* * *
Quinn was more tired than he could ever remember being. He had ridden north to Black Bay, then turned east and taken the Weaver’s Road toward Ebbson Keep. He rode day and night, alternating mounts, eating in the saddle, stopping only to catch a few hours’ sleep in the late watches of the night. At first he had stopped to ask if anyone remembered Mansel, since the boy was hard to miss. He was larger than most men, both in height and build. But the people who remembered seeing Mansel only remembered seeing him pass by, so Quinn pushed on.
At Fort Jellar, he skirted the army encampment. Although it was tempting to check on Mansel at Ebbson Keep, Quinn decided to keep moving. He wasn’t sure if it was a desire to find Mansel, or if he just really wanted to see Miriam again. His desire to see the healer in Felson had been growing in him since Mansel had thrown him overboard and the shock of the cold water broke the spell Gwendolyn had cast over him. He decided to push on for Felson and kept a wide berth around Ebbson Keep. He had little difficulty easing through the line of scouts in the dead of night. Once back on the Weaver’s Road, he resumed his demanding pace.
The weeks went by in a blur of constant movement. His body ached from riding so long, and his mind wandered for long periods. He was a day’s ride from Felson when the cough began. At first it was merely a tickle deep in his chest. But the tickle nagged at him, and his discomfort grew stronger. Soon, he was coughing so hard that his sides ached, and he had even caused himself to vomit at one point. When he approached the city, late that night, he smelled the stench of too many people trying to live in a small area. He rode through a shanty town, where people were camped on either side of the road, some under makeshift shelters and others exposed to the elements. He could smell the trash and the unmistakable odor of the latrines that had been hastily dug as refugees from the north flooded into the city.
He was leaning heavily on the neck of his horse as he entered the city proper. There were still a few people roaming the streets at that late hour, but none of them looked to be up to anything good. After a while, Quinn was finally met by a small squad of soldiers.
“It’s past curfew,” said the ranking soldier.
“I just got to the city,” Quinn said. “I’m looking for Miriam, the animal healer. Can you direct me to her home?”
He coughed so hard after speaking that he had to bend over double, his breath coming in wheezing gasps.
“Sounds more like you need a physician than an animal healer,” said the soldier.
“She’s a friend,” Quinn managed to say.
“Well, I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate being roused out of bed by a sick man.”
“Please,” Quinn said. “I don’t have much time.”
“All right,” said the soldier. “I’ll take you to her home, but don’t try any funny business. We’re not in the mood.”
Quinn nodded, thankful that the soldiers were going to help. He felt guilty that he had shirked his duty to Prince Wilam. When he’d finally come to his senses after being rescued at sea, he’d immediately thought to travel north to save Zollin. He should have gone south to rescue the Prince from Gwendolyn, he supposed, but no matter how strong his duty to King and country, his family would always come first.
They arrived at Miriam’s home after only a few minutes of travel through the city. Even in the dark Quinn could tell that Miriam’s home was filled with refugees. There were tents around the small corral, and pushcarts lined the front of the house. Quinn climbed out of the saddle, being careful not to fall. His arms and legs felt so heavy he had trouble moving them, but he managed to shuffle toward the house.
The soldier stood back as they approached and watched Quinn with an experienced eye. He had one hand on his sword while the other held a torch high, letting the light spill onto the small porch. Quinn knocked on the door with slow, heavy thuds. There were sounds of movement in the house, then a light came shining weakly through the front window.
“Who is it?” came Miriam’s voice. It was cautious, but clear and exactly as Quinn remembered it.
“It’s Quinn.”
There was the sound of a heavy bolt being lifted, and the door opened just a crack. Light from a candle shone through.
“Oh, Quinn,” she said, throwing the door open wide. “Come in, please. Are you okay?”
Before he could answer the soldier spoke up.
“You know this man, lady Miriam?”
“Yes, he’s a friend.”
“Fine, we’ll be moving on then,” said the soldier.
Quinn turned to say thank you, but he was racked with a fit of coughing. Miriam helped him inside and into a chair.
“You’re sick,” she said.
“No,” he managed to respond. “Just tired. I’ve had a long journey.”
“Well, you’re here now and you’re safe,” she said. I’ve got one bed left, and you’re going right into it.”
“No,” he said again. “I’m filthy. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “This is my house, and I don’t let people sleep on the floor. Now come with me.”
“I’m sorry,” he croaked, “to intrude like this.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “I haven’t heard from Zollin or Kelvich in weeks. I did hear that they were headed to Orrock recently. Some of the soldiers were talking about it when I was at the fort.”
“Orrock?” Quinn asked. “How recent?”
“I heard it a few days ago. There’s rumors of war, but we haven’t heard anything for certain. The legion, what was left of them, were called to Orrock. Things have been tense here for the last few weeks. A small contingent of soldiers have been working hard to curb the crime, but it’s getting worse despite their efforts. We can talk about all that tomorrow, though. You need to rest.”
“I have to catch up with Zollin,” he said.
“You said that the last time we met,” she said, smiling.
“You’ve been on my mind ever since,” he admitted.
She smiled and helped him into a bed. He noticed the covers were rumpled and thrown back hastily. There was no candle by the bed.
“This is where you were sleeping,” Quinn said.
“And now it’s where you are going to sleep.”
He wanted to protest but he was too tired. He sat heavily on the bed and before he could stop her she pulled his boots off. Then she pushed him back onto the soft mattress and he felt himself swooning. As his head hit the pillow, he could smell the fragrance of Miriam’s hair. It was intoxicating and he couldn’t help but smile as he fell asleep.
Miriam watched Quinn for several long minutes. His face was gaunt, his beard overgrown and patchy. It was obvious that he hadn’t been eating well. His clothes were dirty, stained with sweat and blood, not to mention ragged, with several holes and rips in the fabric.
She was tired and wanted to settle into the chair she kept by her bed, but she remembered the horses she had seen outside. There had been two, both saddled and looking almost as tired as Quinn. She knew that not only would it be bad for the horses to stay saddled overnight, but there was also a strong possibility that they would be stolen if she didn’t move them into the barn.
She hurried outside after lighting a lantern. The horses were waiting out front. Although neither was tied up, they seemed content to stand and wait on Quinn. She took their reins and led them into her barn, which was filled with animals and people. She had one stall left, and luckily it was big enough for both horses. She removed their tack and brushed them both down before giving them a bag of oats and leading them into the stall. When she got back inside her house she collapsed into her chair and fell asleep.
It seemed like only a moment later that the sun was peeking through her window. She yawned and stretched. Sleeping in a chair, no matter how comfortable, was hard on her. When she moved her neck a sharp pain ran down her arm. She tried to stretch the soreness out but it wasn’t very effective. Still, she knew she had th
ings to do, so she forced herself to get moving.
Miriam started her days by feeding and watering the animals she had in her charge. She went out to the barn, enjoying the crisp, cool, early-morning air. The nights had finally started getting cool again, after weeks of very hot weather. In the barn, only a few of her guests were stirring. They were all temporary residents. She made sure that they knew she didn’t want long-term guests living in her barn. Most were refugees, and she refused to take what little payment they offered.
There were sick animals, but none seemed critical. Since that first meeting with Zollin months ago, she hadn’t faced a problem she couldn’t solve when it came to sick animals. She had always considered herself to be a talented animal healer, but now things seemed to come to her more easily. After she checked on the sick animals, she looked in on her own. She had three horses, several chickens, and a milk cow. The goats stayed outside in a small corral.
She milked the cow, spraying the warm, frothy milk into a wooden bucket. Most of the milk would be given to children of the families she allowed to stay in her barn, but she planned to save a little for Quinn. Once she had seen to her animals, she returned to the house and went into the kitchen, where she brewed coffee and toasted a little bread for her breakfast. She had two permanent house guests who traded room and board for work. Both were young and happy to have a place to call home. When they rose and found Miriam in the kitchen, she sent them both on morning errands. The girl was sent to get the eggs her hens laid overnight. The boy was sent to fetch the doctor. Miriam could hear Quinn coughing in his sleep. His breathing was labored, and she was beginning to worry about him.
When the young girl returned with the eggs, Miriam set about making breakfast for her two boarders. They ate eggs and toasted bread before hurrying off to start their chores. The healer from the fort arrived while they were eating, and Miriam showed him where Quinn was still asleep. The healer listened to Quinn’s breathing with a funnel-shaped instrument and then he gently woke Quinn.
After an brief fit of coughing, Quinn was able to answer the healer’s questions.
“I’ve been traveling pretty hard,” Quinn admitted. “I had a wound on my leg, but it was treated and seems to be mending just fine. It’s this cough I can’t get rid of.”
“You’ve got fluid in your lungs, and it could get worse. I’ve got some herbs that will help, but you really need to stay off your feet for several days,” the physician said.
“That’s the one thing I can’t do,” Quinn admitted. “I’ve got to find Zollin and Mansel.”
“They’re headed to Orrock,” the healer said. “Commander Hausey was sent for Zollin, and scouts reported that there was a group traveling together. Zollin, Kelvich, and a big lad.”
“That would be Mansel,” Quinn said bitterly. “I have to go.”
“You’d do better to wait at least a few days and give your body time to heal.”
“Yes, you should stay, Quinn,” Miriam said, almost pleading. “You’re in no shape to go after Zollin.”
“It can’t wait. He’s in danger.”
“I’ll go for you,” Miriam suggested.
“No, Mansel’s my problem. I don’t know if I can stop him or not, but I have to try.”
He related how they had been bewitched in Lodenhime and how Mansel was operating under the witch’s influence. Quinn coughed again, and the healer went to the kitchen to brew a drink with the herbs he had with him.
“This is lunacy,” Miriam said. “You’re in no shape to travel. Your horses aren’t either. You’ve run them into the ground.”
“I have to try,” Quinn said. “He’s my only son.”
“I understand that, but you aren’t going alone.”
“What?”
“I’m going with you.”
“No, you can’t. You have people here who need you.”
“I have people here who can look after things while I’m gone,” she insisted. “I’m going to get things ready and then we’ll leave. Until then, you stay in this bed.”
Quinn wanted to argue, but he knew it was futile. He had no reason for not wanting Miriam to go with him. She wouldn’t slow him down, not in the state he was in. Their chances of catching up to Zollin and Mansel were slim, but they had to try. And the truth of the matter was, he wanted Miriam with him. Now that he had seen her again, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to be with her, not just right now, but always. He had to save Zollin—that was his first priority—but after that, he would stay with Miriam for as long as she would have him.
Miriam called her young helpers into the house, just as the physician was taking Quinn the hot drink he had brewed. The boy was fourteen and Miriam’s unofficial apprentice. He knew enough to take care of the animals in the barn. Miriam put him in charge of her small practice and to see to any repairs around the house that needed to be made. The girl, a bright, young orphan who thought she was eleven, although she couldn’t be sure, had lost both parents when the dragon attacked her village. She was found by a band of refugees and brought to Felson. Miriam had no children of her own. Jax had filled that role to some degree, but with his absence Miriam was only too happy to bring the girl into her home. She put the girl in charge of the house, including fixing meals and helping with the refugee children.
Then Miriam went to the barn and saddled three horses. She left the two Quinn had brought in, and they looked relieved when she left them in the stall. It took nearly an hour to make sure she had enough food and medical supplies. Once she had everything packed neatly on two horses, she went to get Quinn.
“Miriam,” the young girl called. “The healer told me to pour this up for Quinn. Is that the man sleeping in your bed?”
“Yes, child,” Miriam said, blushing a little at the implication. “He’s very sick.”
“This is his medicine,” she said holding up the canteen. “And here are the herbs. The healer said to boil them in water to make more medicine.”
“Thank you,” Miriam said smiling at the girl’s enthusiasm. “I’m very proud of you. We shouldn’t be gone too long, a few weeks at the most.”
“I’ll make sure everything is okay here,” the girl said.
“I’m sure you will.”
Miriam went to get Quinn and found him sleeping. She wanted to wait, to let him rest and recover, but she had promised they would leave as soon as she was ready. She moved to his bedside and shook him gently.
“Quinn,” she said in a soft voice. “Can you wake up?”
His eyes fluttered open and they took a moment to focus on her.
“Is it time?” he asked.
“Yes, if you’re ready.”
“I just need a little time to get up here,” he said struggling out from under the covers. “I’m afraid I’ve soiled your bed with my filthy clothes.”
“It’s okay,” Miriam said. “We can wash them later. Just take your time,” she added as she took hold of his arm.
Another coughing fit shook him, but it seemed less severe than the ones before. Then he was out of the bed and stretching.
“That brew your healer gave me was one of the worst things I’ve ever tasted,” he said. “And the taste it leaves in your mouth afterward is even worse.”
“Well, the good news is that it should help you feel better,” Miriam said.
“I feel like you’re leaving something out,” he said, smiling.
“Of course the bad news is,” she continued, “the healer left a whole canteen for you to drink today.”
“Oh no.”
“And the worse news is I’ve been instructed to brew more when that’s gone.”
Chapter 25
Zollin was tired. Emotionally he was a total wreck, but he hid the damage as best he could. Riding with Commander Hausey had one positive benefit: it allowed Zollin the freedom not to worry about pushing the pace or finding his way. Mansel was brooding and quiet, preferring not to speak unless he was asked a direct question. Zollin was too caught up in his
grief over Brianna to take much notice, but Kelvich was worried.
Not only did the big warrior seem different somehow, he refused to drink. They passed several inns, but Mansel didn’t recommend they stop. When ale or wine was offered by villagers, he declined. It was the last straw in Kelvich’s case against Mansel, and once he was sure that something was wrong, he began looking for an opportunity to talk to Zollin about it.
That night they made camp a few hours after dark. Commander Hausey had pushed the pace, but he knew his men needed sleep. They all took turns standing watch, and Kelvich made sure he knew when Zollin would be awake in the night. They ate a dinner of beans and bread, with stream water to wash it down. Then, during the last watch of the night, several hours before dawn, Kelvich roused himself.
“What are you doing?” Zollin said without turning around. “You aren’t on watch tonight.”
He had been up for over an hour and he sat as still as possible, letting his magic flow out around him. He trusted his magic much more than his eyes and ears, especially in the dark.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Kelvich said. “Old men don’t need much anyway.”
“Well, if you’re staying up I don’t mind getting a little more rest,” Zollin said.
“I was hoping we could talk,” Kelvich said.
“Hausey wouldn’t approve. He doesn’t think we take watch seriously enough as it is.”
“Let me worry about Commander Hausey,” Kelvich added in a whisper. “I’m more concerned about Mansel.”
“What’s wrong with Mansel?” Zollin asked.
The truth was Zollin was having trouble caring about anyone but Brianna. Commander Hausey was intent on doing his duty and getting Zollin back to Orrock, but all Zollin could think about was Brianna. They hadn’t found anyone who had seen the beast, and Zollin was beginning to lose hope. It felt like part of him was dying. He knew Kelvich had been wanting to talk with him for days, but he just didn’t want to talk. He was grateful that Mansel seemed more quiet than normal, because at least Zollin didn’t have to pretend he was okay around the big warrior.
The Five Kingdoms: Book 04 - Crying Havoc Page 24