Screams seared through my skull like a brand on flesh. My pulse raced as my veins altered violet, glowing under my skin. They streamed up my arm like a river, lining my collar until crawling against my neck. I tried to open my mouth but could not. My lips were shut. I was lost to an itch, and made its servant. It moved throughout my entire body, changing me from within.

Darkness greeted me when my eyes opened. Memories of what Baria stated flooded back, the dream disappearing. "Thank your hero, girl, because of Hona you now are a prisoner of Udan until I am given testimony of your innocence."

I was now a prisoner of Udan, sent to serve until my innocence was proven. I wasn't certain how it would ever be. I imagined I would never make it back to the river again.

Sighing, I hugged my legs to my chest. The tears overwhelmed me, burning my cheeks. I cried for the lost memory of what used to be myself.

I sniffled, silencing the tears. Looking around, I assumed I was in the tower again, but now saw I was elsewhere, much dimmer and damp. My eyes adjusted with the help of the small lanterns in the corner nearing stone steps leading upward.

In the small room, green tinted bottles stood in the corners and large crates were scattered between my cot and the opposite wall. There was a smell I couldn't place but it reminded me of wet mold.

I leaned my back into the wall, and stretched my legs, the pain in my calf twanged once more. A pair of green eyes caught my attention. The owner of them moved from beyond the crates, drawing into my vision.

My heart pounded. I hoped there wasn't more danger to come. I wasn't sure how much I could handle.

Shifting out of the darkness was a beautiful woman with wide hips and a full chest, hugging her body was a black straight dress. Her complexion appeared darker in the dim light, almost honey-colored or tawny. She strode forward with curiosity in her vibrant eyes.

"Hello," she whispered in a soft voice, using her native tongue. "I did not mean to scare you."

"Hello." I was at ease by her voice.

"You can understand me," the woman said, shocked, holding onto one of her two roped braids hanging to her midriff. "May I sit?"

I nodded.

"I know you must have been through a lot," she started. "When Hona brought you here, he revealed the horrors you have suffered."

"You know Hona?"

"Of course," she said with a smile. "He saved me like he has saved you."

The woman held her hands into her lap, her long fingers clenching. I could see the pain in her body as her shoulders tensed. She jolted, noticing I was staring.

"I am so sorry!" she exclaimed, shifting away. "I don't mean to get so emotional. I shouldn't have bared my soul." Her sullen voice fell.

I placed a hand on hers. Her skin was warm against mine. She stared at me, her eyes glazing over. "Don't apologize for feeling," I declared. "Never apologize for having emotion. It is the only thing that reminds us we are human."

I released her hand.

She nodded, and though it was hard to see in the light of the room, the woman blushed. "Thank you."

Silence engulfed the room, making it smaller than it was. I didn't know what to say. She seemed kind, but yet, the woman was still a mystery. I didn't know if she would be cruel like Jonga or kind like Hona. But the quiet between us was worse than the unknown of if she was a danger or not.

"What are you called?" I requested, remembering how Hona had approached me in the tower.

"Oh," the woman exclaimed, brushing her hand against the blanket on the cot. Her voice broke into a whisper, "Not many have asked me that."

I smiled. "I am asking."

She hesitated, looking between me and the floor, finally, she spoke, "My name is Qia."

It sounded familiar, like I heard it before.

"What does it mean?" I inquired, wondering if it had a meaning in the Udanian language.

Qia smiled with me. "My mother always told me it meant 'healer'."

My mind spun. I had heard the name before when I was listening to Baria whilst in Azali. "You..." I whispered, baffled. "You healed me."

"Excuse me?"

I stared into Qia's eyes, tears watering at the rims. "I have to thank you. You saved my life."

Qia's face was met with more confusion before it shifted to realization. Her mouth dropped as her eyes widened. "Oh, you are the one I healed." She shook her head, smiling once more. "What a small world we live in."

"Without you, I'd be dead."

She blushed once more. "It was something I would do again... although..."

"What is it?"

"I used my last batch of Santrom leaves on you," she whispered. "I am unsure if I'll ever get the chance to get some more."

I remembered Hona had spoken of them before saying that experienced healers knew how to use them. I looked down at my wrists. The leaves were still intact.

"Can I give them back to you?" I placed my hands on my wrists.

She shook her head. "No, the magic has been used," she explained. Awkward air floated between us. I wasn't certain what she meant by magic. "But.. it is alright! You are well and healthy. That is what I wanted."

I nodded in thanks and the air shifted, no longer awkward like before. It was warm and comforting. I decided Qia was not like Jonga or Baria, she was kind.

A powerful yawn interrupted our conversation.

Qia's eyes lit up. "Mother!" she bolted from the bed and to the other side of the crate. While I waited, I peeked under the leaves to find that they were no longer bloodied but scarred. A pink ring grappled around the flesh on each of my wrists.

Moments later, Qia appeared with an elderly woman who looked to be an older version of Qia. Her hair was not as long, falling to her shoulders, speckled with gray. She was a buxom woman with a curve to her back. She leaned over, using Qia's body as a support.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed, though she spoke softly, almost in a strained whisper. "Who is this?"

"I—"

"Mara," I answered, cutting off Qia before she could answer. "Pleased to meet you."

"Oh my dear girl, I am Tiroa, the seer of the world."

Qia grinned. "My mother has an unusual gift," she explained. "She has been given divine power. Similar to the queen herself."

Divine power. A seer. It was simply something amazing to behold.

"Divine power?"

"She was given foresight from the Gods of Solace."

Foresight. Tiroa possessed the power to see into the future. I gaped in wonder. Tiroa stepped forward, using her daughter as a guide. She reached out, placing a hand on my arm. Her lip quivered, eyes rolling back, showing the whites. She released her grip fast, swaying back, and stared at me with normal green eyes. There was fear and confusion in her irises.

"She is the divine," she whispered. "The divine reborn."

My heart pounded as the words echoed through my head. They dug deep into my brain, embedding there. Her voice was powerful and driven despite it being whispered. I didn't know what to make of the words and or what they meant.

"Mother!" Qia exclaimed, pulling on her arm to hoist her back. "You are scaring our guest."

Tiroa shook her head. "My apologies," she chuckled. "I get carried away sometimes with my old age."

"You should rest," Qia declared. "I know you've just woken but the Santrom leaves take a lot out of a person. Plus, you have been through a lot."

I nodded, setting back against the cot, blinking wildly. I tried not to think about what had happened, but the words were still in my head.

The divine.

"We will begin when you wake," she said. "Sleep well."

I closed my eyes, trying to sleep but the dream from before came rushing back and so did the violet veins and the itch. Before long, my thoughts disappeared and I fell into another dream, one more real than the last.