In the days that followed, Victoria continued to heal. After her first visit with Lilly she met with King Naverion and Queen Jastyra of Eralia, who commended her bravery and strength of spirit, and returned the stone into her keeping. Nestled once more upon her breast, the stone flashed its crimson glow, and Victoria could feel its power return to her. It felt heavier than before, and she wondered if it was merely due to its absence over the last few days, or if it was the added burden of guilt for what had happened. Whatever the reason, she resolved to see her unwanted quest through to the end, not just to get home, but to rectify what had been done to Lilly; her friend would not suffer for nothing.

Having been released from the infirmary, Victoria accompanied Jasper, Astrid, and Soren to the suite of rooms that had been appointed to them. Per the physician's orders, Victoria confined herself to their borrowed quarters, and for the first time since coming to this strange world, admiring the elegant beauty she woke to find herself surrounded by seemed to hold no interest for her. By that evening, she became restless.

"I can't just sit around waiting for her to wake up." Victoria said as she stiffly paced the inner chamber of the small apartment. "I can't do nothing knowing that Assyria is out there restoring her own strength and preparing to come after us again. You know damn well she's not sitting on her ass just waiting to see what happens next." She raked her hands through her hair and continued pacing. "I have to get stronger. I have to be able to use this damn thing. She won't be able to save me again, it'll kill her. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened."

"Victoria, stop." Soren came to stand before her, gently cupping her bruised and abraded face. "Breathe. You will. But I heard the physician as clearly as you did, and if you overdo it trying to make up for what happened then you'll be back in the infirmary and of no use to anyone."

"He's right, you know." Astrid said from her seat on one of the couches. Jasper nodded in agreement.

Victoria released a defeated sigh. "I know. I just..."

"I know." Soren kissed her forehead lightly, dropping his hands to Victoria's shoulders and steering her gently toward the sitting area. "But right now you need to rest."

"I was asleep for three days, Soren, how much more rest do I need?" Victoria retorted as she dropped onto the velvet cushions of an overstuffed chair.

"You have to give your body a chance to heal, Victoria." Jasper said, the paternal tone of his voice evident. "If your body is physically too weak to wield the power you possess then Assyria will strike you down without a second thought and everything that's happened up to now will have been for nothing. In case you've forgotten, we too have a family that we would like to return home to."

Victoria flushed with embarrassment at her own selfishness. She had forgotten. Jasper's wife, Lenore, and their youngest two children, Mayhew and Ayden, were miles and miles away, no doubt anxiously awaiting the return of their kin, who had been away only a day less than she had from her own family. "Forgive me, Jasper. I'm not thinking clearly. I'm sorry, you're right."

"Good girl." Jasper nodded approvingly, then turned to Soren. "Go make her some of the tea the physician sent."

So passed Victoria's first night out of the infirmary; holding her patience in check and choosing her words more carefully. Though she balked at the thought of more rest after three days of doing nothing but, her still-healing body forced her to cede defeat. After a light supper of strong broth and tea, she trudged her aching body to her bedchamber and slept.

She slept late, and by the time she woke the others had already been awake for some time. Her joints were still stiff, but the aching had dwindled to an only slightly annoying throb. When finally she emerged from the bedchamber, she found that they were not alone. A man in robes of pale green and blue, with waist-length hair the color of moonlight and eyes to match sat among the others in the sitting area. His feet were bare, his face serene, and when Victoria entered the room he stood and turned toward her in a single graceful motion, bowing as she approached.

"Eithel govannen, dilthen lór padad." He straightened. "I am Ellisar Vafiel."

"Hello." Victoria bobbed her head in acknowledgement. She noted that he called her by the same name as the physician Orrian Daphyras had used. Dream walker.

"Ellisar was summoned from the healers' village." Jasper said. "He is here to aid in Madame Lillaine's recovery, and yours."

"Please tell me you've got some magic potion that'll make Miss Lilly and me all better." Victoria said, almost sardonically.

Ellisar chuckled lightly. "I'm afraid not child. My power lies in healing, yes, and I am the most skilled of my people, but I cannot perform miracles. I may possess the skills to expedite the process, but healing of any kind takes time. Your companion, ancient and powerful though she may be, has weakened physically with age, and the power she used to protect you all took a hard toll on her."

"Doesn't hurt to hope, right?" Victoria shrugged.

Ellisar smiled down at her. "No, it does not hurt to hope." Reaching into the folds of his robes, he produced two leather pouches, extending them to Victoria one at a time. "Herbal tea. Drink this one in the mornings and afternoons, and this one before you sleep. Do this every day for five days."

"I think I can manage that." Victoria replied. A familiar scent wafted from the second pouch, earthy and sweet. "This smells like the stuff Miss Lilly gave me on the boat."

"You've a sharp nose, young lady. Indeed, 'twas the Lady Lillaine herself who taught me its formula many, many years ago." Ellisar said, and a fond smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his moon-pale eyes. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must tend to your companion."

"Of course, and thank you." Victoria replied.

Ellisar smiled again, according her another bow and stepping away, taking his leave.

"Here, give me those." Astrid said once the healer had gone, gesturing to the pouches of tea herbs. "I'll get this going for you. I made sure the bottomless pit didn't eat all of the breakfast." She smiled, shooting a teasing glance at Soren, who cocked a half-smile and rolled his eyes. "You need to eat. Go on." She nodded to the small dining table where a silver dome-covered plate had been set aside, then turned on her heel and disappeared into the tiny kitchen.

"Bloody hell, she sounds just like our mother." Soren snorted.

"I dare you to say that where she can hear you." Jasper snickered.

"I'll keep the skin on my ass, thank you very much." Soren replied, stifling another chuckle.

Jasper chortled, then turned to Victoria, still smiling. "You'd better do as she says. She's enough like her mother she's like to drag you to the table by your ear."

Jasper's words triggered Victoria's memory of that first morning when Soren spooked her in the hallway. How Lenore had stormed up the stairs and taken him by the ear until she was satisfied enough that he'd done no harm. The memory made her smile wide, and she giggled to remember it.

"Having seen that firsthand, I don't think I care to test her." Victoria said with a grin as she turned and went to the table.

"Why don't you and Astrid take her out to the gardens today?" Jasper said to Soren. "The fresh air will do her good."

"What do you say?" Soren asked Victoria.

"Sure. Maybe I can work on my conjuring too." She shrugged.

"Victoria." Soren's tone held a slight warning note.

"I won't overdo it. You'll be right there to make sure I don't. And if I do, then I guess Astrid can drag me back to my bed by my ear." Victoria glanced sidelong at Soren and flashed a cheeky grin.

Soren laughed and shook his head. "Alright then. After you've eaten and had your tea we'll go out to the gardens."

* * *

If Victoria had forgotten the awe with which she first regarded this world, having spent nearly three weeks immersed in its unnatural beauty, the royal gardens of Astheas rekindled it anew. Nearly the size of a football field, the grounds were lush and vibrant, home to an abundance of flora that grew wild and untamed. Gentian, aster and columbine, wild roses and lavender, and a plethora of others she had never seen or heard of grew in unchecked profusion. Beneath the shade of ancient oak and willow trees were small clearings set about with benches, couches, and tables, fit for entertaining and leisure alike. Creeping ivy and blooming wisteria scaled the sheer face of the mountainside that bracketed the entire west side of the garden. At the far side, from the mountain's face, a small waterfall spilled over into a deep pool where rainbows danced in the glittering spray.

"Wow." Victoria mused as she gazed upon the beautiful scene before her. "Just when I think I'm finally getting used to how beautiful everything is here, you bring me out here and it's like experiencing it for the first time all over again."

"It is quite lovely, isn't it?" Astrid said, smiling to herself. "Well then, if you two are content to mosey about the flowers, then I'm content to leave you to it and take myself to the practice range. Behave, and don't push yourself." She eyed them both as she turned and walked away.

"Yes, Mother." Soren teased.

Astrid shot him an irritated glare, rolling her eyes and continuing on her own way.

"Something tells me that if you'd said that anywhere else she'd have whooped your ass without a second thought." Victoria said with a smirk.

"Oh no doubt she'd have tried." Soren laughed. "Truth be told, I just wanted to see what she'd do with you watching." He smiled mischievously.

Victoria snorted, shaking her head. "Your mother called it that first morning, you are a wicked brat."

He smiled, shrugging nonchalantly. "She's my big sister, would anyone expect any less?" He took her hand and lead her out into the garden. "Come on, let's go mosey about the flowers."

For a time they were content to stroll along the stone pathways, admiring the untamed beauty and enjoying the peaceful silence, simply enjoying each other's company. For the first time, they were truly alone; no watchful eyes, no immediate danger, and no dire sense of urgency to tiant the serenely tranquil atmosphere. It was in this moment 0f calm that Victoria became acutely aware of their seclusion from the others. Her fingers, still laced with Soren's, began to tingle, the butterflies rose in her stomach, and she felt a warm flush creep into her cheeks. She turned away from Soren, commenting on the flora in the hopes that he wouldn't notice.

Her now-sweating hand in his gave away her attempt to dissemble. He quirked a lop-sided smile at her averted face and directed them to a sitting area beneath one of the ancient willow trees; its long, swaying vines providing a natural screen, shielding them from the world beyond. He turned her to face him, encircling her waist with one arm and gently cupping her face with his other hand. His jade-and-gold eyes, turned olive beneath the curtain of foliage, stared deeply into hers, and they could both feel their heartbeats quicken. The stone began to pulse dully.

"I was afraid." Soren said quietly. "When...when you ran away from us, and after... None of us knew if you would pull through. I stayed with you, praying to whatever God's or spirits would listen. I was afraid that you wouldn't wake up again, that you were lost to me forever." Hos thumb stroked her cheek gently, mindful of the bruises and abrasions that still marred her face.

"I guess you prayed to the right things then." Victoria smiled sheepishly. "It was you who brought me back from wherever I was. Everything was cold and dark, and I was numb and had no sense of myself. I thought I was dead, and I almost gave into it. Then I heard your voice, I heard you calling to me, and then there was a light. The brightness grew and I saw your face in it, then I opened my eyes and there you were."

Tears glistened in Soren's eyes as he planted a gentle, lingering kiss on her forehead. "I couldn't leave you. I was so afraid that you'd slip away if I did."

Victoria layer her head against his chest. "I'm glad you didn't. I think I would've given in and let the darkness claim me if you had."

For several long moments they stood that way beneath the willow tree, embracing one another as if they were afraid to lat go. Draped around Victoria's neck on its golden chain, the stone began to pulse more brightly as the phantom flames sprang to life around them; the swirling wisps of golden-white fire that only they could see. Soren pulled away just enough to tip Victoria's head up to meet his kiss, and the incorporeal flames gre in response. Growing brighter, more substantial, rising higher, and swirling faster around them as theor kiss deepened, until they stood in the eye of a roaring maelstrom of golden-white fire.

When at last they parted, they stood breathing heavily as they felt themselves suffused with the strange liquid warmth of the flames that continued to swirl around them. As their racing heartbeats slowed, their eyes broke free pf the spell that bound them and they stared in awe as the raging torrent of flames began to subside, dwindling once more to ghostly wisps before finally dissipating altogether. In the aftermath of the inferno they barely noticed when they began to laugh, notes of unfettered joy ringing in the air around them.

* * *

Nearly one hundred miles to the north, on a small island now guarded by red-eyed beasts of the water, stood Assyria, leaning heavily on her black clawed staff and staring intently toward the mainland. Her eyes were filled with hatred, and her smile seethe with malice.

"You've grown weak, you old hag. Your power alone should have killed me, but all you could do was force me away. You've weakened my body and temporarily taken me out of our little game, but no more than that. And I assure you, I am far from incapable. My strength and power will return, and I will take every pleasure I tearing you and that girl limb from limb."

Turning her back to the far-off shore, she made her slow, limping way deep into the cover of the trees to a small cave, disappearing into its dark confines.