by A R Maloney
I heaved a grateful sigh, no part of the projectile remained, and it appeared to have missed anything vital, but it appeared to have carried some sort of poison. I would need to deal with the infection which had begun to set in.
I pulled a clean bandage from my pouch and pushed it into the hole. Then I ripped a piece of fabric from the lining of my tunic and wrapped it tight around my waist, then retied my belt snugly, securing the makeshift bandage. The mix of pressure and pain forced a low moan from my lips.
The moon still hung high in the sky, casting shadows over the forest around me. I tried to figure how long I’d slept but wasn’t certain of anything. This new land was so foreign, so dark and cold, I wasn’t even sure when day would come. I decided I needed to get moving again. It would be too dangerous to remain in one spot.
I took a drink from the waterskin and splashed a handful over my face, washing the last of the sleep from my eyes, and I ate a few pieces of bread and dried jerky. I stood up, leaning on the rock wall for balance until I was sure I had my bearings.
Slowly, carefully, I approached the worn trail. I took several moments to make sure it was clear before stepping away from the cover of the trees. The trail continued to wind around the mountain. Along the path there was a variety of vegetation visible. Some looked very similar to what I’d find at home, yet different enough that I wouldn’t test any of them, cautious of accidentally poisoning myself further.
A pounding noise came from behind me up the trail, sending me diving back into the underbrush. I clenched my teeth together, the impact causing the pain in my side to flare. I struggled to remain silent as I peered out to the path. From my hiding place, behind several bushes surrounding a large tree, I could hear the heavy sounds of armor-clad feet coming down the trail. Several long moments later two crow soldiers passed by me, moving at a quick jog. I waited quietly for several minutes before stepping out onto the path again.
The sky overhead was beginning to show signs of pre-dawn. The shining stars melted back into the dark heavens as the sky began to take on the colors of early morning. Bright pinks, oranges and gold crept across the deep dark indigo that was the nights last breath. I was moving as quickly as I believed was safe, passing a variety of birds and tiny scampering ground squirrels. The forest surrounding me became thicker, darker. Looking up into the tall trees I saw several large webs stretching from branch to crooked branch and from tree to tree. I could smell smoke in the air nearby, so I slowed my pace, unsure of what was ahead.
Very soon I came to another path which branched off the main one. I didn’t remember any secondary path on the map at this point, so I cautiously turned to follow this new one. The path led me up a steep hill and wound around to the left a bit. I found the source of the smoke. Not too much further ahead I found a small cabin. I wondered if this could belong to Mera. I looked around and found a tree which I could climb easily. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I scaled my way up the tree, finding rest in its high thick branches. Here I could spy on the house—out of sight from prying eyes.
The wound in my side was screaming at me, and I felt flushed and dizzy, but I maintained my vigil. Finally, my wait paid off. A woman exited the house, walking up to a large woodpile on the far side of the cabin. I watched her as she began filling her arms with dry cut wood. Carefully, I dropped down to the ground opening my wings briefly to slow my fall. I landed quietly and made my way to the back of the home. “Gods be with me.” I whispered. I pulled my cloak over my back and I waited for the woman to fill her arms before coming into view.
I cleared my throat and spoke quietly in the ancient common language my mother had taught me. “Tell me your name.” I held my breath, hoping she understood.
The woman turned to me. I was shocked by her exotic dark-skinned features, her sharp teeth and piercing red eyes, but what should I have expected? Clearly not another Lucenian, that’s for sure. She looked me over, as if assessing what sort of threat I would pose, and then she sighed. “Really? Eno needs to prepare the ones he sends a bit more; you nearly scared the pants off me.” She spoke in perfect Lucenian. “Please take some of these logs and come inside. We don’t want to be seen out here.” I reached to remove a portion of her load, wincing and releasing a small grunt of pain with the weight. She glanced at me, noticing my discomfort, though I voiced no complaints.
We entered the small cabin and she took the wood from me, stacking it near the hearth and motioned for me to sit at her table. “I am Mera,” she spoke before turning her back on me and reaching overhead, where she began pulling down bundles of dried herbs, “and you, you are injured.” Her lips created a tight line as her gaze caught my side where the blood was once again seeping through my tunic and down my leg, pooling on the floor of her cabin. “May I help you?” Mera pointed a hand to me, gesturing to the wound on my side.
I didn’t know what to say. Every account of Ustenians I had heard was filled with hatred, violence, and eventually murder. That is, every report other than the story of my father and my mother’s family. Regardless, the wound needed to be tended to, and at this point it was beyond my ability. I nodded to Mera, hoping I was making the right choice. “Are you a healer?” I asked.
Mera nodded, “I am practiced. I’m not a cleric nor a chantress, but skilled in alchemy. Let me take a look.” She turned away, bolting the door shut, then she pulled heavy cloth curtains down over all of the windows. “In case we have visitors,” Mera said with a nod as she glanced back at me. She moved around lighting the wicks of the many candles around the room.
I nodded in grateful understanding and turned my back to Mera, hopeful that she could be trusted. Eno had said she was a valuable ally. I tried not to cry out as I removed my tight belt and unwrapped my tunic, pulling them off and setting both on the back of the chair. The binding around my waist was covered in thick, wet, clotted, and caked, blood and pus. I pulled a small knife from my pouch and sliced the binding in half. I sucked in a deep breath, powerless to hold back the groan of pain which escaped my clenched teeth as the cloth gave way; no longer holding pressure on my side.
Mera brought a small pile of cloth strips and a pan of hot water to the table. “Let me know if you feel that you cannot stand.” She instructed, turning me so my wounds could be inspected. She sat on a chair at the wooden table and soaked a cloth in the warm water. “Let’s see what we have here.” She proceeded to clean the skin surrounding the wounds. Removing the dried and caked blood revealed the torn skin which was now angry and bright red. She put a little pressure on my abdomen and side and grimaced as thick greenish pus began oozing from the wound. The air was quickly filled with the stench of the infection. “Hmmm. This is going to hurt; I will tell you that now.”
Her eyes met mine and her gaze reaffirmed that she did not want to cause me pain, but we both knew it would be necessary. “I believe the arrow was poisoned. Do what you must.” I was sweating and panting heavily, clenching my teeth with discomfort. “I know it won’t be pleasant.”
Mera nodded and stood. She moved to a cupboard and pulled out a mug, then moved across the countertop pulling pieces of herbs from many containers, placing them into the cup. Hot water from a kettle near the hearth went in next. She placed the cup near me. “Let that steep a bit. Don’t drink it yet.” Mera then covered her bed in thick absorbent linens. “I’m going to add some honey to sweeten the mix, it will make it more palatable.” She poured the thick golden liquid into the cup and stirred it. After about five minutes she pointed to the cup. “You may drink now. Its tea from valerian root, white willow bark and cat’s claw. The valerian root will make you very sleepy, the others will help reduce the inflammation in your wounds; you will be able to make it through the pain. You are safe here, I assure you.”
I looked at her, skeptical, but finally drank the mixture. The rafters of her cabin were filled with a variety of drying herbs and roots, some of which I recognized. She was right, the honey did help give it a bit of sweetness and it tickled my throa
t as it went down. I finished the drink and she pointed me to the bed where she had placed an oilskin and absorbent blankets.
“Just try to relax.” She said as she helped me ease down onto a pillow.
I lay my head on the pillow and watched her pull more herbs from bags in hanging baskets on her walls—I recognized both ginger and garlic. She ground them coarsely with a mortar and pestle, and then placed the crushed mixture onto thin cloths which she had gathered into small bundles and tied at the tops. The bundles then went into a pan of steaming water and began to steep. I watched as she tore several thin bandages, placing them in a pile on a clean area near the pan.
“I will soak these in the mix and add honey, then use them to pack your wounds. This will both clean the wound and drive off the infection.” Her calm voice trailed off as my eyelids grew heavy. I had difficulty focusing on anything. I remember seeing her approaching with a freshly sterilized knife; and then the pain came.
My side felt as if it was on fire as the hot knife entered first the entry and then the exit points where the arrow had run through me. She held me down with incredible strength for someone her size, while doing her best to release the infection. Mera’s voice was muffled in my drugged haze. I don’t remember anything beyond the scream that tore from my lips.
Sweat beaded down my face, the warm wetness pulling me to consciousness. I tried to roll onto my other side, but the pain in my flank stopped me short as I lifted my leg to turn. Carefully I moved my hand towards my side, trying to gauge the wound now. A pair of strong hands gripped me tightly, restraining my movement. “Shhhh! Skye, be still, be still.” Mera spoke quietly. “I did not expect you to wake yet. Your injury was harder to clean than I had anticipated. You are very lucky the infection did not spread further.”
My eyes still struggled against me as I tried to focus on the Ustenians face. “Was it bad? What did you need to do?” My words slurred as my mouth tried to form them. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, which felt tacky and sour.
“You’ve been asleep for about five hours. I’ve been changing the packing about once an hour. The infection seems to be clearing up, but I did need to open the wound to drain the infection.” Mera looked to the table where the evidence of her work lay. “It’s amazing how quickly an infection like this can take hold.” I struggled to keep my eyes open, not wanting to fall back into the medicated sleep, but the tonic won over my will and soon I was passed out again.
“Poisoned.” I managed to squeak out. “May I have some water, please?”
Mera nodded, helping me to sit up slightly and holding the cup of cool water to my lips as I sipped. Immediately I felt relief as my tongue unglued itself from the rest of my mouth.
“Thank you. I need to…relieve myself.”
She helped me sit on the edge of the bed and together we moved to a chair, where she had placed a bucket under my feet. Helping me balance on the edge I was able to empty my bladder and return to the bed again. I hated the loss of privacy and was embarrassed to need to pee in what was basically someone’s kitchen. I blushed, looking around helplessly. Mera merely clicked her tongue. “No worries, Skye. Anyone who fights long enough will eventually go through something similar.” She carried the bucket outside to empty it in her outhouse and rinse it. When she returned, she picked the mug up from the table and filled it again. “More tea. The more you can sleep now, the quicker you will heal.”
Mera worked through the entire day, packing the bundles of cloths soaked in the herbal tincture into the wound, and removing them a couple hours later. She repeated the cycle several times. Occasionally I would wake for a few minutes to ask the same questions, only to give in to sleep again. I vaguely remember drinking more of her tea throughout that night.
I don’t recall what time of day or night it was when I finally began to come around again. Mera was at the hearth, tossing the remnants of the most recently removed packing into the fire, destroying the infection. “Good morning,” she said sleepily. Her voice no longer sounded muffled. I blinked several times, my eyes finally coming into focus.
My gaze followed Mera as she moved from the hearth to the table, having a seat in one of her straight-backed wooden chairs. “You’ve not slept yet?” I asked.
“Not really, not yet.” Mera responded sleepily. “The infection is nearly gone now. How do you feel?”
I tried again to move onto my back, wincing as I pulled my leg up to help me turn. “I’ve felt better, but I will survive. Thank you for your help. I am in your debt.” I looked at the woman gratefully. She had removed her cloak and now I could really see her for the first time easily. Her back was to me and I caught myself staring at the long dark mane of hair growing down her back. She had small braids with beads and feathers intricately woven into the hair, making it appear almost like a tail. Her skin was a deep dusky blue shade, much darker than any I’d known, and her hands were long and thin and quite claw-like. It was hard to believe she had the dexterity necessary to complete the gentler tasks required of a healer.
Mera turned to me, noticing my stare, and asked “First time you’ve seen an Ustenian?”
I shook my head, “No, though I must admit they have always been on the receiving end of my spells, and I have never really waited around much to inspect them at that point.” Feeling sheepish at my blatant response, I found myself looking away…almost in shame. “Sorry?” I didn’t know what to say. “Why are you being so nice? You could have just as easily let me die.”
Mera sat unfazed, sipping from a mug at her table. She didn’t answer my question, her face was a mask, showing neither emotion nor judgment. “You talk when you sleep. Did you know this?” She looked at me, head cocked, waiting for my response.
I wasn’t sure what she was getting at. “I have very vivid dreams.” I didn’t recall dreaming at all during my drug induced slumber.
Mera continued, “You knew of Soulkos.” It was a statement, nothing more. She crossed the room, picking up two deep bowls and filling them from a pot that was hanging near the hearth. I hadn’t realized I was hungry until the smell of the soup reached my nose. “You should try to eat.” She helped me to sit up, pushing heavy blankets behind my back to support me. She handed me one of the bowls.
“Thank you.” I said gratefully. The soup was thick like a stew, filled with meat and a variety of vegetables, herbs, tubers and other things which were quite unrecognizable to me. “Soulkos.” I said, my eyes on the bowl in my hands, “Soulkos was my father.” I raised the bowl to my lips and sipped, testing the taste and temperature of the food.
Mera looked at me, taking another sip from her mug. “He was slain, many years ago, by raiders. His entire family was found dead, the house was burned to the ground, as were the outbuildings.” Her voice was even and calm.
I nodded slowly, looking to her. “It was Droghel, he had been sent by General Davita. My mom was Serafina, of Lucenia. She and Soulkos were married, long before the destruction of the citadel.” I looked to her, “They were separated during the Great Break.” I told her the story including the most recent events.
“And this is why you came to Ustenia?” Mera sucked in a deep breath, shaking her head slowly. “Honey, you’ve just hopped from the frying pan into the fire.”
She was right, but I had no better place to go at this point. “Maybe so.” I agreed. Mera took the empty bowl from me and cleaned it quickly. “You should get some sleep.” I said.
Mera nodded. “We should remove this dressing one last time and stitch it up first.” I grimaced at the thought of more pain. “Did you want more of the sedative first?”
I nodded. “Yes please.” Grateful for her care, I once again said, “Thank you, Mera.”
Mera turned and filled the mug with hot water again, steeping the sweet mixture that would send me to sleep. She offered me the mug and I took it without hesitation this time, drinking the warm tea quickly. We chatted easily for several minutes as the medicine worked on my system. I watched her clean
ing and sterilizing the needles she would use to sew me up. My eyelids closed and the quiet sounds of the cabin became fuzzy and muffled again as I was lulled into another medicated slumber.
The evening’s sounds stood out; the heavy buzzing of the nocturnal bugs wings sang out across the forest. The night was damp and dark. Spiders crawled across the limbs of trees and fungi, as they moved around in search of food. A light haze blanketed the earth, clinging to the trees and undergrowth with foggy fingers, past the buzzing insects and sleeping creatures.
“You’ve come so far. He will be pleased.” I turned, finding a pair of ancient eyes peering at me from the wide tree in the center of the thicket. Another pair of eyes opened, watching me in quiet curiosity. “Yes, he will be very happy.” The second Kauri said in agreement.
A third Kauri opened made a low creaking noise as his eyes opened and a sad smile covered his broad bark covered face. “You can still save them.” He said.
I looked over the trio one by one. “But how?” I asked, “How can I do anything when I’m so injured, when my side hurts like hell?”
I rubbed my side lightly, feeling stitches holding the torn and cut skin together. I groaned in pain as I adjusted myself. I blinked and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I heard deep even breathing beside me and found Mera curled up peacefully on the other side of the bed. I wondered what time it was, but the windows were covered tight allowing neither sun nor moon’s light inside the cabin. I still felt dizzy from the effects of the tea, so I didn’t want to attempt to stand yet. Carefully I shifted off my side and onto my back, as to not wake Mera. Then I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep again.