I reached to pluck it off but failed as her hands caught mine and crushed them. I heard Gallett's, "No, Vettra--" as the diningroom grew gray and faded. I was sinking and Gallett's arms came round me to break my fall.
On the floor against Gallett it could not have been many minutes later for Gallett was saying with some urgency, "Another, Vettra. Don't you think she needs another? She must be roused before Prescott. Prescott cannot see her like this."
Vettra's dry voice harsh with her intense irritation at being stuck in ignorance, "Shall I set a sedative to Prescott?"
"Now, Vettra," Gallett soothed.
Another patch was pressed to my neck and my vision began to clear.
"Bringing her up so quickly will doubtless give her a sharp headache," Vettra snapped. She didn't like careless med practices but I expect she experienced a certain satisfaction.
"Are you all right, mage?"
"Yes, of course." I stepped away from them clearly separating myself from them and from everyone in the room.
"I don't know what you think you're doing, Ince. You must have lost your mind. I want to know---"
"Not now, Vettra."
"Yes now. Immediately. What are you about with Prescott?"
"Silence." I was curt. I spoke as rider, as I had while ultimate on the Rachella and Vettra even now shut her mouth and held her position. She hated not knowing for that was a kind of arrogance on my part and she never tolerated the least trace of that but she knew that voice and feared to ruin something with her interference.
