"I..I don't know…" Mally stuttered honestly at a loss. She had no idea Kyera's training had progressed like this or how she knew what poison it was. There was nothing she could think of to say that wouldn't sound like she was trying to cover for herself...The Queen scoffed.
"You don't know what to say because you never dreamed you would be caught!." she said triumphantly. "you betrayed us!" she added walking closer to Mally, fire in her eyes. Before she could raise her hand to slap her however, a soft voice interrupted her, a stark contrast to the anger of QUeen Fae and the confusion and fear of Mally.
"I am afraid the Queen is out of line." Kyera said cooly, raising to her feet now that Rasha's breathing was beginning to quicken. The stress around him was hardly good for such a wounded animal. Annoyance once again bubbled in Kyera's heart. This Queen did not know what she was doing.
"Oh? Do you think so?" The Emperor asked with a cool edge to his voice, but Kyera was cool and collected. Even in the blood stained dress she looked strikingly like a Goddess… or a God. His mind flicked for a brief moment to the painting of a God in the Palace Temple near the Statue of the Fallen.
Kyera nodded, wiping her hands off on the towl. She curtsied to the Emperor before, brushing her long white hair back over her shoulder. His eyes followed her hands like carved jade moving the silken strands. Her golden eyes met his and held them with a sweetness but also a fiery confidence. Alexi sighed and stepped back, knowing he was about to learn more about this little healer.
"Your Majesty, Mally did not know what the poison was. I did. She also didn't know where to get the antidote. Anyone who was here will tell you I sent Mally to find Aggie. I did that because Aggie is my partner. She sells my remedies as well as her own." Kyera explained, her head held high. There was no shame or meekness in her eyes as she watched his reactions, but there was respect. Her first effort was to clear Mally, she had spent far to long here creating this persona for herself. This Queen would not be the one to take it from her.
"I see. That doesn't clear up how she had the antidote and how you knew what it was." The Emperor pointed out and Queen Fae grinned. She would punish anyone who got between her and that bitch, Mally. They both expected some sort of reaction. However, Kyera nodded slowly in agreement.
"She must have drug poor Mally into this. You must punish the cruel person, My Lord." Fae purred into his ear, but received a slight warning glance. The Emperor had noticed Kyera's response, as well as the respect she had shown by not talking over the Queen who had spoken out of turn. Kyera sensed it and knew that Queen Fae had tried to cause trouble too much lately and was pushing her luck by continuing to fan the flames. Kyera knew that slight chill very, very well. She had seen it in the bazaar between husband and wife often enough.
"I am in training under the Shadow Shaman, Half Eye. He was first a poison Master, Miss. We have noticed poachers using this poison in the woods. Aggie made a antidote for me to use with our woodland friends. We have had to keep it on hand at home. I sent Aggie word that I would be coming this way soon, so naturally Aggie made a fresh stock for me to pick up." Kyera explained and Aggie smiled softly, though slightly shocked.
Kyera had never admitted being so close to Half Eye before… perhaps this would be their salvation. Very few people didn't know the old Shaman from his days of glory. He had never faced a disease he couldn't cure, and many Emperors, dignitaries, and Generals had sought him out for his healing power. He took very few apprentices, one every 25 years, which made him even more illusive. No one knew where his house in the forest was. If Kyera was one of his… the Emperor would have to take notice.