To Disclosure

Marine welcomes Ebir into the tent. He’s an elf. I know because he looks just like me. Same pointy ears. Same hair that shifts between green and blonde. The main difference between us. He’s not short. This wouldn’t have bothered me so much earlier. Except I just learned I’m twenty-nine. Which means this is as tall it gets for me. I’m so short, I bet Sig didn’t see me and tripped over me. And that’s how we first met. … Probably not. I’ll ask him later.

“Pleasure to see you again, Marine. So, about your request—” Ebir begins. Voice prim and proper. But he stops when he sees me. His eyes narrow. I see anger flash across his face. But he maintains a friendly tone. “Oh lovely! I see you got it sorted out already. You are always quite efficient. Well then, sorry to barge in. I need to make a report, so I’ll leave you be.”

Ebir goes to leave. Which nearly sets Marine in a panic.

She cries, “Wait! Wait! What about my request?”

Ebir stops abruptly. Says, “Oh, so sorry. I only heard of the one request. Did you have another for me?”

Confusion is etched on Marine’s face. She answers slowly, “No. Just the one. For your four aspect healer.”

“For our four aspect healer?” Ebir repeats.

Marine nods. Now Ebir looks confused. He looks at me again.

“Mythriel?” He asks me.

“Yes?” I respond. How did he know my name?

Ebir turns back to Marine. To her, he says, “I’m afraid I’m not following. Is Mythriel not the one you wanted?”

Marine looks startled. “What? Mythriel is the patient. She needs to be treated by a four aspect healer.”

Now Ebir looks startled. “What? Mythriel is our four aspect healer.”

Everyone goes silent. All eyes on me. Marine, Sig, and Shuri look disheartened. Ebir seems to be in shock. Coral looks a bit confused. I feel a bit confused myself.

So the person who was supposed to help get my memories back, was me? Because I’m a four aspect healer? I add it to my fact list. I’m a four aspect healer. Whatever that is. Something like a doctor? I don’t feel like a doctor. Intelligent, skilled, knowledgeable. I’m certain there must be someone else that can help. Someone more qualified.

I say, “Surely I’m not the only uh— four aspect healer? There must be someone else who can treat me, right?”

Marine answers glumly, “It’s not that simple. Four aspect medicine is a brand-new field. There are very few healers that understand it, and even fewer that actually practice it. As far as I know, the only place with practicing four aspect healers is Triddy Forest, where the field originated. It’s also where most of the elves at the summit are from. Which is why I thought they would let us borrow their healer to treat you. But since you're the healer I was thinking of, we’ll need to rethink our approach. Unless Ebir has anything to add. Perhaps Triddy Forest actually brought more than one four aspect healer to the summit? Or maybe another healer could be summoned from Triddy Forest?”

Ebir looks aggravated. Says, “Triddy Forest is not hiding any other four aspect healers at this summit. Nor can we simply summon another. As you said, it’s not that simple.”

Sig speaks up. “Can’t you make it simple? If you have other healers in Triddy Forest, can’t you have one ported? The way station is running. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Ebir grumbles, “There are regulations that must be adhered to. These things take time.”

Marine cuts in. “Time is of the essence here. The sooner she’s treated, the more likely her memories will return.”

Sig adds, “Yeah! Can’t we set aside regulations for an emergency? Mythriel is a summit delegate and a four aspect healer. She’s important! To Triddy Forest, I mean.”

Ebir responds, “I’ll do what I can, but it’s not up to me. First, I need to report Mythriel’s condition to Star Gwindore. He will decide how to deal with her.”

“How long is that going to take?” Sig asks.

“I would expect a summons within a few days.” Ebir says evenly.

Marine and Sig start on Ebir at once, which quickly turns to a full-blown shouting match.

I feel like it should make me happy. Having two people angry on my behalf. But it doesn’t. I don’t want them to argue over someone as unimportant as me. Sig only thinks I’m important because he’s engaged to me. Marine is fighting for me because I’m her patient and she’s a good doctor. But I don’t want this. Ebir looks about ready to blow. I interrupt first.

I yell, “Stop!”

The tent goes quiet. All eyes again on me.

I start, “Ebir is just doing his job. Do not yell at him. I’m not worth that.”

The group looks taken aback. Ebir most of all. He must not have expected me to come to his aid. I did get the sense he was averse to me. But with no memories, I have nothing against him.

“Myth—” Sig says. Tries appealing to me. But I stop him.

“No! Ebir will make his report to Star uh Star—”

“Star Gwindore.” Ebir fills in.

“Right. Ebir will make his report to Star Gwindore, and I will wait patiently for my summons. We’re not avoiding regulations just for me. I’m not dying, so this isn’t an emergency. And it's already been over a day since I lost my memories. Waiting a few more isn’t something to get in a flap about. I’ll be fine. Having no memories isn’t so bad. I’ll be fine, truly.”

The tent goes quiet. Marine, Shuri, and Sig look like they want to argue. But they don’t. I smile. Feel glad they don’t. I don’t want people fighting about little me. Especially not these wonderful people. They're better than that. And I’m not worth that. I don’t want to inconvenience any of them more than I already have. They’ve already done so much for me. If I’m going to ask more of them — which it seems I’ll have to — I’m going to follow the rules. Ask as little as I can. And do as much as I can myself.

Shuri breaks the quiet with a deep sigh. One I know is directed at me. She says, “You're the patient, so if you insist, then that’s that. But please, at least allow Marine to treat you.”

I consider. Then say, “Okay. But only if it won’t get her in trouble with the hospital.”

Marine looks exasperated. Says, “It won’t get me in trouble. I arranged for us to use this tent when I went inside to change. We’re allowed to be here. You’re allowed to get treatment. Especially if you’re a delegate.”

I consider further. Am I really a delegate without my memories? I don’t want special treatment.

Marine must sense my hesitation. She sighs at me too. Then asks Sig, “Has she always been like this?”

He chuckles, then answers, “Yep, for as long as I've known her at least. She’s a workaholic that puts everyone else's needs above her own. I’ll bet she was thinking something along the lines of: I can’t inconvenience these amazing people anymore! They’ve done so much for me already! And Sig is so wonderful!” He says in a mock imitation of my voice. A poor overdramatic imitation by my own appraisal.

I turn my face from him. Not wanting him to see that he’s right. That I was thinking exactly that. Except the last part. I have to admit, Sig really does know me. A smile turns the corners of my lips. I realize, I’m happy he’s here. Happy to have someone who knows me. He’s been patient, helpful, kind. Even when I wasn’t. Shuri was right. Sig does seem wonderful. Ah! Curses! I did end up thinking he’s wonderful! He won’t get me to admit it, though!

“Ahem!” Ebir clears his throat pointedly. He looks a bit chuffy again. I reason it must be because we’re keeping him from making his report.

“Sorry Ebir, you probably need to ask me about how I lost my memories for your report, right?” I say with a smile.

Ebir looks taken aback again. He nods. Responds, “Well— yes, I suppose I do.”

Whatever history I have with Ebir, it means nothing now. I’m sure I did something in the past to make him dislike me. I doubt being kind to him now will make up for it. But still, I can hope.

I begin my remembrance of events thus far. Starting with when I woke up on the verge of death. Then progressing chronologically. Shuri takes over at points to add detail. Coral tries to help as well, but her mother hushes her.

When we divulge our Hangman attacked me hypothesis, I see looks of shock and alarm. Though, Sig’s expression turns more serious and grim. I can see he’s turning this revelation over in his head. Planning? Plotting? Calculating his revenge against Hangman? If so, I won’t allow it. I’ll convince him not to do anything rash later.

For now, I need to hear what Ebir has to say. His report will determine whether I get any help from this Star Gwindore person or not. If a four aspect healer is my best chance at restoring my memories and the only way to see one is through Star Gwindore, then Ebir’s report may determine whether or not I get my memories back at all.