POVEGLIA—THE KINGDOM OF ARACELLY

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You will be feeling much better now,” Liliana stated to the young four–year–old warlock as the white light faded around his wrist.

“Thank you, Ms. Liliana,” the warlock said, as he wiggled his newly healed wrist around and laughed with delight.

“You’re welcome,” Liliana smiled between laughs. She lowered her black wooden wand with a dark blue obsidian crystal connected to the shaft and proceeded to put it back into the small right front opening of her purple dress.

She moved strands of stray hair behind her ears. “Remember to be more careful when you play outside. Listen to your mother and keep yourself out of trouble.”

The young warlock grinned and practically jumped down from his examination table. “I will Ms. Liliana!”

Liliana nodded. “All right then. Off you go.”

“Bye, Ms. Liliana and Ms. Elyse!” He waved at the young witch who had been helping the healer.

She watched as the young warlock left the room. She proceeded to sweep back her long dark, wavy, brown hair.

A few minutes later, she stopped and abruptly turned her head to the commotion coming from outside the building of Poveglia. Her blue–green eyes widened and her lips slightly parted as she listened to the noise outside growing more intense. She rushed to the window and glanced out to see a large crowd of witches and warlocks that had gathered. She looked a bit closer, her eyes growing wide, recognising the king of Vandolay slumped forward on his horse.

“Liliana, what is going on outside?” asked Elyse with a voice of worry.

Liliana turned. She took a deep breath to keep her composure. She then smiled gently and squatted to meet eye level with the young two–year–old witch.

“Lady Elyse,” Liliana said, looking into the child’s grey–blue eyes as she laid her hands on the young witch’s shoulders. “Please go and find your grandmother. I must go address the crowd. Later, you can help me change a bandage, okay?” Liliana smiled.

The young witch smiled and nodded. She turned and ran off in search of her grandmother. Elyse’s shoulder–length blonde hair shined against the lighting of Poveglia as she ran down the white marble hallway.

Liliana turned the opposite direction and slowly started to walk down the hall, her face growing more worried. She reached into her dress for her wand and raced towards the entrance of Poveglia.

WHEN LILIANA opened the door, she saw Orlynd had climbed down from his horse and was cradling Déor in his arms. Behind them a large crowd of witches and warlocks had gathered, some curious to see what was going on, while others seemed just as anxious as Orlynd. As Liliana made her way down a large flight of white marble stairs, her hair shimmered so intensely in the sunlight she could have been mistaken for an angel.

“What is the meaning of this? What has happened?” Liliana asked with an authoritative voice, lowering herself to the ground so she could examine the king.

“His Majesty was shot with an arrow in Cara Forest. It was poisonous,” Orlynd explained with anxiety in his voice as Liliana loosened the king’s tunic and wool shirt. He watched as Liliana pulled the piece of cloth used for bandages from Déor’s chest and took an intense look at the wound near his breast.

“Strychnos toxifera,” Liliana uttered. “It is a plant often used to create poisonous darts and arrows. But how can this be? He should be dead already.” She placed a finger over Déor’s neck and felt a pulse that was quickly becoming weaker. “He is fading. The poison has already spread through his vital organs. Soon his lungs will be put to rest. He doesn’t have much time left,” she said, raising her wand and positioning it over the centre of his chest. She placed her other hand over Déor’s forehead as she uttered, “Emaculavi el curpas y mehartis!”

Orlynd watched as a white healing light slowly absorbed into Déor’s body, and Déor’s breathing became stronger.

Amazed, Orlynd looked up at Liliana. He had heard many stories of her healing abilities, but he had never seen her up close before. He took a minute to study her features.

Liliana was an extremely beautiful young woman. She had a heart–shaped face and a mole located slightly right of her upper lip.

“Ah beg ay yis,” Orlynd said unexpectedly, tears falling down his face as he looked up into Liliana’s face. “Yis must save him. The future ay oor kingdoms depend oan it.”

Liliana looked straight into Orlynd’s eyes and spoke with a sassy voice. “Do not doubt my gift. I will save him!”

“Is everything all right, madam?” a warlock who had come down the stairs asked.

“Yes, Leon,” answered Liliana still gazing at Orlynd. “Help me get the King of Vandolay into one of the sick rooms. Gather all of our advanced healers and instruct them to meet me there.”

“Yes, Ms. Liliana,” Leon replied. He moved towards Orlynd and carefully lifted the king into his arms.

Liliana waited till Leon had passed her by before turning around to proceed back up the stairs. Abruptly she stopped and looked back at Orlynd intently.

“Do not fear,” Liliana said. “We will see to it your king’s life is spared.”