in your debt."
Kendra gasped, jumping to her feet. "My Lord! I'm terribly sorry, I meant no disrespect. I had no idea . . .”
“None has been taken." He answered, rising with her, "Please sit down, and you look exhausted. You must have been traveling day and night to reach us so quickly."
This was more than Kendra had bargained for. Why hadn't Tya warned her? Taking her seat again, she tried to suppress her growing anxiety and desperate urge to flee. What would the Prince do if he discovered who she was? "I've just come down from the Northern Colony," She forced herself to answer. "I'm used to traveling fast and light."
"You are quite young. You must have begun your studies at a very early age." Katar answered, mistaking her distress for exhaustion.
"I have a very strong healing strength, it surfaced early." She glanced down at the table as Eades placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of her. "I would like to apologize for ignoring you on my arrival . . .”
"You did exactly as I would have had you do, ignore the formalities and save Bosen's life. You've shown a true dedication to your craft."
"I wish I could promise he will survive, but only time will allow for his recovery. He must gain strength before I can heal his broken bones. Although I have stopped the blood loss, he is still under risk of infection. He was lucky it was not a female. Their claws hold poison this time of the year. He would have been gone in less than an hour." Kendra relaxed, realizing he either did not know who she was.
"Is he in a healing sleep?"
"No, I’ve taken away his pain but I haven't induced the sleep. Not until he awakens and eats something, he has to gain strength so the healing can continue. The healing power comes from within me, but his body must be strong enough to withstand the physical drain that accompanies the fusion of bone. My powers simply encourage his body system to heal itself. To rush the process would put both our lives in jeopardy."
"I understand, and if you’re not too exhausted . . . I'm afraid we have another gentleman I would ask you to see. He is in his late-sixties and the ride was very difficult for him. He collapsed shortly after we arrived. I'm fairly certain he is simply over tired from the excitement and rushed return. However, I would feel much better if you looked in on him."
“Of course, Your Highness.” Rising stiffly as she answered him, Kendra waited for the Prince to lead the way.
Hanlin was still sleeping soundly when they entered his room. Moving to his bedside Kendra slipped the palm of her hand under the back of his neck. "He is exhausted from the ordeal and I suspect the long journey to the lodge. He needs complete bed rest; I will put him into a healing sleep. He'll wake up tomorrow evening and need a hardy meal. Then he should be fine." Kendra smiled up at Katar noticing how handsome he was. His golden hair, deep blue eyes and square jaw were very appealing with his large muscular frame.
"Then we should return to our meal." Katar smiled back relieved.
Announcing the good report Hanlin received as they reentered the dining area off the main room, Katar and Kendra took their seats and began to eat. Cap returned with a bottle of port and poured them each a glass. He hesitated an instant at Kendra's glass before filling it as well.
"It's good to know someone will have the chance to eat all that sraeb meat we put in the freezers." Cap smiled at Kendra's young face. "After three kills, the cold storage is full. Who knows when the next party will come along?" Seating himself across from Eades and Kendra, Cap helped himself to the large bowl of stew. Turning his attention to Kendra, he decided to find out how someone so young was able to convince the Empathic Elders to let her travel so deep into the mountains alone. "Kendra, it’s my understanding that healers usually reach their mid-twenties before completing their studies at the Institute."
"If you include the apprentice program, yes." Kendra answered glancing up from her meal.
"Oh, I see you’re an apprentice then." Cap answered slightly confused.
"No, I completed my studies at the age of 13; my apprenticeship lasted only 18 months instead of 3 years. I've been healing for over 5 years."
"You