Cleansing: This gift augments the spell “healing hands.” Lets the spell cleanse toxins, diseases, the Darkness, and other lingering effects. Energy cost is based on the severity of the condition being cleansed. If no energy is available, you will use vitality. If no vitality is available, you will use health. Using health in this way can lead to death. You will be asked to verify if you wish to use this ability before it triggers.
Energy Reserves: Doubles your maximum energy.
Doc took a deep breath as he followed the wagon off the road. Maybe this will help Daf with her diabetes, too. If only it was that easy back on Earth. Pulling up his information, he smiled at his updated stats.
Doc Holyday- 42
Half-Breed Elf/Dwarf
Voice of Luck
Energy: 20
Vitality: 20
Health: 15
Faith: 7 (57)
Racial Bonuses:
Natural affinity to nature magic, improved reflexes, keen hearing and sight, resistance to poisons, improved vitality, night vision, natural affinity to metal crafts
Goddess Gifts:
All In, Stand Down, Missed Me, Healing Hands, Cleansing, Energy Reserves
Doc hopped off the old mare and patted her shoulder. “Thanks, old girl.”
“We’ll handle the horses, boys. You see about getting the rest of the camp set. Ivan, you and Burk can show them how to do it,” Rangvald ordered. “We’ll see to your horse, too, Doc.”
“No, I got her. She’s been here with me before. Thank you, though.”
“As you want,” Rangvald said.
“Meat,” a soft voice spoke the single word like it told a complicated story.
Rangvald nodded, “Thank you, Jesamin. Just put it on the wagon for now, please.”
The buckskin-clad elf glided across the small clearing with a brace of rabbits on a line. She glanced at each of them in turn, her steps slowing when she met Doc’s gaze. Giving him a small nod, she did as she was asked before vanishing off into the woods.
“Spooky, but she is good at her job,” Ivan muttered.
“There’s fresh meat for the pot tonight,” Burk shrugged. “She can be as standoffish as she wants for that. Besides, I think she’ll be back to get some dinner, at least.”
Burk was proven right two hours later when Tony called that dinner was ready. Everyone lined up, only to have Rangvald motion them aside. “Jesamin, go ahead. You’re the reason we have the meat.”
Jesamin came out of the tree line with a small wooden bowl in hand. Watching them all, she moved to Tony and held out her bowl.
Tony filled it, “Hope you enjoy it, ma’am.”
Jesamin gave him a nod before she slipped aside and headed back to the wood. Everyone watched her go until she vanished into the trees.
“Doc, you’re the boss,” Rangvald said.
“Okay,” Doc said, getting his bowl filled.
One by one, they got their food, the boys last. Their dinner was a little bland, but Rangvald told them to go light on the seasoning to make it last. They had a cup of ale each from the keg that had been brought along, a welcome change from the water they had been drinking all day.
With dinner done and the boys cleaning up, the others settled down for the night. Doc watched the dwarves and got a sense that they had all worked together before. Rangvald sat down beside him.
“We have men scheduled to be up an hour each just to make sure none of the woodfolk sneak up on us,” Rangvald told Doc. “The dryad around these parts has killed her fair share of people over the long years she’s been here. Seems to have a taste for dwarves, especially.”
“Probably because you’re heartier than the other races,” Doc said.
“Likely because the damned things love the elves,” Rangvald replied.
“You don’t have to worry about the dryad in these woods,” Doc said. “She won’t bother you or your men, and I ask that you do the same to her.”
Rangvald stared at Doc like he had grown a second head. “What?”
“I made a deal with her when I came through here last. She will not bother you or your men, and all that is required to keep it that way is that you do not antagonize her.”
“Deal?” Rangvald said incredulously. “The only way for that to happen…”
“I survived,” Doc said. “Don’t go breaking my deal with her.”
“Only the strongest warriors in our legends have survived deals with them,” Rangvald choked out.
“Well, I had healing to help me,” Doc said. “A bit of a cheat.”
Rangvald scrubbed at his face. “Fuck... okay... Okay. I’ll tell them, but they will be hard-pressed to remain calm if she comes near the camp. We have to protect the boys, after all.”
Doc locked eyes with him and used stand down, his voice raising so he could be clearly heard by everyone in the camp. “You will not attack the dryad, Rosa. She will not attack you in return. Anyone who attacks her will see what happens when I am angry. Understood?”
Ten heads all bobbed rapidly in full agreement.
“Good. Besides, you’ll see what having her as a friend can do for us soon,” Doc said much softer. “Goodnight.” With that, he rose to his feet and walked into the woods.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Stalking into the woods, Doc was upset with himself more than anything. Shouldn’t have used stand down... that was dumb and might alienate them. I should have been calm and reasonable... explaining the plusses of the situation.
“You know her?” The soft-voiced question brought Doc to a stop.
Doc exhaled hard and nodded. “Scared me there, Jesamin. To answer the question, yes, I’ve met Rosa.”
“You survived?”
Doc found her sitting on a log a dozen yards away, a mountain lion lounging at her feet. “It was a close thing, but I survived. A friend of yours?”
“Yes. I saved him as a newborn when his mother became corrupted by the Darkness. Krisriit has been with me since then.”
“Can I have a seat?”
Jesamin sat quietly for a moment before making a noise to Krisriit. The lion got to his feet, stretched, huffed at Doc, then wandered off. “Go ahead, but if you try anything…”
“I don’t press women,” Doc said. “Didn’t when I was single, and ain’t going to now. Besides, I’ll need everything I have for when Rosa shows up.”
“How did you survive?” Jesamin asked when he took his seat.
“Healing magic got me through the first part of it. She still tapped out my energy and most of my vitality trying to keep up with the blood she was taking, plus the… erm... vigorous exercise.”
“You’re a mage?” Jesamin asked, her voice going cold.
“Faith healer,” Doc corrected her. “I never attended any school for it.”
Jesamin stared at him and nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. If you were a mage, you would have tried to hurt her.”
Doc shuddered, “Sick fucks. She told me about that.”
“Yes. I’ve killed a few who came this way looking for her. We help protect the balance… or… did…” Jesamin lapsed into silence, clearly upset about something.
“You and Lia are part of the tribe from this area, right?”
Jesamin’s lip curled back, “That traitor.”
“Traitor?”
“She resides in the town that took our land from us. Only reason I’ve let it continue is that she vowed to let me kill her if she loses the Lily.”
Doc felt a shiver run down his spine at the sheer hatred and glee Jesamin had in her voice. “What if she doesn’t lose the Lily? What if she uses that platform to start taking the town back?”
Jesamin frowned, “I’d take back my words and make up with her.”
“Good, because I’m making that happen,” Doc said. “I’m starting with the Lily, and then going to expand out from there.”
Jesamin stiffened, “You want to take our land, too?”
Doc sighed. “You’re misunderstanding
. Rosa, are you here?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to see me, or if you’ve regretted our time,” Rosa said, coming out from behind the trees to their right.
“Been here the entire time?” Doc asked, ignoring the stunned look on Jesamin’s face.
“Since the hunter came here. She stays away from the west, or had. I was curious as to why she was here, then you came. Those are your miners?”
“Yeah. You remember what I said, right?”
“I will leave them be and do my best to not be seen. The se’sxac is still in the area, but not nearby right now.”
“I have a gun big enough to hurt it, and I’ll be leaving it with the miners. There’s also enough faith in Luck for me to be able to possibly cleanse it now.”
Rosa smiled brightly, her teeth catching the moonlight. “Voice, we are indebted that you chose that gift from your goddess.”
Jesamin gasped when Rosa called him Voice. “Voice… as in…?”
“Yes,” Rosa said, staring at Jesamin. “He is a Voice. His goddess is trying to save our dying world.”
Jesamin started rocking in place. “A Voice? After all this time?” Tears began to fall from her eyes. “Why now? We needed you years ago when they came and took our home!”
Rosa was instantly in front of Jesamin, tilting the elf’s head back to stare down at her. “Do not question the will of the gods, child. Be happy that a Voice has come at all, and that we have a chance to help Mother and save the world from the Darkness.”
Jesamin continued to cry, but she tried to sniffle the tears back. “I’m sorry, Caretaker. I just mourn for them still.”
“Mourning is allowed, child,” Rosa said softly, leaning down to kiss Jesamin’s forehead. “I mourn for all my sisters that have been slaughtered, as well. I have been happy to have you helping care for the wilds, and thank you for dealing with those who have hunted me. Now, still your tears.” Leaning down, she locked lips with Jesamin for the briefest of moments.
Jesamin swallowed hard when Rosa pulled back, her crying stopping a moment later. “Thank you, Caretaker. I’m fine now.”
“Do you randomly kiss people?” Doc asked.
“I was giving her a gift,” Rosa said as she moved to sit beside him. “I haven’t had a shaman come to barter for my reserves in a long time. I should see about sending some back with you, though.”
“What back with me?”
“Unfiltered moondew. It’s what I gave her.”
“Oh. That makes sense… was the last one who came Umena?”
“Yes.”
“I should thank you, then,” Doc said slowly. “The moondew’s helped me through a few rough patches, as well. Lia shared it with me.”
Rosa’s smile bloomed again. “You’ve tasted my nectar? Good. If you have an empty bottle, I’ll gift you some to take back with you.”
“Oh, right, speaking of gifts,” Doc pulled the amber from his pocket, “this is from Lia.”
Rosa stared at the chunk of amber before taking it with gentle hands. “Ambrose, sister, we mourn you still. I will return you to Mother and maybe, in time, you will come back to us.” Her words were soft and carried a deep melancholy.
“That’s your sister?”
“Part of her, but it might be enough for her to live again. She was the other dryad in this area… she was caught and butchered by a mage decades ago. I owe a favor in return for this. Did she ask for anything?”
“Just asked me to bring back anything you gave me in return.”
“I see. I’ll have something before you leave. Make sure you have a bottle for me, as well. Umm… and maybe we can…?”
Doc leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Best wait for that until I’m on the way back. Not sure I can be quiet enough, and the dwarves would likely get upset.”
Rosa looked down, “Truly? You’ll be okay with it again?”
“I’ve been looking forward to it. This time, though, I’ll be taking control from the start. It’ll give me better angles to heal while engaged with you.”
“Yes,” Rosa said quickly. “Please.”
Doc put his hand behind her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Rosa’s woody flavor filled his mouth as their tongues danced. Feeling his body reacting to her, he pulled her closer, forcing her onto his lap so she was straddling him. When the kiss ended, Doc was breathing hard. He was seriously reconsidering his decision to wait until later with her straddling him and pressed to his chest, but the sound of movement brought Jesamin back to his attention.
Coughing, Doc winced, “Sorry, Jesamin, I forgot you were there. Rosa kind of dominates my mind when she’s close by.”
“No. It’s fine. I can go.”
Rosa climbed off his lap, her own breathing coming a little fast. “No, he truly means it. Krisriit is getting impatient, as it is. You did well to save him— he is very loyal to you. I will go, and I hope I did enough for you, Doc.”
Doc got to his feet, aware that he was still standing proudly from his interaction with her. “I’m sure you did everything you could. Thank you, Rosa. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you on the way back.”
Rosa’s smile grew wider, “Yes, as am I. Goodnight and sleep well. I’ll warn you if anything tainted comes close.”
“Thank you,” Doc smiled at her. “I’m sure I’ll sleep well after a bit.”
“Thank you, Caretaker,” Jesamin said.
“I’ll do my part, and you’ll do yours as well, hunter. This mine is important to the Voice.”
“I will do my best to keep them safe and fed,” Jesamin said.
“Good. Do a good job and I’ll gift Krisriit a boon.”
Jesamin jerked to her feet, taking a step forward. “Truly?”
“Yes, if you are as talented at your work as I think you are.”
Jesamin went to a knee before Rosa. “I will do my very best, Caretaker.”
Rosa touched her head, “I know you will.” Turning her head to Doc, she gave him a heated smile. “See you on your way back, Doc.”
Doc stared at her with the same need. “Indeed.”
Rosa swept away, vanishing as soon as she rounded a tree. Doc watched her go, adjusted himself some, and exhaled a long breath.
Krisriit let out a soft purr as he moved to Jesamin, who was still kneeling. Nudging her, the cat flopped onto his side and exposed his belly to her. Jesamin ran her hands through the soft fur, speaking softly to her friend.
Doc left them alone and made his way back to where the dwarves had made camp.
Rangvald was sitting against the wagon, flask in hand, watching the stars. Seeing Doc, he raised the flask, “Want a nip?”
“Pass. About earlier—”
“We’re sorry,” Rangvald cut him off. “We’ll do our best. You’re the boss and your word is the final word on the job. I just find it hard to believe that we won’t be attacked.”
“You still might be,” Doc said, taking a seat beside Rangvald. “There’s a se’sxac in the area that has gone mad. It’s why I bought that fucking cannon on my horse. I’ll be leaving it behind with you.”
“The dryad can’t control it?” Rangvald asked.
“It’s been corrupted.”
“The Darkness spreads,” Rangvald sighed. “Some of our elementals have been corrupted over time, as well. I can’t blame her when we have the same problems. Will the gun be enough?”
“No idea. Blackbeard said it’s the best chance. If I encounter it, I might be able to cleanse it, but I don’t know for certain.”
Rangvald glanced at Doc before snorting. “Maybe the legends are true. Anyway, as long as she stays civil, we’ll stay civil. I have promises from all of them.”
“Good. I was worried that I might have alienated you all by speaking like I did.”
“If you hadn’t done so much for the clan, maybe, but that’s a moot point. As long as your word stays good, our word will, too.”
“Glad to hear it. I’m going to turn in. Oh, and the camp will stay cle
ar of anything not corrupt.”
Rangvald stiffened, then sighed, “She was here already?”
“I spoke with her and Jesamin. Goodnight, Rangvald.”
“Night to you as well, Doc,” Rangvald said, looking back up to the night sky.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Suited for Luck Page 29