Note: I am so sorry this took so long. I loaned my physical copy of my story to a friend for editing and forgot to keep the hand written notes for the newest chapter. (They live a hour away) I finally remembered that I could just ask for them to send a picture of the notes, and now here we are. Again so so sorry for the wait! Please enjoy.

"Thank you, Lady Arie." There was no small amount of awe in the guards' faces. They were flexing their muscles testing to see if they were truly better. "I feel like I could run a marathon and never tire."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't attempt that. Rest and eat when your replacements arrive, no matter how good you feel. Magic isn't a replacement for heathy habits." She pushed the point because she knew better than any that the energy given like this often was used up quickly and didn't always given the same signals that they were running low. Which could leave them particularly vulnerable.

"Don't worry, Lady Arie. We will." The second guard promised.

"Good."

She stepped past them and was hit by the sounds and smells. The groans of the bedridden and the shrieks and screams of those currently being worked on, ranked across her ears. And the mix of smells, coppery blood, acidic vomit, shit and piss, and sweat, it made her stomach heave against her. Arie swallowed back the bile that rose instead focusing on where she would be needed. All of the medics were working in pairs though some of the patients had three or four people working due to how violent the poison made them. She cursed herself for taking too much time. People were dying, she did not have time to wallow in her own self-pity, she thought to herself as she collected her Gift into her hand.

First, she went to those healers that were struggling with their patients. Sending those most affected by the poison into a deep sleep so they may be worked on safely. Then she went to work purging the bile, blood, excrement, and sweat from not just the patients' clothing, but their bedding, the floor, walls, and even the medics. Windows were cracked to allow the sea breeze in. Those among the medics who were basically dead on their feet were sent to rest while Arie and the others suited up.

"Sir Neal, take the gentleman over there." Arie directed. "He seems to be in the worst state." Indeed, the red headed man looked as if he had been on the losing end of a tavern brawl and several wooden chairs. "Jess, I want you to start fetching things for the medics." Then she turned to Kel not even bothering to check if the other two were doing as she requested. "Can you stitch a wound?"

The knight nodded. "Part of basic survival training."

"Good, I will need you to do that while I draw out poison." Then she turned to Avery who was watching her with an almost guarded expression. "Avery, watch my back, I won't be able to do much while I work so don't let people come up behind me. If the patient wakes I might need you to hold her. But do not harm her. Remember these people can't help what's happening to them." Arie knew Avery had some experience dressing wounds. He had plenty over the years, but she also knew he would prioritize her over the patients. So, she tried to phrase it so he would help knowing it would protect her more than harming them. His smile made her think he recognized it for the ploy it was. Though he did at least agree.

Then she got to work on her first patient. The woman in question was quite striking. Her body was well muscled from hard work and tanned from long hours spent in the sun. White scars told the tale of the many battles she had walked away from. Judging by her clothes and light armor she was more mercenary than guard. Even her hair which was shorn off as close to her scalp as manageable told a story of a tough fighter. It was unfortunate that some things strength alone could not fight.

Arie shoved that thought aside and reached into the wellspring of her Gift. Pulling only the barest amounts of that fire before pouring it into her eyes. She found the bits of black ichor that swam through the woman's body. Then she pushed her Gift towards it, forcing the black liquid to seep out. Another medic quickly swiped away the offending waste, but Arie was no longer aware thanks to the memories poured forth. It surprised Arie because until this moment everyone else had fought her. Even in their sleep the victims of this magic thrashed mentally against her magic trying to conceal their shame. Instead, this woman shoved them at Arie as if she instinctively knew doing so would grant her relief.

The woman was indeed a blade for hire. She and her company had been hired to protect a merchant from the capital to Port Legann. Arie could feel the woman's unease and suspicion from the get go. They were being paid well to guard a wine merchant. Almost too well. The man was overly generous. It was about two thirds of the way through the trip that some of the troop started acting up. Fights were common in a mercenary company, especially when drinks started flowing. But they were braking out faster, with less drink involved, and they were escalating towards far more lethal ends. All the while her own impatience was growing. Her anger would explode far too quickly. And a small part of her was starting to revel in rush of the near nightly brawls. While another part of her was acutely aware that something wasn't right.

Then Jarret drew a knife in an argument. She reacted on instinct drawing her short-curved sword in one swift movement. The scuffle was over shortly after that. Somehow, she had a slash across her chest, but Jarret was dead. Conflicting emotions roared up inside her. Greif and guilt that she had killed her friend, but there was also no small amount of pride at her skills and anger at Jarret for making her do this. It was then that the woman promptly vomited, both in the memory and in the present. The force of her emotions were enough to drag her out of the sleep that Arie laid on her.

"What's happening to me?" she coughed. Arie cleaned them both instantly. Then carefully drew Gift back pulling more poison with it. She let it hover between them. The woman's eyes widened as she gazed at the black sludge that hovered in blue green fire. "What is that?"

"That is what was affecting your emotions and mind, and likely what caused Jarret's anger. As well as the rest of the problems your crew faced." Arie burned up the poison so there would not even be ashes left.

She stared at the flames as if she were transfixed by them. "Why did it affect them more?"

"There are two possible reasons. The first you were exposed to it later. Possible, but from what I saw, unlikely. My money would be that you have stronger character. You'd have to be to earn their respect, right?" She glanced at Lady Kel who was focusing on her stitching.

"I guess." She hissed in pain when she noticed the Lady knight was stitching up her wound.

"Sorry. I'm no sorceress, nothing I can do about the pain other than get it done quickly." Her fingers moved steadily to finish stitching the wound. "What's your name?"

"Cass, Cassandra."

"Kel, Keladry."

Cass's eyes widened. "By the Goddess. What are you doing patching up a stray dog like me?"

Kel smiled good naturedly. "I hear Lady Alanna, the King's champion still travels from town to town working healing on regular everyday folk. Besides gotta keep my skills sharp in case I need them."

"By the Gods. No one will ever believe me."

Arie snorted a chuckle before clearing her throat. "I would like to look at your memories to try and see where you picked this up. Understand if you'd rather not, but we really need to find any and everyone affected to stop the spread." Those indigo-colored eyes boor into Arie assessing her.

"Will I feel you in my head like earlier?"

Arie shook her head no. "You felt me so strongly because the magic that makes up the poison's creation was trying to hold you. Now that its affects have lessened it shouldn't be as painful. Still uncomfortable." Arie knew not to lie to this woman. Not only would it be counterproductive, she was fairly certain this woman would see through any such attempts.

"That, I can deal with. It's just…" she shuddered.

Arie understood all to keenly what Cass meant. It was unpleasant and humiliating to have your mind combed through. To have people see the all the ugliness that one usually kept hidden. Then to have your body instinctively fight back against the very people trying to help and save you. "I will make this as quick as I can." She waited for the mercenary to brace herself before again reaching for the blue green fire of her Gift. Together the two of them were thrown back into Cass's memories. Arie watched the progression of the band's journey to Port Legann. The violence was becoming more and more common. From a once every other night to an almost hourly occurrence. Then the last night before they were to reach port a massive argument broke out while Cass doze. Apparently, some of her men resented that she; a female, led the group. The rest of those still loyal to her clashed against them and when she woke and went to intervene, she was stabbed in the gut. She and Gus managed to get a few people out as well as the merchant. They pushed on to the city with no time to treat their wounds.

The wine merchant offered Cass a seat beside him on his wagon once they reached the crowded city streets, all the while cooing his regret over her injury. But something felt wrong about the way he said those words. Like this was exactly what he had wanted. Cass not liking the feel refused his offer and continued to press forward. She had already done all she could with a temporary bandage.

"Lady Cass, please at least allow me to buy you a room to rest in. There is a nice inn that the lady of the house owns. It would ease my guilt over your injury." Something about his words struck Arie as familiar. No, it wasn't the words, it was how he had held himself. She was sure she had met him somewhere, but where? She nearly ground her teeth in frustration because thanks to the fact that the man wore a hood up, and now she could tell he even wore charms to disguise his face. It seemed Ark was being very careful with his pawns now that he was aware of her.

"He was very careful," Cass growled in her mind.

"Too careful." Arie agreed. "I don't suppose anyone else showed no signs of change in their mood or behavior?"

"Just him." Her response was grim.

Arie grunted in acknowledgement. She had been afraid of that.

They turned their focus back to the scene. In the memory and even now, Cass's defenses rose even higher. Beside her Gus snorted and looked at the merchant like he wanted to say something, but Cass stepped on his boot to warn him to keep his mouth shut. They couldn't afford to offend this man just before they got their full pay. Especially after losing so much. But she was hesitant to accept any such offer because men typically had one thing in mind when they suggested buying her a room. A flat refusal here could make jobs more difficult.

"I am no lady, and it was part of my job. There is no need to thank me." In truth she was actually ashamed that she had to protect a charge from her own men. That was a first for her.

"Perhaps, but I still feel responsible. Please. The Gods would curse me if I did not take care of those who had taken extra care of me. I can get you and your friend a double room if it pleases you."

Gus turned red then pale, but did not say anything. I nearly winced. My second in command had had a wife and son that he had lost to the Sweating Sickness years ago. From what he had said of them, she had been a gentle flower and his son a miniature him. They had been childhood sweethearts as I recalled.

"That is most generous of you, but there is a place where-."

He chuckled. "No worries, fair lady. I have no designs on you." Arie felt a warm tingling sensation at her cheek. ~Lie~ whispered across her mind. She blinked and realized Cass hadn't heard or known the words were a lie. "Besides I have a lady friend I have meeting with tonight." This time there was no whispered word.

Cass was jostled by someone else on the road. Pain flared instantly through her wound. For a brief moment the white-hot pain blinded her. Then when it finally cleared, she found herself leaning against the wagon. The wine merchant holding her up under her arm. Gus was half reaching for her. The merchant pulled her up onto the wagon seat beside him as easily as if she had been a kitten rather than a tall woman in leather armor. Even in her memories, Arie could feel Cass's surprise at the man's strength. The phrase, 'smells of fish' ran through Cass's mind. This whole trip stank to the Divine Realm.

Arie lost focus on what was happening trying to figure out where the whispered lie had come from that she missed the big woman; who was the lady of the inn question, greeting them. She instantly started fussing over Cass and led her to a room upstairs. She blocked any of the men from following. Telling them firmly a bath and meal first. After she had begun the process of patching Cass up, the mercenary started to doze off due to the medicine. The merchant came to pay for the rooms, but the lady of the inn huffed at him.

"Young man, you will show manners to me under my roof."

He chuckled. Tipping back his hood. "Force of habit Matilda." The charm created a small mirage around the man's face but Arie felt the warm tingling at her cheek again.

"None of your excuses. What trouble did you get those poor people in?"

"No trouble, seems like they had poor choice of friends."

Arie reached with her Gift wrapping the warmth that touched her cheek in her Gift and tried throwing it at the man. The mirage melted away leaving a face she did recognize even if she had only seen him once before. He was the young man that had attacked their camp. The only one that had not been infected. Arie jolted out of Cass's memories.

"That rat bastard!"