The fact the healer was worried he would be affected by a mere needle made Ali laugh and he groaned as he said, “Oh it hurts to laugh.”  The thought of Poppy worried him just a fraction, for some reason in the back of his mind he remembered that the essence of it was very addictive, but the healer probably did know best.  “Warmth .. isn’t .. something I’m worried about Ka.. Katheryn.  I ... I .. do not have the strength to care.”<br/><br/>His body was so weak when she injected him with the mana his natural defenses didn’t even activate and he groaned a little as the magic flowed through him.  He felt it tingle at the entry point of the needle, first it shot through him and he screamed as his nerves were made alive again.  The beating had caused his body to produce natural endorphins to combat the pain, but the scream was only once before the injection of the opium touched him and he sighed softly.  The pain was already rushing away and he knew that Kate had done wonders with him.  Then he remembered he was supposed to breathe slowly, the cracked ribs made even with the opium his breath to come out rugged but he did try to breathe like she wanted but the pure chemistry of his being wasn’t ready ... even though the Mana coursed through him.<br/><br/>When he lowered onto the blanket he found the only way he could lie was on his left side, all three other directions were broken bones and then Kate rattled on about some woman, and he said to her.  “I ... do not care for ... revenge ... I .. I .. don’t ..”. Then he was silenced by Kate pressing a potion to his lips and he swallowed it slowly, the potion, now that was the ticket ... until it started to work and he turned and another blood curdling scream left his lips, even with the opium he was no match to the magic coursing through him.<br/><br/>He felt the splintered bones start to mesh together and cracking as the magic knew the right shape of his body, and the marks on his back slowly began to close as the yellow pus in one of the wounds was forced out and it started to drip down in his back as the wound somehow sterilized and the infection that was due to come was eased out.<br/><br/>Then there was a man, he didn’t really care what the man said.. he couldn’t understand it.  The magic that was running through him finally started to dissepate and he caught, “.. play yer hand ya just might win her heart.  She’s a lot of mage power in a little package.”  There was a strange look from the bloody man as he looked back to Kate, his one eye was still swollen shut and he said with the strength in him.  “Lady Kate, do not punish your aunt.  If you move against her like this the repercussions will be worse than if you do not do a thing, it is better that the world think I am dead.  Do not bring righteous anger into this, for with one .. as I have experienced, such as she, it will tickle her sense of humor .  It will make her happy.  I want her to think I died.  Give me time to heal, and I will ... when the time is right show that vengeance is a dish best served cold.”<br/><br/>Then he grinned, “What ever you did at least allows me to speak, though I do not trust my vision just yet.  As I do not know my name anymore, what do you wish to call me ... Kate.”