Part 17 (1/2)

Under her lashes, Artemisia considered him. Though his robes were the simple ones of a minor priest of the Lady and Lord, they were of expensive fabric and tailored for the man. He had gilt to use for his career.

aIt has been my experience,a she said in a low voice as she lifted her winegla.s.s, athat refurbis.h.i.+ng an ancient place is extremely rewarding.a His gaze pinned on her. aYes?a She sipped her wine, and it was good and tart on her tongue. aYes, indeed. And, you know, some Temples are in a sorry state. Such as the one at Apollopa Park.a His gaze sharpened. aThat was the park where the body of a murdered man was discovered, right?a aYes.a She saw calculation come to his gaze and continued, aIt is a place that wonat be forgotten soon. And the Temple is small and beautiful . . . and in disrepair. A wonderful challenge for someone. It could be exciting to bring back as a sacred s.p.a.ce.a His lips curved, and misty blue eyes lit with the first excitement shead seen from him. aYes. It would be.a He rose, and she did, too.

He offered his arm courteously and she thought that touch might confirm that there could be nothing between them. She was right, but the muscle in his arm was stronger than shead thought.

He opened the door and let her lead, his fingers touching the small of her back. Leaning his head down toward her, he said, aI understand that the victim has been identified.a In silhouette his face hardened and nostrils flared. aAs the last Black Magic Cultist.a aThatas right.a Legeras forehead wrinkled. aThe park will have to be cleansed and rededicated. As you said, a challenge.a A sizzle zipped up her spine. Slowly she tilted her head until she could glance around the room from the corner of her eye. Garrett stared at her. Even across the chamber, she could feel his intensity, the tug on the bond between them.

Drawing in a breath with her diaphragm, she imagined the tiny tendril that linked her with the private investigator icing over. She would not allow it to interfere with her future.

He didnat want her. Fine.

Her spine stiffened. She was proving she was getting on with her life and that included a man other than him.

She smiled up at Leger. aYes, a challengea”on three levels, physical, mental, spiritual.a And he shared a slow smile she hadnat seen. aSold. Do you know when the guards will release the areaa”a HEALER ARTEMISIA! YOU ARE HERE! I AM HERE, TOO. The shrill mental comment from the kitten nearly pierced her head.

Rusby boundeda”using Flaira”across several tables to land on her shoulder. THIS IS FUN! AND THE FOOD IS GOOD, TOO!

Thanks to spells, not one hair or bit of pollen or dust flew from the kitten. Most people smiled; some looked confused, as if they werenat quite sure what had happened.

Leger grinned, scratched the kitten on his head with a forefinger. aGreetyou. Who may you be?a I am RUSBY PRIMROSS, the kitten shouted mentally.

Nodding, Leger said, aIam pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Priest Leger Cinchona.a Garrett was there, plucking Rusby off Artemisiaas shoulder. Leger inclined his torso to him. aAnd you must be GentleSir Primross himself. Iave heard that all of Celta owes you thanks for a great service.a aItas done,a Garrett answered.

aAnd Iam sure youare glad of it,a Leger said in a smooth priestas tone. Then he straightened and looked down at Artemisia. aAnd you were one who discovered the . . . unfortunateas . . . body yesterday.a Leger took her fingers and kissed them, eyeing Garrett. aI did not commiserate.a aIam fine,a Artemisia said; the odor of male hormones swirled around her.

A quick smile from Leger as he met her eyes, then switched his glance to Garrett. aI was going to ask you if you had any notion if the guards were done processing Apollopa Park for clues, and whether they would release it to Temple authorities.a aI donat know. Iam not involveda”a she began.

aI think theyave gathered all the evidence they can,a Garrett said.

aWonderful!a Leger enthused. aArtemisia told me of the Temple.a He squeezed her fingers, then apparently enthusiasm got the best of him and he dropped her hand to rub his own together. aSounds like rehabilitating the Temple is an ace project for me.a She noted that Garrett flinched at the same time she did when Leger said the word project.

With more roughness in his voice than Artemisia expected, Garrett said, aThereas an herb garden that needs to be tended that was planted around the Temple.a Leger nodded, took Artemisiaas hand again. aArtemisia can help me with that, too. You must excuse us, we have plans to make.a With a last half bow, Leger tugged Artemisia from the restaurant.

She heard Rusbyas mental comment, Back to our food, FamMan, before the heavy door closed behind her and Leger.

aGood meeting you.a Leger whisked her fingers to his lips. aIall contact you and Tiana about rehab ideas.a He bowed to her with a distracted air and teleported away, eager to talk to his superiors about claiming Apollopa Park and the Temple.

Artemisia shook off her own distractiona”the sharp pain of seeing, being with Garrett a little, smelling hima”and started moving her feet before he and Rusby finished their lunch.

Garrett watched Artemisia walk out with the priest. Good to see Healer outside TQ, Rusby said from his perch on Garrettas shoulder. Garrett could hear the small slurping sounds of the kitten grooming. She remembered ME!

aYes,a Garrett said.

And I liked her man.

Garrettas mind had screeched a loud warning. Shead meant it; she was cutting her losses with him and moving on.

So soon. He didnat change easily. That Artemisia could slide so soon into change, accept his words and not fight against the circ.u.mstances, not fight to change his mind . . . was inconceivable.

Zoom. Right to another guy.

Options in her life, shead said.

Head been discarded as a viable option. His own d.a.m.n fault. He wasnat going to have the time he needed to process this. He sat back down at his table, and when Rusby saw that Garrett wasnat eating, the kitten marched over to the grilled clucker strips.

Garrett had no appet.i.te.

Artemisia decided to walk home through a series of parksa”and burn some energy to offset the heavy meal.

For some reason her memory flashed on an image of a slender and active Dinni that shead gotten from Garrettas mind. The peek at the woman head loved and lost haunted Artemisia, making her less self-confident about her body than she usually was.

If he liked slender pixie women, Artemisia would never be a fit. She got her curves from her mother, and they werenat sleek.

Finding that she was grinding her teeth, she stopped. No help for it, the man was her HeartMate and they would have bonded well. But that didnat mean there wasnat another man out there she could love and have children with.

A short scream pulled her from her thoughts; hurt-panic swept over her. She turned to see a woman staring at her hand, which was turning red and swelling alarmingly. Her gaze fastened on Artemisia and she stumbled toward her. aHealer, help me!a Artemisia plunged toward her. aWhat is it?a aA stingsect. Iam allergic.a Artemisia could see that, could almost sense the poison pumping through the womanas body. No time to get her to the HealingHall. Grasping the womanas hand in both of hers, Artemisia drew in a deep breath, concentrated, and sent her Flair from herself into the womanas body, making it magnetic to the venom. The womanas system was already reacting and Artemisia braced her patient against her as she worked.

Not difficult. Tiring, but also satisfying as she used her talent to help. She held her patient as she vomited, sent much of the venom out that way, as well as pulling it from the wound.

Soon they were both sitting down on the gra.s.s, her patientas skin skimmed with perspiration as she panted.

Artemisia handed her a few softleaves.

aThank . . . thank you.a Satisfaction infused Artemisia. aYouare quite welcome.a aAnd thank the Lady and Lord you were here.a Artemisia nodded. aYes.a She leaned close and wrapped her arm around the otheras waist, feeling more than one set of eyes on them. aLetas get you to a HealingHall to be checked out. I work at Primary HealingHalla”a The woman clutched Artemisiaas arm. aNo! My council health care is through MidCla.s.s HealingHall.a Artemisia frowned, shaking her head. aIam sorry. I donat know the teleportation pads there, and you arenat in any shape to aport us both. I do know those at AllCla.s.s HealingHalla”and I know FirstLevel Healer Lark Holly, who works there.a Leaning against her, the woman said, aThatas fine.a A few minutes later, Artemisia left her unexpected patient in good hands with Healers at AllCla.s.s HealingHall and walked out with a spring in her step.

She was a good Healer. She did have skills to benefit to the community. All the time with Garrett when she could only sit by and alleviate pain, not fully cure him, was an anomaly in her life. Past and done.

She was a better Healer, a better woman than most gave her credit for. Because she was quiet and didnat like risk or confrontation. Because she wasnat ambitious and only wanted a good and stablea”and fulfillinga”job.

And previous to Garrett, shead helped the Turquoise House, who valued her for what she was.

She wouldnat settle for a man who didnat respect and value her as she deserved. She didnat have to. And she tripped over a gnarly root that extruded from under the wall encasing BalmHeal estate because she couldnat see it. Her vision was blurred from the tears in her eyes that dribbled down her cheeks.

Help! Help me, Healer!

This time the voice was telepathic, small and squeaky. Artemisia jolted to a stop. aWhat? Whoas there?a A whimpering cry had her moving again, searching. Her Family kept the brush heavy along the walls so they were obscured. But there had always been an animal path. She scanned the area to fix her position along the long concave wall that faced the city.

She was closest to the door that led to the Healing pools, fine. Backtracking a few steps, she pushed through a light illusion spell that led her behind the dense bushes.

I . . . am . . . here . . . There was a ragged gasp.

Artemisia trotted along the path, ducking, weaving. Keeping her senses open to find the injured . . . someone. If not a person, a child, it must be a Fam. Breathing in liquid gulps, tears falling more at the hurt that throbbed through her from someone else, she followed the weak mental pattern. Easier to sense the hurt and follow it. Biting her lip, she did.

And found a young and b.l.o.o.d.y animala”Fam animal.