Choir be damned, he couldn't breathe even though his life depended on it. Thick snot filled his sinuses and it mattered not how much he blew his nose into his handkerchief or the sleeve of his robe, more simply filled in whatever was expelled. He groaned loudly, pitifully, as he tilted his head forward, trying to get more to come out of it. Solenne had given him some medicine to help yesterday. Emrys had thanked her even though the saw how wary she was when handing it to him. It was just allergies. Nothing else. That lady that attacked him two days ago had nothing to do with how he felt.

  He sat on the bottom step of the stairs bent over, head between his legs, and he groaned again. Solenne sighed in response. Emrys had a feeling she was growing tired of his whining but it was hard not to do it. Usually when his allergies kicked in, he just stayed in his flat until the air cleared out. This wasn't one of those times that he could do that. Solenne needed his help now more than ever. They had gotten in a rush of orders yesterday from a traveling caravan that was coming in from the coast. It was rare to have anyone come to Caelora by water and rarer still for them to commission work from the local shops.

  "Give me just a moment longer and I will help, I promise." He said after blowing his nose into his robe sleeve once more.

  "Emrys Durand, give me that robe right now. I'm going to wash it and maybe that will help." Solenne demanded, sounding much closer than she had been before.

  He sat up, seeing that she was indeed right in front of him. Based on the seriousness of her expression, he knew there was no point in arguing with her. So he stood, pulled the robe over his head, and handed it to her while sniffling what had drained back up and into his head. That hadn't been the smartest thing he'd ever done but he hadn't really been able to stop once he started. At least he had thought to wear an undershirt where as his chest was usually bare.

  "Thank you." He croaked out as she took it from him and walked to the cellar door.

  This had all started in the middle of the night. He had been awoken from the nicest dream choking on this junk draining down his throat. Emrys had drawn a bath right then to try to steam it out of his system but it persisted. He had gotten a few more hours of sleep before giving up and getting up. Doing so had given him plenty of time to write a report to send back to Primarch Aldren.

  The black marks on her fingers are no longer growing, for lack of a better term. Whatever was causing it seems to have stopped. She also allowed me in the cellar and I saw nothing of concern. I am starting to believe that these rumors of her being Marked are just that, rumors. There is nothing else to indicate such a thing. Solenne is a cornerstone of the Veil and I fear if something were to happen to her, a vast majority of the populace would turn away from the Light and forever be lost to the darkness. I don't believe I will be needed much longer in this position. Please advise on when I will be allowed to return to the Ecclesium.

  The report had been sent with a runners to the Basilica that morning on his way out of the inn. He was still entirely grateful that there was one that seemed to live in a room just a few doors down from his own. They had gotten to know one another well enough that the runner didn't charge Emrys for taking his reports.

  Emrys slowly stood up. He reached into the pocket of his trousers and pulled out his tin of Hylarin salve. He gathered a thick amount onto his finger and spread it across his chest. It made his skin tingle. As he breathed it in, he could feel the congestion break up a bit. The cold air hitting his nostrils made him shiver in relief and almost in pleasure. At least the salve worked even if only temporarily. He would need to reapply it in a few hours.

  While Solenne was in the cellar, he started to prepare the medicine she gave him. It was an herbal remedy that could be steeped into a tea. The apothecary in the Center made something similar that he had used before. Emrys grabbed the kettle, went upstairs to fill it, and came back downstairs. He started the coil before putting the kettle onto it. His mug was in its usual place next to hers. After putting the herbs into the round mesh ball they usually used for coffee, he placed it into the mug and waited for the water to boil.

  The bell above the door rang. He looked over his shoulder to see an older man standing there. Emrys turned and smiled brightly.

  "Hello there. How can I help you?" He hoped Solenne was okay with this. Usually she handled all the talking while he just took care of gathering things for people.

  The man glanced around a few times. "Where is the apothecary?"

  "She's working on something in the cellar. Can I assist you?" Emrys didn't want to have to get Solenne if this was something he could handle himself. "I am versed enough to potentially be able to help with whatever you might need."

  He snorted loudly, shaking his head. "I doubt it, red."

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  Emrys frowned deeply. He didn't like when people called him that. He knew red hair wasn't something common in the city but he hated when it was used as his only identifier.

  "Not unless you can heal an infection with your hands." The words had hit Emrys' ears oddly. He felt as if he had spaced out there for a second.

  "I'm sorry?" Emrys' brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

  The main raised a bushy eyebrow. "The apothecary. She can heal people with her hands. Surely you've seen it if you're her apprentice."

  Before Emrys could ask more questions, Solenne came through the door. She stopped and looked between the two men before her focus became the potential client in front of her.

  "Is Emrys helping you or is there something I can do for you?" She asked as she walked towards him.

  "I'm in need of your hands." He said rather openly.

  The color draining from her face wasn't lost on Emrys. Nor was how she glanced over at him before looking back to the customer. Solenne reached out, taking him by the arm, and started leading him towards the door.

  "I don't offer those kinds of services here sir. I believe you'll need to down the road to your right and look for the three story house with the red door. They are the ones who are skilled with their hands. All I do is make herbal remedies for those who need them." She spoke rapidly as she took the man outside.

  Emrys made to follow but the kettle screeching stopped him. He was cursing at himself for sending that letter to the Primarch earlier that morning. He had obviously needed to hold off but there was nothing he could do about it now. Even if he somehow made it to another runner, the new letter would say what? My apologies Primarch, a random man said she did heal people with her hands. Please send a Pale assassin immediately.

  He poured the boiling water into his mug. Once it was filled, he returned the kettle to its home next to the coil which he promptly shut off. Emrys stared at the water as it began to shift into a pale yellow color that would darken as the herbs steeped. When the bell rang again, he didnt turn to see who it was. He knew it would be Solenne and he wasn't sure how he was to handle things now. What did he say? Telling her the truth as to why he was here would defeat the purpose. The last thing Emrys wanted to be was a chosen one who failed. That wasn't what chosen ones did. Failure wasn't an option.

  "Emrys." She said his name in that way he had enjoyed before. He couldn't lie. He still enjoyed it far more than he probably should at this moment in time.

  "Solenne." He replied, hating how tight his voice sounded.

  Even without looking at her, he knew she had tensed up. Emrys felt another kind of hate crawling up his bones. He had started to get to know her so well. He trusted her. Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly as he turned to face her. She looked worried, upset, and like she might cry. Choir give him strength.

  "I think I might have misheard that gentleman but he said you heal people with your hands?" He tried to keep his tone curious and accusatory.

  Solenne shook her head. "No, I don't. I heal people with what my hands make. Every tincture, salve, and whatever else in this shop is made by my hands. No one else." She took a step towards him. He wanted so badly to step back but he kept himself locked in place. "That is what he meant."

  Emrys wanted to believe her. He could. After all, he had told Aldren it was nothing more than a rumor so that was exactly what he could say that was. The man had simply heard something on the street and came by to see if it was true. See? Easy enough. At least it would have been if not for the way Solenne looked when she returned. No one looked upset like that unless some part of it was true, correct?

  "He said you heal infections with your hands. Only the Ecclesium healers can do that." He picked up his mug, extracted the mesh ball, and then sipped the steaming tea. It coated his throat and the steam seemed to open up his sinuses even more.

  "I know. I think he was just mistaken at what he heard. The magic the Ecclesium uses is holy and therefore only they use it. No one in the Veil is holy enough to be gifted such a talent. If we were, well, I'd be out of business wouldn't I?" She smiled. It was convicing. It even reached her eyes which he hadn't been expecting.

  That threw him off. Had she not been upset because he was lying? "Solenne, did he say something else to you when you lead him out?" Emrys suddenly stood taller. He wasn't the type to go and defend her honor with his fists but he also didn't want her to think he wouldn't be willing to. His fists had never hit anything other than his mattress and one time a bookshelf out of frustration. He had prayed harder than ever that night for the Choir to take that anger from him and he hadn't had an outburst like that since then.

  She chewed at her lip. That was something she only did when she was nervous. He took another drink of his tea before setting it down and walking over to her.

  "You can tell me if he did. I won't go after him but I'd like to know." Emrys looked down at her, willing her to look back up at him. It was only when her eyes met his that he continued. "Please."

  Her eyes looked at his, down, and then back up again. "He thought I was some kind of..." Her face scrunched up. Instead of pushing further, Emrys pulled her into a tight hug. He rested her head against his chest and ran his hand along her braid.

  "Shhh. Its okay. I know you're not like that." He soothed her. Emrys wanted to kick himself. Of course she was upset about that. A rumor like that could ruin her just as easily as a rumor about her being Marked could. He could feel her start to tremble in his arms. "You can let it out. You're safe with me."

  It seemed that reassurance was all he needed. She started to cry as he held her. Emrys didn't know what to say or even what to do really other than continuing to stroke her hair and gently rock her side to side.