They chatted about the holiday as they trekked through the mountain. Training had taken time away from all of her friends. She’d be glad when it was over in a matter of months and she could start seeing people again. It wouldn’t be easier, but it would at least give her a less strict schedule. She could only hope.

Valia left her at the door to Helly’s healing office. It was open, and Kerrigan knocked as she strode inside.

Helly glanced up. “Oh good, you’re here.”

“You sent for me?”

“Correct. And I wouldn’t have had to do that if you had told me what happened at Geivhrea.”

Kerrigan winced. “Yeah, sorry. It slipped my mind.”

Helly arched an eyebrow. “Blacking out and having depleted magic slipped your mind?”

“If you haven’t noticed, I’m on probation and trying to stay in the Society.”

Helly waved a hand. “Yes. Yes. Sit. Let’s look at you.”

Kerrigan came over to the table and took a seat. Helly examined her eyes, ears, and nose before checking her heart rate. Then, she ran a few additional tests and shrugged. “You seem perfectly healthy to me.”

“Sonali said that.”

“So,” Helly said, crossing her arms, “did you have a vision?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Hmm… but these are the same symptoms, yes?”

“They are. And it happened once before too.”

“When?” Helly asked, taking notes on a parchment.

“After I was arrested.”

“And what were you doing right before you blacked out this time?”

Kerrigan swallowed. Helly was Lady Hellina, First of the House of Stoirm. She would know what it meant if she and March were arguing. She might even understand the political ramifications that Kerrigan had never been aware of.

“Well?” Helly asked.

“March and I were arguing about our betrothal.”

Helly sat across from her and crossed her arms. “I see.”

Kerrigan glanced down and offered a half-truth. “My dad offered me my dowry to give to him to break it off. He didn’t mention that House of Medallion wouldn’t see that as enough for a debt paid.”

“Your father is woefully uninterested in politics. I suspect someone like Ashby March would have taken that very poorly.”

“Yes,” Kerrigan managed.

“So, you were in deep distress.”

“Yes.” Kerrigan glanced up at her. “Do you know what’s happening to me?”

“For all intents and purposes, it looks like magic sickness.”

“What?” Kerrigan gasped. “That makes no sense, Helly. Magic sickness only happens to the really old Fae who refuse their magic all their lives. I’m only seventeen!”