She was silent for so long that Archer finally wondered if he shouldn't simply

make a quiet retreat, find Talia, and bring her back here to try and do whatever could be done. He couldn't accept that Catriona wouldn't at least try.

Then a smile slowly curved the young queen's lips. There was such

heartbreaking sadness in it that he couldn't look away. And yet, when she looked at him, what he saw in the depths of that unimaginable sadness and pain... was hope.

She reached to her side and pressed a small device that lay on her bed. "Bring

Talia Trahaern to me."

Archer's heart began to pound. She was going to fight! But even as he tightened his fist in silent victory, he worried about Talia. It had been one thing to offer Talia's help when he was thinking only of the dying woman in front of him. But now that the queen was calling for her, Archer's concerns shifted to what Talia would be put through and d.a.m.ned himself for being so anxious to put her there.

Still, he knew that if she were here, she'd be pushing the same issues, doing whatever she could to help and d.a.m.n the toll it took on herself. That was who she was. There was always the hope for a miracle.

"Allow me to escort her," he said, thinking at least he could prepare Talia

somewhat, warn her, comfort her.

The queen was once again staring at her hands rubbing her stomach. "She is already on her way." She looked up at him, her expression now almost beatific. "Finally, I think I have found a solution."

Chapter 21.

Talia left the healer's chamber in the company of six personal royal guards.

She wondered where Archer was.

The head guard stopped short just outside the room. "Your gazzer, please."

She almost ran into him. "My-what?"The guard sent a pointed look to her side pocket. He extended his hand. "Please."

"Oh." She fumbled in her pocket and handed Archer's zapper thing to the guard, who promptly handed it to another one next to him, who in turn headed off down a different pa.s.sageway. "It's Archer's," she added, not wanting them to dispose of something that wasn't hers. He'd be mad enough when he discovered she'd given it up without a fight, though frankly she was relieved not to have the deadly thing in her pocket. She wasn't cut out to be armed and dangerous. In fact, she was surprised Archer had been allowed to remain armed inside the castle. Maybe the queen felt better with him guarding her as well as her own guards.

"It is being returned to him now. Follow me, please."

She fell into step behind him. "Is he still with the queen?"

"The queen wishes a private consultation with you."

Talia nodded, but her knees felt a bit wobbly. Consultation? Was she expected

to be a full-fledged healer now that she'd spent an hour or two with her mother's things? She hoped not. Tears threatened again and she pushed them away. She'd gotten to see her mother, hear her voice. She had new memories now. She'd cling to them.

She stopped suddenly as a shocking wave of pain a.s.saulted her. Instinctively she threw up a mental block against it, but it still left her breathless and leaning weakly against the wall. Her head throbbed. Where had that come from ? And who ?

"Are you all right, Miss Trahaern?"

Two of the guards stopped beside her. One turned to bark orders at another but

Talia quickly intervened. "No, that's okay. I'm okay." That was a lie, but a necessary one. "Let's continue. Please."

The guard paused, looking to his commander, who finally nodded tersely.

Talia was given no time to a.n.a.lyze what had just happened to her, however,

and less time to fully recover.

They stopped moments later and the guard motioned for her to move in front

of him. A large painting of two golden lions graced the wall in front of him.

"You will be admitted now."

Talia nodded, then blew out a shaky breath. The screen turned transparent and

she stepped into a dimly lit room. She took a moment to try and adjust her eyes. It was lighter in here than yesterday, but darker than the hallway.

"Come closer."

Talia started, then peered through the gloom toward the towering four-poster bed that dominated the far end of the room. She looked quickly around for Archer, but he wasn't there. Talia could see the queen resting on the bed.

Actually, she looked more like a child from this distance, her small form

hardly taking up any s.p.a.ce at all.As she moved closer, the first thing she noticed was the mound under the blanket that was her stomach. Talia felt her own stomach grip tightly. Dear Lord, what had she honestly thought, coming here ? This was no game. She had no skills to help this poor woman. And what if she died, and G.o.d help her, the baby, too, while Talia was with her? Her steps faltered.

"Closer, please." Her voice was well modulated, and quite beautiful, but much

weaker and not nearly as imperious as it had been the night before.

Talia took a steadying breath and stepped closer. The instant her gaze landed on Catriona's face, it was as if her body had stepped beyond itself. She froze as her mind leaped forward without her even attempting it. She'd been so busy

worrying that she hadn't put up any guards at all. The connection was swift and more powerful than anything she'd ever felt in her life.

And she knew immediately who she'd connected with in the pa.s.sageway.

Intense and overwhelming pain. Talia's knees buckled under the force of the pain, but she held her ground. No one must see. Must stay strong. For the kingdom. For my child. Talia gripped her stomach, feeling movement where she knew there was none. Such a sweet sensation of fullness. Joy, such indescribable joy, feeling him move inside me. Talia's throat closed over. Fear, deep abiding fear of the world I'm bringing him into. Just let him live, please G.o.d, just let him live. Tears burned in her eyes. Give him my strength and he'll be okay. Strength, must have strength. Talia locked her knees and focused her own strength, wanting nothing more than to send it to that unborn child. Oh, but the pain, the squeezing, wrenching pain. Now that I've found her. Just a little longer... Found who?

Talia wrenched herself back. Her skin was so damp her dress clung to her. She felt as if she'd just run a dozen miles. Her breath came in short gasps and she

pressed one hand over her stomach, another over her galloping heart.

"Talia?"

She jumped. Realizing she must look like a loon, standing there panting and

swaying, she tried hard to regain her outward focus, but the experience had been overwhelming. So overwhelming that she was afraid to even look at the queen again.

"Don't be afraid of our connection," Catriona said softly.

Talia kept her gaze fixed on the foot of the bed. "I'm-I'm sorry," she managed hoa.r.s.ely. "I wasn't even trying to-""Don't be sorry. I had wondered about it yesterday when there was no apparent connection. You must have developed a great deal of control over

your gift."

The queen sounded somewhat stronger. Talia shivered as she realized what she'd done. She knew that during a connection with an animal in pain, taking on that pain lessened the animal's suffering. At least for the duration of the connection. Unfortunately, when the connection ended, so did the respite for the animal. Nothing else would be changed. She was not a healer.

Talia thought of the suffering of the woman before her and was almost overwhelmed again by what she'd just experienced during their connection.

She'd had no idea the queen was in such constant agony. Despite her fragile appearance, she managed to give such regal authority to her every word. Talia felt humbled and wished there was something more she could do for her.

"Have no fear, Talia, you just soothed a goodly number of my remaining

fears."

Talia worked to steady her breath before she finally faced Catriona once again. This time she stayed within herself, but her legs shook and her fingers

trembled with the effort. "I think you did just the opposite to me," she said

with a shaky smile.

Catriona smiled then, and Talia was startled by the beauty that lay beneath the illness-ravaged face. She was so thin, too thin to be facing impending motherhood. Talia looked toward her stomach, reliving that miraculous moment when she'd felt the pressure of a child in her own belly.

"How far along are you?" she blurted, then stopped as the queen's words echoed in her ears. You just soothed a goodly number of my remaining fears.Did the queen really think that because she had taken on a measure of her pain, however temporarily, she was truly a real healer?

"Twenty-nine weeks," the queen answered.Talia's attention returned to the queen's stomach. Twenty-nine. That was good, wasn't it? Even in her time they managed to save babies who were born extremely early. Certainly they'd improved on that over time."I don't want to build up false hopes," Talia said, knowing she had to get this out now. "I have no natural healing abilities like my mother did. I know you said it's hereditary, so I don't know why I don't, but I don't. As an empath, I can take on your pain, but that won't heal you. Surely there are doctors who could-"

The queen was shaking her head. "They exhausted their skills early on. The only method left to me now has only a small possibility of working and would certainly end my baby's chance at survival. I can't do that." She rubbed her stomach, then smiled at Talia. "Please stop worrying. I am not expecting to survive this. I only want to ensure that he does."

Talia was more confused than ever. "How do you think I can help the baby?"