All questions ceased when Lilly came in. She stopped in the doorway and leaned against the door. It didn't look like she felt well. James stepped to her side as she slid to her knees and bowed her head.

'Lilly, what is it?'

'a.s.semble the troops… their march has begun.'

'I haven't heard anything of the sort.'

'a.s.semble them,' she said, looking at him.

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Shock spread across his features. The Gerrabella poison streaks were bleeding.

'What is happening? Why can't I sense them as well I have before?' James asked.

Lilly's hand moved to his side where the Gerrabella skin had appeared. 'Your body is… rejecting….' She fell forward.

'Lilly?… Lilly!'

'a.s.semble….' she said weakly.

James picked her up when he saw Sapientiis.

'Sapientiis. You're….'

'Do… what she says, James. I'll make sure she's taken care of.'

The Generals saw James hand Lilly to another man then turn back to them.

"James," Carthago asked. "Who was that? What is he going to do with Lilly?"

"Sapientiis. He's an Adremedian healer and will help her get better."

"Why don't you go with them?"

"Because Gerrabella troops are beginning to move."

Now the conversation really got going. Troops were a.s.sembled and plans put in place. The moment they had all they needed from James, he was sent off to check on Lilly. Sapientiis had taken her back to their room and opened the window so a cold breeze could come in. The bleeding had stopped and the dark color had lightened some.

'How is she Sapientiis?'

'Her cheeks have stopped bleeding and I can find nothing wrong inside, but then I can't get her to say more than a word or two before she's asleep again. Has something happened between you two?'

'It's been a little rough since she got back from her work, but nothing that would cause this.' Then he noticed the black lips shaped mark on Sapientiis' cheek. 'Um… Sapientiis? What happened to your cheek?'

Sapientiis touched his right cheek. 'Rosae Lilly gave it to me. It's now part of the Adremedian's mission.'

'Because of the war?'

'James?' Lilly asked softly.

'I'm here, Lilly,' he said, taking her hand.

'Mark to break barrier…. All Adremedians….' Her face scrunched.

'Rosae Lilly, don't push yourself. I'll explain the mark to James,' Sapientiis said.

'Thank you.' She took a deeper breath. 'James,… I love you.'

'I love you, too, Lilly. Rest now.' He kissed her on the forehead and she closed her eyes. After he brushed hair from her face, James turned to Sapientiis.

'James. The mark you see on my cheek… was given to me by Rosae Lilly… while I laid with another. All Adremedians have been given this mark and she has lain… with none. As our leader, only she could break the barrier that keeps our population in set numbers, but this too has a limit. The creation of more Adremedians can only happen during times of… war.… When the… war is over, the Adremedians created… will either die or take the place of an older Adremedian… who is ready to pa.s.s on, if they are not killed… while the battle is being fought.'

'I understand. Why are there so few Adremedians in the first place?'

'Because… we are not needed all the time.'

'But so many Humans could use your skills as healers, even in times of peace.'

'That may be true, James, but the noises you Humans make fill Adremedians… with disease and if it goes on long enough it kills them. Another part to that is the language barrier… we can't understand the noises you Humans use to talk to each other and most Humans cannot hear the soft voices of us Adremedians.'

'Is there no way for us to work together?'

'I honestly don't kno… w. Rosae Lilly might, but something is hurting her. I do not kno… w… what it is, and yet, this Gerrabella poisoning has changed her in ways that even the older Adremedians don't understand or kno… w ho… w to reverse.'

'There is… no reversal,' Lilly said, opening her eyes.

'Lilly, you should be resting,' James said.

'There will be… no rest.'

'Rosae Lilly, can you tell me… what's… wrong?' Sapientiis asked.

'Broken… only time can… heal it.'

'Lilly,' James said.

'James.… Hold me… please?' She turned to him with tears in her eyes.

Sapientiis bowed respectfully and headed for the door.

'Sapientiis,' Lilly said, stopping him. 'Thank you. Train them well.'

'You're… welcome, Rosae Lilly.' Then he left.

James sat on the bed on Lilly's other side and held her in his arms. 'What's wrong, Lilly? Have I made you sick?'

'No, James. This comes from Human grief that I cannot give you Human children… even though… as an Adremedian… that remains a possibility.'

He held her tighter and rested his chin on her shoulder. 'Is there nothing I can do to ease your suffering?'

'You're all ready doing it.'

James turned her enough so he could kiss her. He enjoyed her smile and was glad when she slept again. She slept for several hours without waking. Those few hours, he held her and wondered what else might be causing this pain. For it to be grief alone seemed too much. The blood tears of grief were not seen, nor were there normal tears. Something more had to be going on. When Lilly woke again, she felt a little better. Her smile was soft and she kissed him tenderly.

'James, are you all right?'

'I am, Lilly. Will you be?'

'I… I should be,' she replied with tears in her eyes.

'Come with me. There's something I want you to see.'

It was dark now and the town was quiet. Lilly's steps were heavy as she and James made their way into town. He took her to several homes that still had lamps burning in the windows. Through each window she was shown the sick and injured that may never get treatment. He never spoke or asked her to go in and heal them, just took her from place to place to see. Even in times of peace there were many Humans who could use the Adremedian's help. James only walked with her through a small section of town and allowed her to see how much pain remained. He had watched her expression as they walked from place to place, but it never seemed to change. He wasn't sure if she couldn't see past her own pain to the pain of others anymore.

Back in the castle, Lilly pulled away from him at the door of their room and continued on to the library. At first he wanted to follow, but something told him to let her be. The sun would be rising in a few hours and James laid down in bed wondering about Lilly. He laid there hoping to stay awake until she came back, but his body's desire for sleep was too strong.