Blood Of The Righteous
Page 37
“Go ahead, babe. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Miss Eleeina,” she said, all smiles as she took the doll. “In fact, I’m going to name her Lady Eleenia!”
El smiled and mussed her hair. “Go play with her, little one. I need to tend to your mother.”
The little girl ran out of the room with a squeal of glee.
Laurel smiled. “I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. I named her after your mother, you know. Your coming here was truly a blessing.”
“Well, let’s not get too premature. You aren’t cured yet. I’d like to take off the wrap I put on your arms two days ago and see how my little mixture worked.” Lady Eddington presented her arms, and El began to unwrap them.
“I trust your stay in New Portsmouth is pleasant? Well, other than the snakes, the heat, and the constant sweating.”
“For the most part,” El said. “Although I admit I have to avert my eyes when I walk past that picture of Richard. How gaudy! People shouldn’t be forced to look at his shlong like that!”
Lady Eddington laughed. “I haven’t heard that slang before. And with Richard, it’s more like a shlort, or at best a shledium.”
El had to stop her unwrapping at the fit of laughter that hit her. She continued unwrapping. Her eyes lit up when she got to the flesh. The splotches had vanished, and only faint blemishes that were whiter than the skin around them remained. “It worked!”
“What did you use?”
“A mixture of aloe, vorkus root, and alcohol.”
“So is that the cure?” Lady Eddington asked.
El shook her head. “No, it only relieves the symptoms. I’ve been analyzing the people who have been struck. Since it isn’t contagious, I’m convinced it is environmental. And, look at this.” El held up her hand, showing a red pock mark upon it.
Lady Eddington put her hands up to her mouth. “Oh, my dear, I am so sorry.”
El shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m convinced it is only because I have spent so much time in your room. It helps confirm my theory.” She began to unwrap Laurel’s other arm under the uncomfortable silence.
“So,” Lady Eddington said. “Has your brother made any headway on his quest?”
“I spoke to him this morning at breakfast. He believes David has taken the name of Tanner and joined a merchant’s crew.”
“I’ve heard Richard’s steward cursing out someone by that name about how much he was costing him in household funds. Richard wanted to meet with him, but David Tanner always refused. What do you think?”
El shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe. A week ago, I thought David was dead, but the general description of this David Tanner does fit pretty well. Maybe he thought you or Lord Eddington might recognize him. There. All done.”
Lady Eddington examined her arms. “That is wonderful. Thank you.”
“For your face, I’d like to apply the lotion first, and then wrap. It will keep it out of your hair.”
“Let’s go for it!”
* * * * * *
Gabriel had decided to forgo his Holy Defender uniform for the time being. Necessity demanded it with how people disrespected him. He kept his sword with him, though. He wasn’t stupid.
After some inquiries, he had found out that the crew of the Waverunner often frequented the Salt Spray Inn when they put to port here. When Gabriel arrived there, the two serving girls gasped at seeing him.
He took a seat, and they immediately came over to him. “Excuse me, sir. Is your last name Tanner?”
“No, why?”
The other one spoke up. “I’m Jenna. One of our favorite customer’s name is David Tanner. Honestly, sir, you could be his brother.”
Gabriel smiled. “Dark beer, please. Tell me, this David Tanner, he doesn’t happen to always order creamed whisky, does he?”
The girls’ eyes lit up. “He does indeed!”
“Please make sure it’s cold if possible,” the three said in unison.
“You do know him then, sir?”
Gabriel leaned back in his chair. “I do, indeed.”
* * * * * *
Back in her room at the Lord Golden Dragon Inn, which lay next to Eddington Castle, Eleenia examined the fresh pock mark on the back of her left hand. The purple bump had shown up that morning when she woke up. The symptoms of Snakepox, tiredness, fever, sweating, and nausea had not manifested. She removed a very fine knife from her healer’s pack, and very carefully, she cut away the skin that made up the holding pocket for the purple liquid underneath. The fluid flowed out of the small wound as she made her first tiny incision. She took the tiny set of tongs our of her pack and removed the skin. She then took a small wad of Arabian cotton and dabbed the fluid, hoping to gain some more clues about the disease.
A knock at the door drew her out of her thoughts. “Yes?”
“El, it’s me,” said Gabriel. “Would you like to come down to the common room for dinner?”
“In a bit. I’m working.”
“Alright. I’ll be in my room. Come get me when you want to go down.”
He must have some news about David, she thought. Otherwise he would have gone down without her.
El returned to her work. She turned up the three oil lamps on her table to maximum. She smelled the cotton stained with the fluid from her wound. It smelled faintly like rotten meat. She reached in her pack and grabbed her magnifier, then examined the fluid. It looked like blood mixed with pus, which meant it was an infection. But what was the cause? She took the skin and placed it on a white piece of parchment and examined it. At the very center was the tiniest of pin pricks. That had to be it! But what could have made the tiny hole? A snake? Surely not. Tomorrow, she would take her magnifier and examine every inch of Lady Eddington’s room.
She was hit by a hunger pang. It was time for her to eat and see what Gabriel had learned.
* * * * * *
David took up his standard place at the jib of the Waverunner. His bowels hadn’t been working properly since he learned the crew was going to split up. It was almost like his family was breaking into two and he didn’t like it in the least. One of the best things about his life at sea was the consistency of the crew. With the money he was earning them, the only crew members they had lost were due to discipline problems or in the case of three of them, to retire comfortably.
He hadn’t prayed in as long as he could remember. Maybe it was time. David folded his hands and bowed his head. ‘Dear Lord in Heaven,’ he prayed. ‘Please don’t make me have to choose between Corwyn and Captain Karinga. They are both like uncles to me, and I have come to admire both of them so much. I really don’t want to have to choose.’
“Hey, Tanner,” Fyke said as he made his way to David. “I saw you praying there. Be careful what you are praying for. God has a way of answering prayers in unexpected ways.”
“Oh, good evening, Corwyn. What’s up?”
“Dunkirk says we should be putting in to New Portsmouth tomorrow evening. Have you given any thought to my offer?”
David nodded. “I have, but I don’t have an answer for you yet. I’ll make you a deal. Don’t ask me about it again, and after I’ve had a good night’s sleep in an inn, I’ll make my decision.”
“Works for me! And just to let you know, I’ve learned a lot from you. I won’t be offended or angry if you choose to go with Jax. He told me that if you pick me, he’ll offer the job to Cassim. Figure I’ll do the same. Who knows when Captain Armstrong will show up again.”
“Thank you, Corwyn. I really appreciate the lack of pressure.”
After a few moments of silence, Fyke pat David on the back. “So, any thought as to what you are going to do with all that ore?”
David shrugged. “I figure
I’ll try to sell it to the Eddington household. They can mark it up and sell it to King Nicolai, or hire some blacksmiths from Lystra and use it themselves.”
“Why wouldn’t they buy it directly from the miners’ guild in Lystra?’
David smiled. Fyke always tried to learn as much as he could off of David, especially since he bought the Waverunner. “There is a plague of Snakepox in New Portsmouth. If Eddington were to send someone to Lystra to acquire it, he would have to pay a huge premium to transport it.”
Corwyn nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense I suppose. So you want me to set up a meeting with that ferret-faced steward?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
“Why don’t you ever meet with Lord Eddington himself?” Corwyn asked.
‘Because I’ve met him in a previous life and he might recognize me,’ David thought. “He has no head for business and is likely to storm out of the negotiations, thinking I mean to wring him for every copper he has.”
“But you do mean to wring him for every copper he has.”
David laughed. “Yes, but we don’t say that out loud! Household stewards are always anxious to make their masters some money, and they are willing to part with more gold if they know they are going to make more gold. Eddington isn’t that forward thinking.”
“Davey,” Corwyn said, “If you do end up with Jax, when we meet, could you still give me some advice and pointers?”
“Of course, my friend. Anytime. In fact, no matter who I choose, I’m going to recommend we travel together for safety’s sake. The guild might get an eye for vengeance.”
Fyke reached over and mussed David’s hair. “There’s a smart lad.”
* * * * * *
“It is definitely David,” Gabriel said, dipping his bread in his bowl of bisque.
“How do you know?” El asked.
“This Tanner fits him to the item. He showed up four years ago and has been the most enigmatic person in the coastal areas. Very educated, a brilliant negotiators, and he just gives off an aura of nobility. Plus, his favorite drink is creamed whiskey.”
“Please make sure it’s cold if possible,” El said.
Gabriel nodded. “I found the tavern where the crew of the Waverunner frequents. According to the serving girls, this David Tanner uses those exact words every time he orders it.”
Eleenia pursed her lips. “When I see him, I’m going to smack him upside his head for what he did to us! Making us think he was dead!” She took a vicious bite out of her smoked fowl leg.
“I’m sure he had his reasons.” Gabriel went to pat El’s hand, but stopped when he noticed her bandage. “What happened to you?”
“Gabriel, I am so close to finding the cause of the Snakepox! I’ve made a major breakthrough today!”
Gabriel smiled. “That’s wonderful, El. Father would have been so proud of you. The lives you are going to save!”
The plump serving girl came to their table. “Anything else for you two?”
“No, thank you,” Eleenia said.
“Another bowl of this bisque, please. It is amazing!” Gabriel handed her his empty bowl.
The server smiled. “I’ll tell the cook you said so.”
* * * * * *
Lord Eddington looked out of his bedroom window down at Laurel and Arianna in the garden. How ridiculous his wife looked with her head wrapped in those bandages. That Ki Kalendeen bitch enabled her to be on her feet when he was sure she was at Death’s door. If she pulled through, he would have to think of a fitting punishment. But how to make it look like a reward?
A knock at his door brought him out of his scheming. “Come!” he yelled. The door opened to reveal Sir Marcus.
“You called for me, my lord?” the large man said.
Eddington waved him over. “Look at them playing. It’s sickening.”
Marcus nodded. “I was sure the Snakepox would take her.”
“She gives me a daughter, makes me ineligible to rise to the throne via a royal marriage, and becomes a cultural icon and an inspiration to the rabble and gives them hope of rising above their stations in life. Tell me Sir Marcus, have you ever heard of anything so audacious?” Lord Richard spat with disgust. “A curse on Alexander Ki Kalendeen! I hope he is rotting in Hell!”
“Now his daughter continues to vex you, my lord.”
“Yes, she does. To hell with that entire family.” A devious smile crept across Lord Eddington’s face. “Sir Marcus, if she finds the cure to the Snakepox, what would you say to me awarding her to you?”
Sir Marcus arched an eyebrow in surprise. “My lord?”
“It would be perfect. She has her father’s wits, and I’m sure she could make you fabulously wealthy. You wouldn’t have to stop your nightly carousing, either. And she looks at both of us with such revulsion!”
The large knight nodded. “True. She is fairly attractive. And of course, I would offer my lord first night.”
“And with what I will do with her, you won’t need to worry about me getting her pregnant.”
Sir Marcus winced.
Lord Eddington rubbed his hands together. “Perfect! The trap is set. Whether she steps in it or not, we both win.”
* * * * * *
Eleenia looked through the empty bed, checking the covers, the sheets, and the feathered pillows. Nothing. She pulled a chair up to the bed and climbed on top, examining the canopy with her magnifier. Halfway across, she stopped. There was a tiny insect that was all but invisible to the human eye resting. It sensed her getting too close, and flew off.
Could that be it? She climbed down off of the chair and put it back. Getting down on her knees, she pulled back the sheets and looked under the bed. A startled snake slithered out from the darkness. She examined the floor, seeing more and more of those tiny insects. When she got to the foot of the bed, a faint yet horrible smell struck her. She crawled closer to the leg of the bed, which was sitting in a small cauldron of water. She put her nose to the cauldron and sniffed. She gagged and almost threw up at the stench.
El got up and walked over and opened the door. Two male servants were walking by. “Excuse me, could you two give me some help really quickly?”
The men stopped. “Of course, madam healer!”
She directed them to lift the foot of the bed so she could get the cauldron. “Thank you,” she said, dismissing them. El took the cauldron over to the window so she could examine it in the sunlight. Holding her breath, she looked inside with the magnifier. Inside, there were thousands of the tiny insects. It seemed they were breeding in the water! That was it! It explained why only the people on the ground floor with beds caught the Snakepox! She dumped the water out the window and ran out of the room towards the garden.
“Lady Eddington!” she screamed as she exited the castle. “Lady Eddington! I found the cure! I found the cure!”
Arianna squealed with glee jumping up and down. She ran over to Eleenia with her arms open wide. “Miss Eleenia! You saved my momma! You saved my momma!”
“What is it, Eleenia?” Lady Eddington asked.
“The water in the cauldrons! It was a breeding ground for small insects that are practically invisible to the human eye! The cure is to change out the water every two or three days! That should stop them from breeding! Change out the water!” She scooped Arianna up and hugged her tightly.
Lady Eddington weakly sat down on a bench and began to weep with joy. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Eleenia. I sincerely thought I was going to die. You have given me my life back, and saved countless others. I’ll instruct the staff to get the message out to the town criers. Everyone will know the cure by tonight.”
* * * * * *
A quick, excited knock on the door startled him out of his contemplation. He opened it to Jenna, the one of the serving girls at the Salt Spray Inn.
“Brother Gabriel! I just heard from the lighthouse keeper! The Waverunner is heading to port! It looks like it’s been crippled, but it should be here within the hour!” Jenna was practically bouncing with excitement.
“Thank you, Jenna. I’ll head down to the Inn soon.” He tossed her a silver, which she expertly caught.
The butterflies in his stomach were almost enough to make him lose his lunch. He debated running to the castle to tell Eleenia, but she was extremely busy with Lady Eddington. He put on his Holy Defender tunic, attached his blue cape, strapped his sword around his waist, picked his father’s dagger from his bag, and headed out.
As he walked through the streets towards the docs, he had to suppress the urge to run. Four years! He had so many questions he wanted to ask him. He thought about waiting at the dock, but decided to go to the Salt Spray Inn. Jenna and Mia, the serving girls, would want to see this.
Gabriel got to the inn and looked out into the harbor. He could see two crippled ships slowly making their way into port. He still had a few minutes, so he went inside. Jenna and Mia were talking excitedly. Jenna came over to Gabriel.
“Oh, this is so exciting! I know I’m going to bawl when you two finally meet!”
Gabriel smiled. “Jenna, would you get me a light ale? Also some creamed whiskey.”
“I shall indeed! When I heard that the Waverunner was on its way in, I drew some water from the deep well, and I’ve had the cream soaking in it, so it should be nice and cool,” she said. She sounded like a child on the eve of the Feast of the Christ Child.