"I don't know. One minute she was right there, and the next she--" His eyes went wide. "But you have to come. Quickly."

Beltan stepped forward. "What is it?"

"It's Melia." Travis drew in a breath. "She's awake.", Moments later they burst through the door of their chamber.

"How?" Grace said between gasps for breath. . "I don't know," Travis said. "Not really, anyway. I found some old alasai leaves in one of the saddlebags, and I thought she might like the smell of them--you know, that it might remind her of her home. So I crushed some into a bowl of hot water and set it by her."

Grace nodded--it was logical. Smell was the most evocative of the senses. Sometimes a smell strongly associated with old and fond memories could induce consciousness in one who had been unresponsive.

"Melia!" Beltan called, pushing through the door into the side chamber.

564.

"I can hear you quite well, Beltan," a crisp voice said. "You needn't bellow like a mad bull."

All of them skidded to a halt in front of Melia's bed. The small woman sat up against the pillows, her 549.

The knight knelt beside the bed and took her hand. "Melia, are you all right?"

Her gaze softened. "Yes, Beltan. I am now. I had finished my healing, but it was so difficult to wake up. The scent of the green scepter helped enormously." She glanced at Travis. "Thank you for that, dear."

He only nodded.

Tira escaped Grace's grasp and climbed onto the bed beside Melia. She leaned her head against the lady's shoulder.

"Tira," Grace said, "you should leave Melia alone."

"No, she's fine," Melia said, stroking the girl's fiery hair. "But there are matters we must discuss. Important matters. Tell me, how long have I been ill?"

"It has been over a week," Aryn said.

Melia stiffened. "Over a week?" A sigh escaped her. "But you are still here--that means there is yet hope."

Beltan frowned. "What are you talking about, Melia? What made you ill?"

"Do you remember seeing a bust of a man in the room near the great hall?"

Grace slapped a hand to her forehead. "Of course-- that's where I saw it before. It's a likeness of the new regent. We just returned from having supper with him."

565.

Melia sat up straight. "You had dinner with him?" Her eyes narrowed toglowing slits. "But he was ever skillful at the art of dissembling."

Beltan glowered at her. "I don't understand. Who are you talking about?"

A black, fluffy form jumped onto the bed. Melia stroked the kitten's soft fur. "It was the bust of the *-"------- '- --1- - -L -----'--1 ------" --.-: /-.1^,- ,,,-,/, T.

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