The goblin tapped against my breastbone, knees, elbows, and either side of my neck.She was about to stick all three of the fingers on one hand into my mouth when I pulled my head away.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“The parvnit says there’s something really wrong with you.I don’t see anything yet, and I have to find whatever it is.”
I met her big eyes.“I’m a sänglure.”
She snorted a tiny chuckle, drawing my eye to her bulbous nose.“What sort of curera do you think I am?”
“One who shouldn’t put her hands in the mouth of a sänglure who hasn’t fed in a very long time.”
Her fingers retreated as she eyed me.“I thought you drained two humans.”
“I did.”
“Mmm,” she said, but didn’t bring her fingers any closer to my fangs.
“You get that a lot, being called ashitling?”
She smiled tightly, revealing sharp, pointy teeth of her own.“Enough.So endearing, that.”
“If anyone’s a shitling, it’s him.”
“Buthecan kill me for saying it.”She skimmed open hands along my arms and legs, searching for an irregularity she wouldn’t find.“I don’t know how long he’ll stay away.I don’t actually have any authority over him.I’m surprised my dismissal worked.”
Athank youcrouched on my tongue.“Why did you do it?”
She continued prodding me before eventually shrugging.“I’m a curera.”She pinched the back of my hand and tilted her head at my yelp, as if noting something in its pitch.
“Cureras aren’t supposed to hurt anyone,” I guessed.I was well familiar with goblins, yes.But never had I known one to be a healer, much less acurera.
She pinched the inside of my arm.
“Ow!You’re hurting me.”
She sucked on her teeth.“Don’t be such agobloony.”
“I’m not being a baby.”
Suddenly hearing myself, and since surely the goblin would run out of body parts to examine, I added hesitantly, “My power is … gone.Do you know what was done to me?”
Flick,flickto the hollow of my cheek.“I do.”Flick,flickto the other side.
“Well?Will you tell me?”
“Your power has been dampened.And no, it can’t be fixed.You just have to wait for the effect to wear off.”
My heart, buoyant for once, fluttered.“But it does wear off?”
“Of course.No power dampening is permanent, and you were only administered a potion.”
A potion.Dark magic.Damn that parvnit!
“How long will its effects last, exactly?”
“Depends on the magic.A few more days, probably.But you won’t live that long, and if you do, they’ll just give you another dose.So long as you’re in here, no one’s allowed their powers.Not even the minor ones.”
“How long was I out?”
