Chapter 7.

Resza was bent over, her hands clasped around a sleeping Trentis's. Her forehead rested on her fingers. The Healers conversation still played in her head: Since it was Morrighan who had flooded him with Light, the extent of the damage could be severe. He was lucky you managed to get her off in such a short amount of time, but...only time will tell how he fares. Please don't worry, General Stalwart. She had threatened that Healer's life if Trentis died on his watch. "Mother…" Riuyuki's soft voice came to her.

"Go away."

"I brought you some food." Riuyuki set the bowl of stew next to Resza.

She straightened in the chair, wincing at the stiffness in her back. "Thanks." Resza ate as Riuyuki walked to the other side of the bed and looked down at Trentis.

"Is he going to make it?"

"The Healers say he has a good chance of getting through it, if he wakes up."

Resza finished and tossed the bowl back on the bed side table. "Have you even slept, Mother? It's been three days."

"Nope."

"You got to sleep. The Paladins may have withdrew, but they could be here again."

He backed away as Resza glared at him. "I tore off their Goddess's wing! I would have killed her if those other Dark Knights didn't hold me back…"

"The Darkness had almost taken you over. You would have murdered everyone if they didn't knock you out."

"They should have let me finish her off first."

Riuyuki sighed as he watched Resza stroke Trentis's hair. "I'll leave you for now, but after a week I'm going to be dragging you out of here."

Resza smiled a little and shut the door behind him. She stood there for a moment holding the door knob. Trentis wouldn't want her just sitting here doing nothing. He had made her the eyepatch she wore now while she was out cold from the arrow that took her eye. Resza flung open the door and rushed to the weapons room. It took a long time before she found the perfect one. The staff was one of the dragon staves used by the old Royal Mages before they were disbanded in favor of Royal Alchemists. The dark silver staff had a dragon curled around the top, holding a circular magic catalyst. She took it and went down to the dungeons. "I need to see Goibne."

"In his cell or in the torture room?" The jailer asked.

"Cell."

He jerked his head towards where they were keeping the man. Resza muttered her thanks and strode off down the hall. "Resza!" She jerked back as hands grabbed her skirt.

Her dagger was drawn in an instant. "Let go before you lose a hand."

The man who grabbed her quickly released her but continued smiling up at her. "I'm so happy I get see my daughter!"

His eyes were full of pride and his dark red hair was dirty from sleeping off the alcohol in the cell. "My parents died. I have no time to deal with a half drunk man." Resza began to walk off.

"Just ask Cichol who Valricore is!" The man called out, his arm hanging out of the bars, waving at her. "He'll know! I'm so proud of you!"

Resza shook her head. Cichol had told her that her parents were dead as soon as she was old enough to ask where they were. She made a mental note to ask Cichol, however. Might as well get some sort of information, however useless, from Cichol. That prisoner was full happiness, even in this dark place when he had seen her. Many just backed away in fear or threatened her in their pitiful states. She came upon Goibne's cell. "Hello, Goibne."

He was one of the more well fed prisoners because he was a bargaining piece for the Dark Knights. "Hello, General." He said from his corner.

"I have a favor to ask, Goibne."

The man glanced at the dragon staff in her hands. "Will that become a weapon of war?"

"No. I need it to…" she hadn't thought this through at all. Might as well wing it. "Someone may be blind, I don't know. I need this staff to enable them to 'see' in a sense."

"That will be quite easy. However," the man had a glint in his eye. "What will you give me in exchange?"

"Immunity from making us weapons of war."

"Deal."

"How long will it take to make?" Resza asked as Goibne examined the staff through the bars.

"A few days."

"I need it faster. What if I help you?"

Goibne eyed her sword. "You're a magic user?"

"Yes, but I prefer blades."

"Then it would take only a few hours if you're a strong one."

"I am." Resza took the staff back from him.

"Let us get to work, General."

When she came back from the dungeons, Trentis was sitting up. He turned his head towards the doorway when he heard footsteps. "I'm here." Resza said as she quickly went to his side and kissed him.

"How long was I out?"

"Three days."

"Can they take these bandages off my eyes?"

"I...Trent…"

He heard it in her voice. "There's no bandages."

"The Healers aren't sure if it's...permanent…"

His sightless eyes stared into her own. "Vampires regenerate. This won't be perman-"

Resza placed her finger on his lips. "Since the Light was from such a powerful source, they're not sure if even vampire regeneration will help."

The incubus was silent for a moment, then he asked: "I won't be able to see our child, will I?"