“Triloth of moderate ability,” I said, tapping my temple.
“Welcome, little Triloth. Most Priestesses aren’t a danger down here,” he said, returning my gesture. “Don’t have the power to do any real harm to the prototypes. Just keep your hands to yourself and there shouldn’t be a problem.”
The Glaith dug into my palm as the High Priestess’ fingertips bit into my shoulders in silent warning. “I will, sir.”
Eyes crinkling, he rubbed his hands together. “Right. The grand tour! As you’ve heard, my name is Ancaster, and with the High Priestess’ aid, I run these labs.”
“They’re impressive, sir.”
“Then let’s start with the most impressive thing we have to offer,” he said, sweeping his hands over two delicate circlets of silver—one finger-sized, the other much larger—connected by a fragile chain of the same precious metal. “These are the Dosmui Circlets.” Fingers splayed over his heart, he winked. “Named for their brilliant creator, of course.”
A slender Eloran woman across the bench snorted.
“Not a word from you, Alicia,” Ancaster huffed, plucking the silver Dosmui Circlets from their case.
Alicia made a sound at the back of her throat, and though a smile twitched her lips, she did not look up from her work.
“Anyway. These circlets are worn like so—” The largest circlet swung open on a tiny hinge, and with his free hand, Ancaster snapped it shut around his wrist. Then, careful of the thin silver chain, he slipped the ring over the middle finger of the same hand, pausing only when it stuck over the knuckle. “At their core, the circlets are pure Glaith. Unlike our esteemed Trila-Glís here,” he said with a nod at the High Priestess, “a Triloth Priestess hasn’t the strength to do more than a few minor healings a day, if any. But withmycirclets, they’ll be able to draw upon ki stored within the Glaith itself, for the longer it is worn by a ki-wielder, the more powerful the circlet. It will greatly improve their capacity to heal.”
“That’s incredible!” my father breathed, eyes fixed upon the silver chains.
“You hear that, Alicia?Incredible. And I haven’t even showed them the most impressive part!” Ancaster stooped toward us, voice lowered to a theatrical whisper. “I’m not of the Blood, you see, but I carry the gene.AllTritans do. This design allows those of us who merely carry the Blood to access ki stored within the Glaith. And with the proper training, they’ll grant any regular old citizen the power to heal as the Priestesses do.”
My jaw slackened.
“Ah ha! You see Alicia? Shock and awe.”
“Careful, wee Triloth,” Alicia said, her voice light and airy, vibrant green eyes glittering. “You’ll not want to give him too much praise. His head won’t fit in the room.”
“But thatisincredible!” Josh returned. “Such a thing will save thousands of lives.”
Ancaster nodded. “You’re quite right, lad.” He tapped a workbench beside the case for the silver circlets, picking up a half-finished, golden set of the same make and design. “We’re still testing the benefits of several different metals for optimal conductivity, you see, but we’re hoping to be in production by the end of next year.”
“Promises, promises,” Alicia said, approaching. “You canna’ say that until you’ve figured out the charging issue. You canna’ expect the Priestesses to be responsible for charging a nation’s worth of circlets, now can you?”
Ancaster tapped the side of his nose. “Don’t you worry, my dearest Alicia. I’ve already got that figured out.”
She made that sound at the back of her throat. “Right. Well, come this way if you’d like t’see a final product.”
My father nodded. “Please.”
“This ‘ere is a shield,” she said, and it was only when she turned that I realized just how young she was. “Powered by the Glaith, o’course. Go on, wee Triloth,” she said, sparkling green eyes meeting mine before she jerked her chin toward her project. “Touch it. It’s stable enough.”
The High Priestess laid a hand on my shoulder. “Allow me,” she said, and stepped forward, placing the tip of her index finger against a smooth Glaith panel. Infused with her powerful ki, it lit up, making the Glaith sparkle and dance.
“Just’a little more, Your Grace. Ah. There. That’s enough. Hands off, if you please.” Alicia flicked a switch when the High Priestess broke away, adjusted two round silver dishes, then said, “You’ll want t’step back. Testing shield!”
A rippling blue field flickered into view between the two silver dishes. Tiny hairs all over my body stood on end, raised by the crackle of static, the scent of burning ozone thick in the air. “Goddess, but that’s pretty.”
“Aye, but dangerous, wee Triloth.” With a gleeful smirk, Alicia picked up a little ball of paper and tossed it at the shield. It promptly burst into flame. “I don’t recommend touchin’ it, yeah?”
My father tapped his chin, pale blue eyes gleaming. “Can ordinary citizens use this, as they can the Dosmui Circlets?”
Alicia ribbed her boss, grinning. “Just as soon as Ancaster gets hisincredibletechnology t’work, sure. Don’t see why it couldna be adapted t’fit anything with the Glaith at its core.”
“I can’t even imagine the potential this has—” Before I could finish, the shield flickered twice, then died, leaving an afterimage burning in my eyes. “Wh-What happened?”
“I didn’t give it much power, Mila,” the High Priestess said.
