Whole.
Asshole, perhaps.
The skin is intact, the muscles, veins, nerves, joints, and bones are intact. The hands are perfect. The fluid flow is intact.
Perfect. Physically.
My heart sinks as I realize that while this magic is extremely powerful, it can only heal physical afflictions. It can’t reverse magic.
Lidiane’s staring at me, hope in her dark eyes. She risked her life to prick that dangerous fae and I can’t bear to tell her it was for nothing. Even Azur is expecting something. Everyone’s counting on me.
But there’s no point looking, reaching for the magic, trying. There’s nothing to heal. No wonder the nymph couldn’t do anything either, even though it healed his stab wounds, which might have killed him otherwise.
My throat is tight and my chest heavy as I consider what to say.
Azur snorts. “Just spit it.”
He’s probably a thousand times more anxious than I am, and each second will only stretch his agony.
I swallow, then say, “Zorwal’s magic can heal the body, but it can’t?—”
“Undo magic.” Azur rolls his eyes. “How surprising.”
“I tried,” I protest.
“I’m not blaming you, Astra.” Azur turns to Lidiane. “Or you, even if I’d rather you hadn’t tried this…”
She bites her lip. “At least we know.”
True. I glance at Renel, his chin resting on his hand, his face grave and thoughtful. He had considered approaching Zorwal to try to cure Azur, and now he won’t do such a foolish thing.
“What if it wasn’t enough blood?” Ziven asks.
I shake my head. “Itwasenough. I healed my cut. I can sense the organs in your bodies, feel that they’re working as they should, sense that you’re whole, and that’s how this magic works.”
Renel tilts his head. “Zorwal could cause cuts as well. From a distance.”
“Icoulddo that. It’s like reversing the magic. A little harder and unnatural, but I can sense that power in me. When I look at Azur, all it tells me is that his physical body is intact, I mean, mostly, except for old scars, but they don’t have anything?—”
“What scars?” Renel asks.
“Oldscars.” Anger laces Azur’s voice. “Forgotten. Healed. None of your business.”
Renel stares at him. “I’m trying to help.”
Azur snorts again. “There’s no help.”
“Killing the Witch King might work,” Lidiane says.
“Let’s hope, I guess.” Azur stares at his hand, likely wondering if there’s enough time for him to be saved.
And then an idea comes to me. “I know what to do. At least to slow down the spread. Where do you feel the magic?” I ask Azur.
“Nowhere, to be honest.”
I close my eyes and focus on the light, think about the Almighty Mother, and imagine that light enveloping Azur, fighting the darkness trying to overtake him. I open my eyes and continue seeing that light around him, then say, “Can you repeat something after me? It’s a prayer, but it can also be an incantation. Imagine a light shield around you.”
Azur nods, and I continue, “Now say after me: only light here. Light shields me and protects me from evil. Light shields me, and nothing can pass through this wall.”
