by Jerry Skell
Elodia did not hear his approach and was startled when he touched her shoulder. Eli knelt next to her, holding her tight as she wept, her body shaking with grief and unable to speak. Her feet were bloody with the blood almost covering her delicate ankles. Her dress bodice was also covered with dry blood. Fearing shock Eli wrapped her in one of his blankets and started a small fire.
"Drink this Odie, we can talk later." Elodia nodded and sipped wine from the leather pouch.
"Davey is dead," Elodia sobbed. Eli held her closer, kissing her forehead and caressing her back. He said nothing just holding her until she finished crying.
"I'm going to boil some water. After it cools and you eat a little I will clean your feet." Elodia nodded. She watched him closely, wordlessly as he boiled a pot of water then served her a dried mixture of raisins, apples, apricots, and nuts. Elodia who had not felt hungry ate quite a bit of the food offered.
Eli cut a piece of one of his blankets and very gently washed the blood, dirt and dried pine needles from her feet. Elodia watched in fascination as he washed her feet. Her feet hurt so badly yet his gentle touch was comforting. He ended the washing by leaving a kiss on top of both feet. Then cutting his blanket intro strips, he wrapped her feet, covering them to just above her ankle.
"Such pretty little feet!" he teased.
"Such big stinky feet," she teased back, laughing.
"It's good to hear you laugh again Elody."
"I didn’t expect to be found."
"I found you, sweetheart," Eli whispered as he hugged her again. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked noting the dried blood. Elodia shook her head and clung to Eli. "It will be dark soon. Let's share the blanket. I'll keep you safe and warm." Elodia snuggled as Eli covered her and wrapped her in his arms. She did feel safe and warm as sleep claimed them both.
When Elodia woke she saw Eli sitting by a small fire roasting a squirrel he had caught.
"Good morning Elody."
"I think I'm hungry Eli."
"I've got dried fruit, cheese and a fat little squirrel."
"Why did you let me sleep so late?" she asked.
"You looked so cute sleeping, I just didn’t have the heart."
"I can't walk, what are we are going to do."
"I have a safe house arranged for you. It's almost a week journey with me carrying you." Elodia started to object but Eli silenced her with a kiss.
"I've been given two weeks to get you settled. Then I need to return to finish my apprenticeship. I'll be back for you in three and a half months."
They sat and quietly ate the food Eli provided. Elodia was deep in thought. Eli seemed so assured of his plan and he had found her.
"Ok, Eli I agree to the plan. But promise me if I become a burden you will leave me."
"I love you Elody, I will never find you a burden."
"Promise?"
"Absolutely."
"Then I will do the cooking," Elodia said firmly.
"Great, I tend to burn everything."
"I noticed that," Elodia teased. "What about sleeping arrangements."
"We can share the blanket, I will treat you with respect and refrain from anything inappropriate."
"Inappropriate thoughts too?" Elodia teased.
"Heavens no, every time I see you or even think of you, my mind fills with inappropriate thoughts."
"Really?" Elodia laughed with delight.
"Trust me. I will never do anything to hurt or compromise you."
"I do trust you."
They packed up and Elodia wore the backpack as Eli carried her piggyback style while they continued west. They made their way slowly as the route west was gradually sloping up as the approached the mountains. Early in the second day, they saw the mountains as the trees gave way to grassy savanna. Elodia also developed a fever late on the third day and was too weak to hold on to be carried. Using two poles and the blanket Eli improvised a litter and they continued west. Eli had no way to treat the fever and worried about her. Then refusing to stop for the night on the fifth day, he continued on, reaching a small log cabin in the foothills.
"We made it, sweetheart to the safe house," Elodia smiled as he hugged her, too weak for much more.
Chapter 4 Safe House
"Aunt Myrtle this is Elodia, the woman I intend to marry."
"Is this your first declaration Eli?"
"Yes, it is!" Eli smiled brightly as he caught the meaning of the question.
"First declaration?" Elodia whispered, her voice slurred. Her thoughts barely coherent.
"Yes Odie, once more and we are wed," Eli whispered as he kissed her hand.
"Declare away Eli!" Elodia smiled then lost consciousness as the fever claimed her.
"Carry her to that bed. Then you can undress her and..."
"I think it would be better if..."
"Nonsense Eli, you have been traveling together, you have declared your intentions. My hands are crippled with arthritis. I will direct."
Eli covered Elodia with a soft blanket, then working under the blanket removed her clothing. Elodia's clothing was loose and ill-fitting so it went easy. Then Eli removed the wrappings from her feet. Her feet were red and swollen and the smell was pungent and foul.
"There's a basin over there Eli. I will mix up an ointment. Go ahead and wash her feet then you can apply the ointment."
"Aunt Myrtle, can you save her feet?"
"Not worried about her feet Eli, it will be touch and go."
Eli very gently slathered the ointment onto Elodia's left foot. She winced and groaned and her eyes teared up as he started, but quickly she relaxed.
"The ointment will numb the pain and fight the infection. It contains silver and tincture of the white poppy," Aunt Myrtle assured Eli.
Eli then applied the ointment to her other foot. Then he gently wrapped her feet in clean linen strips. Myrtle emptied the basin, and then refilled it with tepid water and distilled spirits.
"We need to bring her fever down. You can sponge her with this," Myrtle handed the basin to Eli and directed him to sit on the bed. Myrtle supervised and directed as Eli exposed her right hip and leg and began gently washing her with the alcohol solution. "Go slow, not too fast, if you chill her the shivering will increase her core temperature." Eli continued with slow circular movements. He loved the sight of her leg and longed to simply touch them without the wet cloth that separated her soft skin from his hand. Everywhere he touched she was soft. Mustering all his resolve he continued to gently sponge, praying her temperature would break.
Elodia was restless and thrashing in her fevered sleep.
"Mom! Mom! Da just died," Elodia wept. "Mom! MOM! Don’t you dare die on me! Pleases Mom, MOM PLEASE!"
"They had a plague sweep through the village almost three years ago. I know she lost her Dad," Eli explained. "It must have been terrifying for her. Her mother did survive but was plagued with health problems. Elody became the bread winner and pretty much took care of everyone."
"Mom, you can't give up now. MOM ... Davey needs you, Mom." Elodia wept, "Please Mom, I'll take care of Davey, please don't die ... Mom."
"She was totally devoted to Davey," Eli whispered.
"Who is Davey?"
"Her little brother, he died days ago. She loved him. He was her constant companion. They even slept together. Look at her hands. She used them to dig his grave."
"I wondered how they had become so bruised and scraped," Myrtle said. "Wash them too Eli."
Eli continued to bathe Elodia, her left leg, her arms, her back. She was soft everywhere he touched. Eli struggled to control his thoughts and his hands as he worked. He stopped every few hours to apply the ointment to Elodia's feet and rewrap them only to return to the sponge bathing. Finally, late the second day the fever broke, and Eli rested. He watched as Myrtle used her healer's touch to administer a laying-on of hands. He could see Elodia and Myrtle glowing as the old woman worked. Then Myrtle went to her bed, exhausted and she slept.
El
i lay on the bed next to Elodia. She slept, her breathing slow and even. He caressed her face moving his hand across her cheek and jaw line. Her skin so smooth and soft felt warm; no longer burning with fever. Elodia's eyes fluttered open and she looked into Eli's eyes, smiling.
"I love you, Eli." Her eyes closed again in sleep. Eli stayed at her side clinging to her then slept himself.
The next morning Myrtle was busy working in the kitchen as Elodia awoke to find Eli lying next to her smiling.
"I've been waiting for you, Odie." Elodia smiled reaching up to touch his face, then stopped.
"I'm naked Eli ... my clothes!"
"You've been out with a fever for two days. Aunt Myrtle and I..."
"Who undressed me?" Elodia asked looking horrified at Eli.
"I did," he responded sheepishly. Elodia continued to stare at him open-mouthed and not knowing how to respond.
"It's OK Dearie," Myrtle said taking a seat at the bedside. "I'm a healer, I directed Eli. He was very professional and extremely caring. He sponged you for hours to break the fever."
"You sponged me, Eli?" Elodia responded still horrified.
"Everywhere Elodia," Eli said smiling now teasing.
"EVERYWHERE?"
"Even your cute dimpled bottom!" Eli laughed as he continued to tease her.
"My bottom doesn’t have dimples!" Elodia responded tartly. Then laughing herself she caressed his face. "I guess I have no secrets from you now. I'm starving."
"I have breakfast prepared," Myrtle responded.
Elodia sat up slowly and placed her feet on the floor intending to stand and wrap herself in the blanket when she groaned and lay back on the bed, biting her lip with tears streaming from her eyes.
"Odie, what happened?"
"My feet." Elodia panted for several seconds, then opened her eyes. Tears continued to stream from her eyes.
"You can eat in bed Odie. I will feed you."
"I can manage to feed myself," Elodia laughed. "But do sit with me."
Eli propped her up with pillows as Elodia wrapped the blanket around her leaving her shoulders and arms exposed. Eli brought her meal to her and they talked quietly as they ate. Eli loved the sight of her bare shoulders and arms but managed to maintain eye contact as they spoke. Elodia, still very tired, slept soundly after eating. Eli assisted Myrtle to wash the dishes.
"Tell me, Aunt Myrtle, you said your hands were too crippled to manage Elodia, yet you handled breakfast just fine." Myrtle's eyes twinkled as she smiled.
"I thought it best to keep you busy Eli," she said innocently. "And you really did well."
Three days later Myrtle sat with Elodia, "On a scale of one to ten how bad do your feet hurt."
"Not bad at all, five or six. Putting on the ointment brings it to ten, but then it goes down to three."
"And when you stand?"
"Through the roof, twenty at least."
"And when I kiss them?" Eli joked.
"Just wonderful," Elodia laughed.
"I really need to leave today," Eli whispered, concern visible on his face.
"I will be fine Eli."
"I washed your clothes. I did manage to get the blood stains out. Odie I don’t want to go."
"You need to finish the apprenticeship Eli. You’ve been there nearly two years."
"I've wanted you for nearly two years, but an apprentice cannot marry."
"That long?" Elodia said smiling. Eli nodded his head.
"Since the very first time we met at the pond. In three months, two weeks and three days, I'll be back for you."
"I'll be here. I love you, Eli, I will love you for always."
"I'll love you for always Odie," Eli whispered then, kissing her, left.
Elodia sat in the bed struggling not to cry. Then turning to Myrtle, "Are you really Eli's aunt?"
"Not really, we're cousins of some kind, my mother and his grandmother were first cousins."
"And you're a healer?"
"Oh, Dearie I'm so much more than a healer. You're so much more than you can ever imagine."
"I'm the purple maker's daughter and that’s all I am."
"You are in for a real surprise," Myrtle laughed. "Just as I was once."
"When do you think I can wear clothes again?" Elodia asked.
"In a day or so. Once your feet can bear weight. Until then, you're stuck. Do you think you can manage the ointments and wrapping yourself?"
"I could have since day one!" Elodia laughed. "Eli insisted that he do it, and he always had a kiss for my feet."
"Is he a keeper?"
"Yes, forever and always!" Elodia laughed.
Chapter 5 Dragon Egg
A week passed and Elodia found that she could bear some weight on her feet. The pain was excruciating, but she could manage standing transfers and rejoiced that she was able to dress.
"Elody you’re a pretty girl, why do you wear such baggy clothes?" Myrtle asked as they sat for lunch.
"I dress for work, stinky, sweaty, hard work."
"Do you ever spend time with friends?"
"I really had no friends. Too tall, too outspoken I guess."
"Tall, your short Elody!" Myrtle laughed.
"I'm as tall as most of the village men."
"Eli must seem like a giant to you."
"Oh yes!"
"He's only average Elody, not quite six foot." Elody looked surprised. "If you have not guessed I'm from Bountiful. Eli too."
"I never thought ... that explains why Eli was willing to break guild law and marry outside the guild," Elodia said.
"What happens if you marry outside your guild?"
"If caught, I would be put to death," Elodia said softly.
"What about men who marry outside their guild?"
"Not much, usually nothing. They could lose guild standings at worse."
"You would risk that to be with Eli?"
"Yes. I would risk everything to be with him."
"What would you like to be Elody?"
"Could I be a healer?"
"I don’t see why not, your aura is right," Myrtle replied smiling. "I can start your training and you can finish it with Eli's sister in Bountiful."
"I'm going to Bountiful?" Elodia asked smiling.
"Dearie where did you think Eli was going to take you?"
"Away from here ... that's all."
"Well, if you're going to be my apprentice you'll have to dress better. Can you sew?"
"Yes, actually, I'm quite good."
"Well let's get started then. You will drill rubrics every morning until you can recite them all. I'll look through my stored fabrics and assist you to pick colors."
"I usually..."
"You'll never wear that color again, what is it puke green?"
"It's my guild color," Elodia said quietly.
“I thought you were Purple Guild?”
“That green is the pre-color. I really love our lavenders and purples.”
“Don’t you wear those colors?”
“Never, purple colors are for Imperial officials only. By law, we are limited to guild green.”
"Have you ever worn a well-fitted corset?"
"Never," Elodia blushed.
"Well, you should. You're tiny and a good fit will support and lift..." Elodia was laughing so hard Myrtle sputtered to a stop mid-sentence. "I'm sure Eli would love the effect."
"I'm sure he will!" Elodia laughed so hard she snorted.
***
They spent the next eight weeks drilling remedies and symptom rubrics. Elodia's feet still hurt but she was walking. Her gait stiff and slow. Elodia was cleaning one of the piled heaps stored in the corner when she picked up a dark, egg-shaped object. It looked huge and black, but as she held it became warm. It vibrated slightly and swirled with greens, blue, violet and red.
"Myrtle, what is this?"
"I've been waiting for you to find the egg. I knew it would be you."
"Me? What do you mean?"
"You’
re a witch Elodia, just like me. You are the next dragon rider."
"No, no, no, I'm going to marry Eli, I'm..."
"Yes, you will do that too. I've been waiting here. I took this post to fulfill the prophecy. I knew you would come."
"Prophecy?"
"You will bring the dragons back. My grandmother was part of the first rise of the dragons. You will bring them back."
"You rode a dragon?"
"Yes."
"What happened to the dragons?"
"All things die Elodia, even dragons. Their life is short and glorious. You'll see."
"This egg ... thing will hatch?"
"In about two weeks now that you touched it."
"Didn’t you ever touch it?"
"Many people have, but only one special woman can make it hatch, a witch Elodia."
Elodia discovered she liked the color red. She loved her new red skirt and she wore it with a matching red vest with blue piping and a white blouse. She had a second skirt of a dark, brown-red that matched her hair she wore that with a black vest with a beaded simple floral pattern. Her feet still hurt, but she no longer needed the wrappings or ointment. She could walk about freely, if not slowly. Myrtle had given her sandals to wear and they helped as even the smallest pebble caused severe pains to her feet.
"Your egg will hatch today Elody."
"How can you tell?"
"See it moving?"
"Yes."
"I've set aside some raw meat. You will need to feed it right away. But after that, it will take care of itself."
"I'm so excited!"
"I was too. Have you picked a name yet?"
"Yes, David if a boy, Davida if a girl."
"Nice names Elodia. We'll just wait for now."
At mid-day, the egg began to rock. Then it cracked as the tiny dragon emerged.
"You're so beautiful!" Elodia exclaimed as she offered fresh rabbit flesh to the little dragon. "And greedy too!" The little dragon eating the offered food so quickly that Elodia was afraid it would choke. The little animal literally stuffing itself until its belly bulged.
"Chirrup!" the little dragon said then it flew, landing on Elodia's shoulder wrapping its tail around her neck and rubbing its face against her cheek.