“Nope.I am on the path to a slow recovery.I am not in the mood for anything acrobatic for at least a year.I am also simply human.”
“I do not think so.May I have a single hair to have tested?”
She chuckled.“Sure.”She removed her wig, noting his gasp.“Yeah, the treatment chemicals attack the hair follicles.It will grow back eventually.”
She pulled two fluffy strands and held them out.“There you go.”
He took them carefully and folded them into a piece of parchment he had gotten from somewhere.“Thank you.”
She flipped her wig, straightened the locks, and settled it back on her head.
“Why do you wear that?”
“The pattern of hair loss is definitive.It means I am ill, and that causes folk to shy away from me.That is unpleasant, so I wear the wig until treatment is over and it grows back.”
“How long have you been ill?”
“Off and on about twelve years.”
“It is painful?”
“It is having a weight pressing you down, no matter how you stand or sit.Being unable to breath outside in the open air and sunshine.It is an ache in your bones that wants you flat on the floor.But that being said, I have brain tumours, and they are not painful aside from devastating headaches.”
Emperor Vaayu looked at her.“You were prepared to die?”
“Of course.I was also refusing to let my friends heal me at their own expense.I didn’t want to be tied to something nearly immortal.”
She saw when he understood.
“So, your friend, she gave you the healing without a tie to the caster.”
“Correct.”
“That is interesting.Perhaps she will share the technique.”
Helen chuckled.“I don’t think she has your number.”
“There are means to reach me.”
“Does she know them?”
He sighed.“I will let Myro know.”
She smiled.“See, they say you can’t continue to learn as you get older.You are proving them wrong.”
The shock on his face was extreme, and she laughed.“See?No manners whatsoever.Sorry, not sorry.”
Vaayu chuckled.“You are not remorseful.”
“I am not.There is a group there waiting to speak with you.I am going to go and find Mik and the others.Enjoy your chat, and don’t drop those scrolls and Mik’s energy sample.”She pushed herself upright and turned toward the loose crowd, where her friends were standing.“It was an honour to meet you, Emperor Vaayu.I wish you and Kaido all the best.”
He smiled and inclined his head.“It has been an interesting discussion with you.Thank you for speaking with me, Helen.”
She chuckled, nodded, and walked to her friends with the slow and careful step of someone who knows they aren’t stable.Dina ran over and hugged her, becoming a living brace for her as she took step after step.The young female alpha did the same on the other side, and Helen laughed as the girls helped her get to her friends.
* * * *
Vaayu turned towardVemel.“What information do you have?”
