Chapter 22: The Ancient Science

  Julien

  As it turned out summoning Petra did very little. When the knights had arrived at her home knocking no one had answered. So his father had decided to pay her a personal visit. Julien had never actually been to Petra's home. He'd visited her offices plenty enough when they were in the Academy but that was just the office the Academy gave to her.

  So as they walked in the early morning light Royal a knights surrounding them on all sides to block them off from view he couldn’t help but get excited. Petra was the only master of ancient science the kingdom had. Though he had no idea why the knowledge was so special. From what he experienced she didn’t seem all that different from a regular physician. Aside from some unusual tools she had occasionally he didn’t really understand what the fuss was about. Still it was exciting. All of his friends had been wrapped in long grey cloaks their faces hidden by cowls. He had been hidden to the cloak was one of cotton a rare luxury as Ishtar didn’t grow cotton.

  Even from where they were in the nobles district Julien could smell the scent of freshly baked bread as the bakers in the market opened their ovens in the markets. People were in the streets now. Mainly servants to the many noble estates in the area. The people gave their procession a wide berth recognizing the royal Knights.

  Many bowed when they recognized the king in the front. But none dared get in their way. The moved down street toward the western side of the district till they came to a rather unassuming place. It was an estate like the others however it was much smaller. And the yard just inside the cracked stone fence was overgrown with dried weeds. A stone pathway led from the entrance to the massive oaken double doors of the estate. The actual house seemed to be in good repair but Julien still found himself questioning if anyone actually lived at the massive house. Just counting the windows there were at least thirteen rooms. Not that he should be talking since most of the palace went unused. They walked to the front gate as the knights took up position around the perimeter of the yard and at the gates.

  His father Darius said little only walking up to the massive wooden door and banging closefisted on the door. The sound echoed in the little courtyard. For a long moment nothing happened but the sounds of metal clattering and stumbling steps could be heard a moment before the door opened and Petra’s auburn shortcropped hair poked out.

  “What do you want i’m busy with research I…” she froze when she his father standing in front of her. Julien tried his best to stifle the chuckle that desperately wanted out of him at the sight of her face.

  “Your Majesty, what are you doing here?” She asked stammering.

  Julien successfully pulled back his laughter as his father stepped forward. “As it happens I have something rather serious for you to look at Doctor Petra,” he said using the old title such healers used to possess.

  “Even as they were talking he couldn’t help but wonder how just how she could even begin to figure out what happened to them.

  Then his father motioned for him to step forward. The last time he had seen Petra she had been angry? No angry wasn’t the right word. Annoyed, yeah she had been annoyed that he’d gotten himself injured saving that young boy front he elves. Now when her eyes reached into the darkness of his hood and saw him she froze. For a moment a look of terror so profound that it almost had him turning around to see if someone was behind him. He was stopped from doing this when the look passed and the slight framed woman’s hand snaked out and clamped onto his arm almost too fast for him to follow. Then she pulled him in, suddenly her eye we’re inches form his. Her brown eyes searching his. It was all he could do to not stare. His new eyes were picking up on everything, even the stuff he didn’t want to see. He could literally see the fine hairs covering her once thought smooth skin.

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  “They really were just less hairy apes.” He blinked as that thought crossed his mind. Recoiling at the thought he nearly jerked his arm out of the woman’s hand. Since when did he think such thoughts. As disturbing as they were the most disturbing part was that he hadn’t included himself in that they. He should mean we right?

  He had no time to process once again as the lady swung her door open and nearly dragged thin inside. Her eyes had a glint in them that sent shivers down his spine.

  “What happened?” She demanded as she led him through a cluttered foyer and down some stairs in a shockingly clean and white room. Like he’d stepped into a new world the room was filled with white washed walls of impossible smooth stone and lamps hung from the ceiling in impressive numbers. Table stood in rows across the room along with rack after rack of neatly stacked glassware of indeterminate use. Wooden tools and other tools sat on different table organized and clearly ready for use.

  Julien heard the sounds of the guards, his friends and his father coming down the stairs after them. The room was huge easily as large as the house was wide. Everyone easily got inside. Most of the guards and even his father were staring in wonder at the different instruments around them. Petra was paying them no attention she had already went to a bed made of thin polished wood in the corner it was curved and raised on two wooden posts two armrest also made of wood rose either side.

  “Sit and tell me what happened,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. He glanced at his father who only nodded once before returning to gawking at the place around them.

  So Julien told her what happened as well as he could remember. She apparently had no difficulty figuring out who he was. When he asked her about that she just huffed and said. “Your ears are the same,” before continuing their conversation. As the end of his tale he saw her eyes wide. Her hands were shaking and she seemed lost in thought. He looked up and saw his friends to either side of him. They were staring at Petra nervously. Carlouse was just glaring at the woman like she owed him money.

  Finally Petra spoke after more than a few minutes of silence.

  “I think I understand a part of what’s happened.” Julien’s father came forward.

  “Do you know what’s happened doctor? Can it be reversed?” This last question was asked with genuine worry that nearly caught him off guard. He thought his father was excited for his transformation. However Petra was already shaking her head no that part of the news.

  “I think I can figure it out at least partly, but I don’t see a future where this isn’t permanent. The look she gave his father was filled with both meaning and warning. Julien looked to his friends for their reactions. Carlouse looked pensive, Katrina looked disappointed but quickly hid it when she saw him looking Aramin looked fightened? That was new, and Altaya wore a carefully blank expression on her face. She looked down at him from his shoulder reproachfully and motioned with her chin back to Petra. Julien looked back as Petra had stood up and went to a massive bookshelf at the back of the room he hadn’t noticed before. She went down the line mumbling to herself as she went.

  “Now where did I put that book… I know it’s hear somewhere. Ha! There it is.” From the last shelf she pulled a thick green tome with golden letters embossed on the cover. She flipped through the pages reading unbelievably fast. Like she knew the contents by heart. Finally she stopped on a page. Her eyes scanned the pages reading unbelievably before a wide grin spread across her face. She snapped the book shut with a audible clap, dust shot from the book creating a small cloud around the woman.

  ”Oh well, there only one way to know for sure. Time for an experiment!”