Chapter 29
Helsop's Forest
By midmorning Electra's class was on its way into the forest. Electra carried Shalin in a large scarf hung round her shoulders. Ebony walked beside her on a leash. Laleh carried Esme on her shoulders, setting her down to walk for brief periods. Isa held Little Dagon's hand. At close to two years old he was able to walk most of the way.
Juanita, Esmeralda, Odval and Magsa lagged behind. Juanita and Esmeralda spoke to Magsa in voices soft enough to peak Electra's curiosity. She slowed her pace to overhear their conversation.
Juanita walked close to Magsa, speaking directly into her ear. "Tell Odval we can make a fertility charm for her. Just as good as Electra's and we will charge less."
Magsa spoke to Odval in the Barburee language. Magsa translated her reply to Juanita. "She say Electra head witch. She want best charm."
Electra grimaced and turned to face Magsa. Magsa and Odval both held back, leery of the panther.
Electra frowned at Juanita and spoke to Magsa. "Please tell Odval that magic charms are not the answer. She has a better chance of having a healthy baby if she concentrates on today's lesson. The herbs we collect from the forest will improve her chances."
Magsa translated and nodded at Odval's response, then turned back to Electra. "Odval say must have baby soon."
"Why?" Electra asked. "Odval is very young. What is the hurry?"
Magsa and Odval carried on a lengthy conversation in their native tongue. Then Magsa stared at the ground as she spoke. "She say I tell big secret. Great Khan say Bataar take new wife—daughter of China Emperor. New wife is..." Magsa raised her hand above her head. "High up."
"Tall?" Electra asked.
"No, high power. Much servants, much wealthy."
"High status." Electra saw the worry in Odval's eyes. If she did not produce an heir soon, she would be displaced by the powerful new wife. She wondered if Odval might be desperate enough to attempt poisoning this powerful new sister-wife. She hoped not.
"We know Odval is able to conceive. Tell her not to despair. Tell her I am a physician, not a witch, and I know the herbs we gather today will help."
Juanita caught Magsa's eye. "And tell her I will make a fertility charm for her too. Just to be sure."
Electra shook her head in disapproval but said nothing more. If Odval wanted Juanita's charm so be it. She wondered why the Great Khan wanted Bataar to marry the Emperor's daughter. It must surely mean an alliance with China was in the works. This was news that she should pass on to her father. She was glad she had not promised to keep Odval's secret.
When they were well into the forest, Electra loosened her hold on the leash a bit and put Shalin down to walk, holding her by the hand. She stopped beside a raspberry bush and waited for her lagging students to catch up.
"You all know this is a raspberry bush," she began. "The fruit will come later, but today we will harvest some leaves for a three herb tea we can brew to increase fertility."
After everyone had collected a bag full of raspberry leaves Electra moved on to an area where she was sure she would find fresh shoots of yellow dock growing. The twins and Little Dagon picked leaves and flowers along the trail and Electra watched closely to see that they did not put anything harmful into their mouths.
They startled a doe and her fawn as they passed a small clearing. The deer stood grazing on tender new spring growth when Ebony's scent drifted their way. Ebony crouched down, her tail twitching as the deer disappeared into the forest. Electra pulled the leash tight, hoping the cat would not try to chase them. Ebony looked at Electra and yawned. She was still full from her big breakfast. Electra let out a held breath, happy she had given Ebony extra rations this morning.
Electra stepped into the clearing the deer had vacated and waved her students forward. The yellow dock and red clover she needed to complete her three herb tea mixture grew here in abundance. She picked some purple blossoms of red clover and stripped a few leaves from the tall, rangy yellow dock plant.
When her students were grouped around the plants she held up her herbs. "These are the remaining ingredients we will need for our three herb tea. These will increase fertility and promote good health." She looked pointedly at Magsa. "There is no magic involved in the making of this tea. This is a drink that any physician might prescribe for a woman who wishes to have a healthy baby."
Magsa translated her words to Odval. Odval stepped forward and examined the plants, nodded, and Magsa gathered some up into her bag.
The other students took turns examining the plants and harvesting their own supply of leaves and blossoms.
Electra brought out the picnic basket. "Let us stay here in the sunshine while we eat our lunch. You may ask me any questions you have about the plants growing here and their uses."
Electra, Isa and Laleh settled down at the edge of the clearing. Ebony lay down on a grassy knoll, a little higher than the clearing and Electra tied her leash to an exposed tree root. The twins and Little Dagon began at once to explore the clearing.
A shriek from Esme drew Electra's attention. She saw that Esme had found a nest of baby cottontail rabbits, clumped together, awaiting their mother's return. Ebony was instantly alert, sniffing the air, watching for movement.
Electra put her arm around Esme and said quietly, "These are baby bunnies. We should leave them where they are so their mother will find them. Aren't they sweet?"
Esme wanted to go closer but Electra held her back, fearing the mother rabbit might abandon her babies if she smelled a human odor on them.
Esme stopped squirming to get closer and held out her hands. One of the tiny rabbits sailed through the air into her hands. She held the tiny rabbit close and smiled at Electra. Electra quickly looked around and her worst fears were realized. All her students' eyes were fixed on the scene before them.
Electra quickly took the small rabbit from Esme's hands and carried the crying child away into the forest, trying to distract her with flowers and insects. Isa picked up Shalin and went to stand near the increasingly agitated panther. The clearing buzzed with the voices of the students discussing what they had just witnessed.
Esme's cries subsided as she became interested in a bright blue butterfly. Electra looked back to make sure Ebony had not broken free from her leash. Then she thought about what she should tell her students. She decided it was best to tell them the truth—that the twins possessed uncommon but not unheard of powers. She knew Odval would attribute their powers to sorcery. Now Odval would be even more convinced that Electra was a witch—a witch who consorted with other budding witches.
She decided that Odval had been a student of medicine long enough. Electra would make sure that when she left for Fernland tomorrow, Magsa and Odval left with her.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 30