Stacey scratched at her itchy wrist but someone caught her hand, preventing her from touching it.
A cooling cream was rubbed into her skin there.
"Don't scratch," she was told. "Be a good girl. Behave."
Stacey wriggled in discomfort, burrowing her head into the firm chest.
"So hot," she complained. "Stuffy."
"We didn't find anything. The surveillance was wiped," said a cold and sharp voice. Stacey stiffened and opened her blurry eyes. She recognised that voice. She looked down at the floor.
"Her," Stacey murmured. "It's the shoes. Her bag. In her bag."
"Search," Thieren's voice rumbled.
"We never developed a medication to counter these drugs. They only work on you humans and we don't need an antidote for them."
"I do not want my wife to remain in a lost haze for the rest of her life," a voice snapped.
"You! It's you who has been harming my lady!" a cry went up. "I'll kill you, you evil, jealous sow!"
"Look, my lord. These are what she had in her bag."
"Ancient man, I believe we have found the culprit. Are you satisfied? Will your honour be satisfied with this traitorous woman?"
"Yes. My younger brother especially likes the fiery ones."
"You can't treat me like this, my lord! I grew up with you! I've been working with and for you ever since I came of age!"
"Who are you? I don't know you. Sedate her and give her to the Ancient man. Inform her family that she insulted the Summerveld family and was given to them in compensation."
"No, my lord! You can't do this! You can't do this to me! My cousin is your ally in the Lower House!"
The woman's screams and cries filled the air. She cursed and railed at Stacey when she saw Thieren was so unyielding. Something blocked her mouth so that only muffled cries could be heard. Then they cut off abruptly.
"Noisy woman."
"Try the white flowers of the low growing gilded heath. Brew a handful of them in a tea with a bowl of the root juice of the hanging wakeful vine. One dose a day. For three months. I can't guarantee it will work but it should help. Contact me if there is no effect. As for the other medication, you can only help her put out the fire in the natural way. You should take her home. It's a slow acting and long lasting medication, so it may be a few days before she comes to."
"Many thanks and my apologies."
"Insults and hatred are expected from your kind. You who do not live with us do not know how wonderful a life you would live if you were under our care. I welcome anyone interested to seek me out."
"Stop wriggling, Stacey. It's alright. I'm taking you home now to help you see to your needs."
Hot. When would he stop talking and take her home? It was so hot and stuffy here.
"Apologies everyone, for the mess our banquet has become. Please do enjoy the food and entertainment. The bar is open. Help yourselves. I have to take my wife home. She's unwell, as most of you are aware. I'll make it up to all of you another time."
Stacey felt herself being carried. She floated here and there. At times, she felt herself on fire and working hard to put it out. Other times, she dreamed of trying to puzzle things out or listened to the sound of a new developing symphony in her mind. Perhaps she should write the music when she woke up.
She couldn't be bothered right now. There were more important things to do and battles to win. So far she hadn't won any of them and that was making her feel a bit depressed.
Although she didn't know why, at times she dreamed of tables of food where the food all tasted like bitter, flowery tea. Other times, she dreamed of water fountains, water jets and waterfalls that pounded down on her bare skin. When she tasted the water and drank from a drinking fountain, the water tasted thick and weird. Slightly salty. What sort of water was that?
The drinking fountain was weird too. Why did she need to suck on it to get anything out? And why did it keep ramming itself down her throat? It made her throat more sore and made her choke.
Sometimes, she visited the stars and wandered the night sky, marvelling at the beauty and euphoric feeling of being so high up. It was only if and when she fell that everything would start to hurt that she was willing to come back down to put a stop to things. But it was beautiful, so she spent as much time up there as possible.
"Ancient man, what are you doing in my house? Who are all these Ancients? Can you tell me what is going on?" Thieren's voice sounded hot and bothered. "You may be Ancients but even you all must agree that barging uninvited into somebody's home is rude."
"I told them about your wife's allergic response to me and they became curious. Don't worry, they'll only examine her and experiment on her a bit for our research. Her life and health will remain intact."
"Experiment?!" Thieren spluttered. "Out! Get out!"
"Calm down, young man. She'll be fine. From what I can see, she's recovering well. You're glowing, so she's obviously satisfied you. You may have overdone things a bit on her side. She looks skinnier and thinner than before. With us here, we can help you control those symptoms and flush the rest of that drug from her body so that she can start to wake up sooner. Ooh. Look at those bruises. Don't you know how to be gentle to such a tender young lady."
"Wildling," said a hoarse voice. "She's a wildling. I'm sure of it."
"Wildling? Impossible? All the black milestones have been accounted for."
"There must be one more, otherwise how did a Wildling get here?"
"She's my wife. You can't take her away."
"Your wife. Yes, yes. Your wife. We know. We wouldn't want such a disaster prone girl anyway. So many brain injuries. We'd have to look after her rather than the other way around. What a waste of resources."
"We're just curious about her allergic responses. We've never seen it before."
"Have you got the hair samples? I've got the nails."
"I got some dead skin. I don't suppose her husband would allow us to shave a bit of flesh off her, would he?"
Stacey felt a sharp sting in her abdomen and inside of her elbow. Clawed hands were playing with all her limbs. Something scraped the inside of her thigh and she winced. The insides of her cheeks and even her lower areas were scraped. A thin intrusion into her ear scooped something out.
"I've got the fat samples. This should do."
"Blood. I've got her blood."
"I've got the skin culture."
"I've got the swabs from her mouth and nostrils."
"I've got the earwax."
"Get out, you vultures! Leave my wife alone!"
"Don't worry, young man. We'll share the results of our research with you. We thank you for contributing to our research."
Something was slipped up Stacey's backside, making her grunt.
"Excellent. I have the samples from her nether regions now. We're good to go."
"Is that everything? I think that's everything."
"Tee-hee, look at the young man. He's livid. Be careful you don't get a stroke or heart attack, young man. Too much anger will shorten your lifespan."
There were multiple gusts of wind from the movement of so many people. Stacey released a sigh of relief and chewed the weird tasting leafy thing someone had shoved in her mouth. It was at once savoury, bitter and sour, with a slightly minty aftertaste.
"What are you eating? What did they give to you?" A finger reached into her mouth and pulled the mashed up leaf out. "What is this? The breath freshener herb?"
Without all the commotion, Stacey relaxed once more. For some reason, she felt a lot better. Instead of the familiar fog and confusion, she felt like a breath of fresh air had blown through her mind.