80 Alexi Part 2

"Thank you." she spoke softly but clearly. Her strength returning. The Prince nodded before he motioned to the lion.

"Will he make it?" he asked watching the lion's chest rise and fall but seeming labored. Even he who was more partial to he fox and wolf could tell this great cat was bad off. It was tense and its tail twitched ever so slightly as if in annoyance or pain.

There was no doubt the Emperor was on his way by now and when he arrived, Alexi hoped it would be good news. The old man was insufferable when one of his pets was injured, more or less dying. Alexi was old enough to understand how this palace worked and knew something was amiss since this started. The problem was he was fairly sure who was behind this… but prayed he was either wrong or the Emperor would never uncover the truth. Even if he did, lienance would be more likely of the Lion survived.

"Too soon to tell. He is stable, at least for now. I won't know more till Mally returns with the antidote." Kyera replied as a Beauty set a bowl of water and a rag by her. Steam seemed to drift off the surface as if the water just came from the fire, soft purple petals floating in the clear liquid. Kyera looked confused, at least until the girl pointed at her hands. It was a usual practice to Kyera but she nodded and began the long process of removing the blood from her soft white skin.

"How did you know what it was? We have never seen that before our poison master ran to his temple with a sample to find a cure." Alexi asked, sitting on a chair one of his servants had brought. Kyera still rested gracefully on the ground. She sighed deeply collecting her thoughts and gently stroking the lion's fur, unaware of the looks she got for this. To her it was nothing more than a mere gesture of comfort for the peast and a way for her to connect with him as a healer.

"My Master and I live in the forest. He gave up living in cities to help protect and grow the wild population after all the hunting during the war. So many were killed out of mistaken identity that we protect a we can. He teaches me medicine and I hunt herbs and small game for him."she explained offhandedly speaking soft and soothing as if partially for the lion. "Well, pelt trappers have begun using this green venom to poison their prey. It breaks down the muscle tissue but doesn't do much harm to the skin. It sickens me how such a noble and beautiful creature can be nothing but a pelt to some people." Kyera replied, a hint of hatred in her voice. "The meat is destroyed the animal's body is left to rot. Not to mention its a horrible way to die. Writhing in agony with no end in site."

To stop her from shedding more tears and wishing to change the subject he cleared his throat. "So, your Master is…." he trailed off though in his mind he already had a good idea. After all very few hermits in the forest would take the injuries of trapped animals, and even fewer who would have a female apprentice. The shadows and her knowledge added up and fit in one glass alone.