“Weneed a medicus conduit!”Ihuffed, rising from the pool with the help of more onlookers.
Theylaid him flat on the white stone.Hiseyes were closed, his chest unmoving.
Iheard the shouts, the cries for help repeating through the open space, trickling out onto the side walkways.Ishoved the hair out of his face and turned his head to the side.Ipushed down on his chest in a panic, pleading, “Comeon,Thevin.Breathe, dammit!”Ipushed over and over, pressing so hardIcould have cracked his rib and not cared.
Mymind sifted through every medicus conduit spellI’dever read about inViridis, coming up with nothing to force water from lungs.Ipushed and pushed, panicked, raging, crying for someone to save him, to pleasehelp me save him.
Dainty, wrinkled hands, the color of sand, slid gently over mine, squeezing once and then guiding them off his chest.Aruby conduit ring graced one finger.
Igasped and looked up to see earthen rich brown eyes look into mine with just as much surprise asIheld.Thewoman looked back down atThevin, gripping the back of his neck with one hand and shoving the palm of her other at his sternum.Hervoice was high and light as she said, “Visaquae,” jabbing her palm into his chest.
Aflash of red and then water from his lungs sprayed all over me, andIgave a shuttering gasp, releasing my breath and holding his head as he coughed continuously onto the wet stone.Heturned to his side, heaving in big gulps of air over and over, more and more water flying out of his mouth.
Icradled his head in my lap, soothing my hand over his back and repeatedthank youagain and again to the stranger in a medicus conduit’s all-white attire with a jeweled red flower pin attached to her vest.Shesat with her legs folded, her hands at her knees and watched me carefully—knowingly—as if she’d seen me before.
“Youlook just like him,” she sighed to herself while the crowd around us cheered and clapped.
“Wh-what?”Istammered.
“Yourfather,” she amended. “Youlook just like him.”
“Youknew my father?”
Shenodded sweetly and her small lips curled upward.Sheheld out a hand for me to shake. “IknewBaronRevich,Saelyn.Myname isClairanniaLynns.It’snice to meet you again.”
* * *
Wearrived backat theSpirethirty minutes later,Thevin’sarm over my shoulder thatIinsisted he keep there, refusing to let him walk on his own, no matter how often he mumbled something about being just fine.
“You’llneed rest,”Clairanniasaid. “Ifa bruise forms on your chest, find me or another medicus conduit and they’ll be able to heal it.”
I’dbeen quiet, thinking about this conduit who knew whoIwas and recognized me based on my father’s features.
“He’salive,”Iblurted, guidingThevintoward the first steps of the windingSpirestaircase. “Myfather,Imean.”
Clairanniastopped. “What?”
“Mymother told me yesterday.Atmy seventeenth birthday celebration.”
“Shetold you?”
“Youknew?”
Clairannia’smouth tightened to a thin line. “Yes.Iknew.”
Ifrowned. “Soyou’re one of her friends, then.Oneof the three who knew besidesPah-Pah.”
Shetilted her head. “Pah-Pah?”
“ShemeansPompeii,”Thevinexplained.
Clairannianodded, handing me the bundle of clothes she had carried and rushing up the stairs. “Ineed to speak with theBaron.Pleasego to your rooms and stay there until your mother comes to retrieve you.”Sheran her hand along the stone stair rail, sprinting up each step, calling back, “I’llexplain to your parents,Thevin.Nothingmore than a misadventure.”
“She’sa mysterious one,” he said as we carried on.
Halfwayup the tower and out of breath, we found our hall of rooms, spilling into the oneIwould share with my mother.Ihelped him onto one of the bright yellow chairs and he sank back into it.
Ifell into the one opposite, tossing our things onto the short table between us. “Ican’t believe you did that.”Irubbed my face, swiping my damp hair from my forehead.