept Osmian as he rounded the table and headed straight for Alric, death in his eyes and a second, longer black dagger in his hand.
He would never get there. Lilly and Luc acted in concert. While Lilly blocked Osmian’s attack, Luc’s blade made contact with the Grand High Alchemist, with devastating effect. Osmian stumbled a few feet closer then fell to the floor, the black stone dagger falling beside him and shattering into a dozen shards.
“Osmian is dead,” Lilly reported for Alric’s sake, checking the body.
Lilly had felt the deaths of those in the room with her new awareness of healing rhythms and magic, but it hadn’t crippled her as she’d feared. Instead, it felt…just. As if acting in defense of others somehow tempered the action. She’d have to consult with the healers more to learn if her supposition was correct, but that would have to wait.
She’d been doing the exercises they’d taught her faithfully and it really seemed to help with her control. Especially right now, when she was in the midst of battle. She’d been so afraid she’d freeze up as soon as somebody got hurt, but this battle had been fast and clean with no lingering wounded, and her new power remained under her control.
Lilly was aware of Zallra murmuring to Alric, explaining what had happened, but she was more interested in the sole survivor of the room. The old man in the green robe rose from his seat on top of the bookcase. Luc was instantly at her side, blocking Dieffenbacher’s path to Alric with her.
The old Alchemist held up both his hands, palms outward in a show of peace. “I am not your enemy. I have no quarrel with King Alric. But I do have some interest in seeing that the cure is used properly. If it is what I think it is, that preparation is for external application. In other words, you do not drink it, King Alric, you apply it to the eyes directly.”
“How can we trust you?” Zallra challenged the man.
Dieffenbacher regarded her critically. “You are the prophecy fulfilled, milady. The warrior turned into beauty, and now, only the last phrase needs fulfillment. The Blind King must be blind no more.”
“And then what?” Luc asked suspiciously. “What happens after that? We have seers and even prophets among our people. There’s usually a reason for them to write something down that doesn’t come to pass for years.”
“Ah, you’re right, of course,” Dieffenbacher nodded toward Luc, his lips curving upward slightly. “This prophecy was given to the last Grand High Alchemist by the only prophet I know of that we have ever had living within our city. She was the wife of the Grand High Alchemst who was in power when I was a young man, and she wrote down her strongest visions of the future and gave them to the people they affected. This one became popular with the previous leadership when you were blinded, Your Majesty, and has piqued the interest of many of us all these years.” The old man leaned against the worktable, which was to his side. “This prophecy was supposed to herald a time of upheaval in the world and within our community.” He glanced at Osmian’s corpse. “His death is proof enough of that. We will have to hold a conclave of all the tower holders to see which one will rise to power. Unlike his predecessor, Osmian did not leave a clear line of succession for us to follow.” Dieffenbacker tilted his head. “Perhaps, that is for the best. This way, we will be able to choose someone who will not lead us down an evil path.” He straightened a bit. “Which is what I believe Osmian has been doing. Once word of his crimes spreads among my brethren, I am near certain he will be condemned for his actions. We are not men of vendetta and war. We are scholars and scientists, seeking knowledge for its own sake, not for the power it can bring us, though of course, that is usually a byproduct. Still, I like to think most of us have some purity of heart, at least on a basic level.”
“I can tell you that the greater world is in conflict already,” Alric told the old man. “Some seek to meddle with the rest of the wizards and bring back their chaos to our realm.”
“Surely not!” Dieffenbacher looked appalled, and Lilly did not think it was an act.
“Draconia has been attacked from several different fronts,” Zallra put in. “King Lucan of Skithdron and the barbarians in the Northlands have been openly seeking the Citadel, as have pirates in the southern seas, who have tried stealing books of magic from the last of the great wizards. And, yes, I can confirm that the wizard Gryffid has come back to our time, along with an entire colony of gryphons and fair folk who have lived on his island all this time, hidden from our view. He is actively working with the leadership of Draconia, the Jinn and others to stop the enemy from breaching the Citadel and releasing his ancient enemies.”
“This is grave news, indeed,” Dieffenbacher replied. “I’ve heard rumors, but nothing firm.” He paused, seeming to think a moment. “Then, if we are to fulfill the prophecy, we must restore your eyesight, Your Majesty, as soon as possible.”
“What is your instruction, Lord Dieffenbacher?” Alric asked as Lilly worried. Could this old man really be trusted?
“How do we know—?” Lilly whispered to Luc, who remained at her side.
“The dragons know,” Luc replied immediately.
“Be at ease, Lilly. This old one speaks truth,” Shilayla’s voice rumbled softly through her mind. “Besides, if he tries to hurt Alric, we will all flame him into oblivion.”
Lilly fought the smile that wanted to come forth at Shilayla’s teasing tone. If the dragons were willing to trust the green-robed Alchemist, then she had to have faith in their judgment. Still, she would watch and be wary. Alric was dear to her, not only as her King, but as her friend.
Dieffenbacher walked Alric through the application of the cure, instructing Zallra to prepare the pads of cloth, soaked with the solution from the light blue bottle. She did so, and together, they gently applied first one and then the other poultice to Alric’s eyes. He tilted his head back and remained that way for several minutes while Lilly nearly held her breath with worry.
“That should be long enough for the first application,” Dieffenbacher stated after about five minutes had passed. “Take the dressings off and rinse with clear water.”
Alric did so, using Zallra’s own canteen to rinse his eyes. Water splashed around his feet, but it wasn’t a lot, and he didn’t seem to care as he blinked his eyes over and over.
“I see…” Alric began. “Shapes and colors. Blurry, but I definitely see something.” Then, it was tears that rolled down Alric’s face, along with the residual water.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Apply the cure two more times, and by the third application, your sight should be fully restored,” Dieffenbacher advised.
“How soon can we do it again?” Alric asked. Already, Lilly could see that his eyes were tracking Dieffenbacher by the old man’s speech. It was a miracle!