* * *
Catrin sat up so suddenly that Millie fell out of the chair she'd been leaning back in.
"By god and goddess!" Millie shouted while gathering her skirts. "Lady Catrin!"
That brought new shouts from down the hall, and Mirta soon charged through the door. Millie poured a mug of water and handed it to Catrin, who had yet to speak or acknowledge anyone else. Her hands trembled but managed to grasp the mug, and after a few moments, Catrin drank. When she looked around, she had eyes for only one: Prios. His still body was the color of ash.
"Back to the viewing chamber," Catrin said in a raw voice that left her coughing.
"You're in no condition to be up and walking," Mirta insisted, but Catrin would not be deterred.
"I'll carry him there myself if I have to," Catrin said as she stood on unsteady feet.
Millie wrapped an arm around her. "Do as she says! Guards! Help Mirta carry Prios back to the viewing chamber."
Men rushed into the chamber and carried both Prios and Catrin down the hall. Another man helped Millie, who was breathing heavily enough that she was having trouble complaining that she didn't need help.
"Get Brother Vaughn," Catrin gasped. "Tell him we need the chanting. He will understand."
"He tried for a time, m'lady, but when it had no effect after days, he finally gave it up," Millie said. "I'm sorry, m'lady."
Weariness washed over Catrin, and she hadn't the energy to respond. Instead, she just concentrated on breathing. Her body felt weak and disconnected, which was not unexpected. She'd been through this before, but this felt worse, as if troughs had been carved deep in her mind, and she doubted she would ever be whole again. For the moment only Prios mattered. Every second increased the chances he would simply fade away.
"Hold him in front of the left portal. I'll stand in front of the right," Catrin said. In truth, she leaned on the two young men flanking her only slightly less than Prios's unconscious form did. This was not entirely a bad thing as she uttered, "Hold on to me tight."
"Don't you dare leave me again!" Millie shouted, but it was too late, Catrin was already gone. Soon the air was filled with rhythmic chanting as Millie wept.
Chapter 6
Faith is belief in the absence of reason.
--Barabas the druid
Regent Page 19
