Tormina: The Book of Maladies

by D. K. Holmberg

  “Ralun hadn’t known about Tray before, had he?” Sam asked.

  Elaine sighed. “It seems that when Ralun used the Book on Lyasanna, he discovered more than your presence. He discovered Tray’s existence.”

  They reached the shore, and Sam shook water from her staff. “Why do the Thelns hate Kavers and Scribes? It’s about more than what happened between Ralun and Lyasanna.”

  Elaine paused. “The city has been home to many people seeking safety over the years. Not all people living within the city originated here. There are many immigrants, though less now than there used to be. The first Kavers and Scribes came to the city to escape violence from the Thelns in their own land.”

  “Why was there violence?”

  “The reason why has been lost over the years, but the violence between us has persisted.”

  “You’ve been to the Theln lands. You’ve seen them.”

  “I’ve seen only the edge. No Kavers or Scribes have been allowed access to anything more than the outer edge of their lands.”

  “What are their lands like?”

  “Dangerous. Bleak. Deadly. Much like the Thelns.” Elaine glanced over, and she tapped her staff on the ground. “Now. Have you had all of your questions answered well enough for you to come with me or do we need to keep talking?”

  There were still questions Sam had, but they were questions that Elaine might not have the answers to. Most of those questions were for Marin, and until she had a chance to sit and talk with her, she wouldn’t know why Marin had allowed Tray to live, especially as she obviously hated Lyasanna. There was more to this.

  They reached the port, and as they did, Sam frowned. This was a section Sam had rarely visited, not needing to come through here too often. Most of the things Bastan had her take were from merchants, and it was easier to steal from the warehouses rather than off the ships or the docks. Safer, too. There was a certain bustle to the docks, activity that reminded her of Caster in a way. Everyone seemed to be hurrying, some carrying baskets while others pushed carts, and some were dirty, stinking of fish and the sea.

  None of that really caught her attention.

  What did catch her attention were the dozens of soldiers dressed in the colors of the Anders marching along the streets.

  “What is this?” Sam asked Elaine.

  Elaine frowned and hurried forward, thrusting herself into the line of soldiers. Sam followed carefully, and her eyes widened when she saw Master Jessup. Bound in chains around his wrists, he looked around, a defiant glare on his face. Next to him, head slumped forward and obviously unconscious, was Marin. Two men carried her, and her wrists were bound, as were her ankles. Sam didn’t know whether Marin could escape from them easily, not without an augmentation, and seeing as how her Scribe had been captured along with her, Marin was unlikely to receive such augmentation.

  “Sam?”

  Sam turned to see Beckah looking at her. Her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying or drugged. Either was possible, especially considering who she’d been captured by. Other than that, she didn’t look unwell.

  “What happened to you?” she asked, then glanced at the soldiers. Elaine was talking to one of them, a dark-haired man who seemed to be in charge.

  “They found us,” Beckah said, nodding toward the soldiers. “I’ve never been happier to see soldiers.”

  One of the soldiers turned, and Sam noticed the crest emblazoned on his cloak. One of the Anders’ personal soldiers. “Why would they have come and not the city guard?”

  Elaine joined them, and the soldiers continued to head off through the streets, making their way in the direction of the palace. “It seems that after your conversation with Lyasanna, she sent her men in search of Marin and Master Jessup.”

  Sam frowned. “She was the one who told me about the island in the swamp, suggesting that might be where I’d find Marin.”

  “That might be, but Lyasanna also planned for the possibility that they would have gone elsewhere. It seems that they found her attempting to board a ship.”

  It made sense, but as Marin was carried away, Sam couldn’t help but feel disappointed that she wouldn’t get a chance to question her. Once they reached the palace, Lyasanna would surely have her own plans for Marin.

  “Don’t look disappointed, Samara. We’ve won. Not only is the master physicker who has betrayed the university been captured, but so is Marin.”

  While that might be true, Sam couldn’t help but feel like there was something more. Tray had left the city, taking Ralun with him, along with answers to questions that still troubled her.

  She looked up to see Elaine watching her, and she forced a smile. Marin might have been captured, but Sam’s task was not complete. Tray might not be her real brother, but that didn’t change that there was a connection between them, and it was one that she didn’t fully understand. Now that he had left Verdholm, she had to go after him and ensure his safety. It was her turn to help him get answers to his questions.

  It would mean leaving the city and her training, and it might mean Alec leaving the university since she couldn’t imagine doing what she intended without him—though if his testing had gone poorly, that might not matter—but didn’t she have to? Didn’t she owe it to Tray?

  And didn’t she want to understand why Marin had paired Sam up with Tray to begin with?

  That was an answer she might be able to get without leaving the city, but Elaine would have to be willing to let her get close enough for those answers. And then she would go after Tray.

  36

  Test Results

  Alec approached the university wearily. It was early morning, and sunlight had just begun to stream through the city. The barge ride back to the city had gone quickly, but he had traveled between sections slowly, dreading what he would learn when he returned. Had he been expelled?

  He heard a splash and looked over to see Sam approach. “What are you doing back here already?”

  She waved her hand. “It’s a long story, but Marin and Jessup were captured and are being brought back to the palace by Princess Lyasanna’s personal guards.” She glanced toward the palace frowning. “I need to find out what Marin might know, but first, I thought I’d offer my support to you.”

  “As much as I’d love you to, I think this is something I need to do on my own.”

  “You don’t want me to be here?”

  Alec looked over at her and smiled. He felt closer to her than he had in a long time. “That’s not true at all. It’s just that I need to face whatever the master physickers have for me on my own. If they choose to expel me, then I’ll come find you.”

  “You don’t have the ring anymore, remember? I’m sure I can get you another one, but it might take some time.”

  “Fine. Then I’ll go to my father’s apothecary. If you don’t hear from me, that’s where you can find me.”

  Sam glanced over at the palace. “I don’t know how much longer I will be there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Tray has gone to the Thelns. I can’t leave him to them. I need to know what might happen to him. I need to know why his history has been suppressed.”

  “You’re more concerned about his now?”

  “I still want to know why Marin took my memories, but right now, I think Tray needs my help more than he realizes.”

  “I will go with you. Whenever you choose to leave, I will go.”

  Relief washed over her face. “Send word to me either way.”

  They embraced, and Alec held on to her for a long moment before stepping away. He watched as Sam reached the edge of the canal and flipped over it. After a while, he made his way into the university. He entered the hospital ward and found it empty except for a few junior physickers. He turned away and made his way up to his room. He stood for a long moment staring at his stack of journals on the desk before taking a deep breath and heading back out and up to the masters’ quarters. At the top of the stairs, he nearly collided with Master Carl.<
br />
  “Mr. Stross,” he sneered. “Now you finally decide to return?”

  “There was something that I needed to address. There was someone who needed my help.”

  “I’m sure there was. You always seem to believe that everyone needs your help.”

  “Not everyone.” He hesitated but decided to press forward. “What happened with the testing?”

  Master Carl grabbed his arm and guided him along the hallway. At the end of the hall, he raised his hand. “Wait here.”

  Alec stood, fearing the worst.

  He didn’t have to wait long. Master Carl returned with Master Helen and surprisingly, Master Eckerd. Where had he been? How could he have been gone all this time when they needed him?

  “Mr. Stross,” Master Helen said, stepping forward. “You demanded testing, something that has not been done in many years. The last time it was done was…”

  “You,” Master Eckerd said.

  A hint of a smile played upon Master Helen’s face. “That is correct. The last time was me. I grew tired of the steps involved in the training. As it seems you did.”

  Alec swallowed. “You demanded testing?”

  “I did. It is something that had never been successfully completed before me.”

  The bit of hope that had surged in his mind at the idea that he might have succeeded faded. If Master Helen had been the only one who had ever succeeded, what hope did he have? Master Helen was the brightest physicker he knew.

  “Mr. Stross. I will tell you that the vote was not unanimous,” Master Helen said.

  She looked over at Master Carl.

  Alec’s stomach sank. For him to pass from student to junior physicker required a nearly unanimous vote. It didn’t require all the master physickers, but he suspected from the way Master Helen was telling him that he had failed. “So that’s it? I’m expelled?”

  Master Helen held her gaze on Master Carl for a long moment. “There were a few objections to you being raised to junior physicker. Master Carl was among them.” She turned and looked earnestly at Alec. “So unfortunately, that means that you will not be promoted to junior physicker.”

  Alec felt nauseated. Had he wanted this promotion that badly? That he’d been willing to face expulsion if he failed?

  It had been worth it. They had discovered Master Jessup. But… he wouldn’t be able to continue his studies.

  Master Helen regarded him a moment. “You did manage to demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge that convinced many of us that you are deserving of something else.”

  Alec’s breath caught. “What something else?”

  “There is another route to promotion, and one that is more difficult. With it, you need the support of each of the most senior physickers. There are five of us, and you had the support of four for this promotion.”

  “Five. I came around,” Master Carl said.

  “What promotion is that?” Alec asked.

  Master Carl looked at Alec, and he couldn’t tell if there was irritation or something else on his face. “Mr. Stross,” he began, “you have been promoted to full physicker.”

  Alec blinked. What did that even mean? “Full physicker? You mean I—”

  “You have bypassed junior physicker. It was clear during your testing on the wards that you have a grasp of physiology that exceeds what most junior physickers possess. Because of that, you have been promoted to full physicker.”

  Alec didn’t hear much else. They congratulated him, Master Eckerd the last of all. As he made his way down the stairs, back to his room, he was numb and unable to fully comprehend what had just happened.

  When he reached it, he found Beckah inside.

  “Beckah?”

  “Alec. You’re here.”

  “How are you here?”

  “Soldiers came for Marin and Jessup. When they captured them, I was free to go. I saw Sam and her mother…”

  Alec sighed. Why hadn’t Sam mentioned that? Then again, she was distracted by what had happened to Tray, so maybe she hadn’t thought to say anything. “I’m so glad that you’re okay.”

  “What happened with Tray?”

  He told her about the attack and about Tray taking Ralun away.

  “So that’s it? He’s gone back to the Thelns?” she asked.

  “Sam intends to go after him. She feels that she owes it to him.”

  “Which means that you are going to go with him.”

  “That’s what it means,” Alec said.

  “What happened with your testing?”

  He smiled. He still couldn’t believe what had happened.

  “You weren’t expelled?”

  He shook his head. “I wasn’t expelled.”

  “Are you going to tell me what happened? Or are you going to keep me wondering?”

  “Well, now you get to study under a skilled physicker.”

  “Who?”

  “Me.”

  “Physicker, and not junior physicker?”

  Alec nodded. “Not junior. Full physicker.”

  “That’s one step below master physicker. Alec—that’s never happened before.”

  “That’s what Master Helen said.”

  Beckah looked around his room. Alec expected her to comment on something about the changing dynamics, or the fact that they wouldn’t have the time to study together anymore, or any number of other things, but what she said instead made him laugh.

  “Gods. Now you will be absolutely impossible.”

  Grab the next volume in the Book of Maladies: Comatose

  Finding the truth in the present means understanding their past.

  Newly promoted to full physicker, Alec still struggles with his place in the University. Friends treat him differently and the master physickers no longer allow him to study with them. After everything that has happened, he’s still an outsider. When his father arrives at the university for healing, Alec must use everything he learned from him in order to save him, but even that might not be enough. He must discover the secret of his illness by finding a way to work with the master physickers, but what he finds is unexpected and hints at a greater plot taking hold.

  Sam wants nothing more than to head toward the Theln lands after her brother, but with Alec needing her help, she postpones the journey. Rather than having the opportunity to help Alec, she finds herself chasing details of the past Marin has hidden, only to realize the deception to the city runs much deeper than she could ever had imagined. Could it be that Marin had actually saved Tray as she claimed?

  Though they have both progressed in knowledge and ability, it still might not be enough to stop a plot against the city that has gestated for years and finally threatens to come to fruition. The truth behind the plot has the potential to destroy the city, if it doesn’t destroy Sam and Alec first.

  Names and Terms

  People:

  Aelus Stross: An apothecary and skilled healer. Alec’s father

  Alec Stross: an apprentice apothecary

  Bastan: a thief who essentially runs Caster

  Hyp: a moneylender in the Arrend section who frequents Aelus’s shop

  Mags: a painter with a unique talent

  Marcella Rubbles: owner of a stationary store in Arrend

  Marin: a thief who knew Sam’s mother

  Samara (Sam) Elseth: a thief

  Trayson (Tray) Elseth: Sam’s brother

  Places and Terms:

  Arrend section: a merchant section

  Balan Day: a day to celebrate the festival god

  canal eels: possibly mythical creatures living in the canals

  Callesh section: a merchant section

  Caster section: a lowborn outer section of the city

  Central Canal: the canal that separates the lowborn sections from the merchants and highborns

  Drash section: a merchant section

  easar paper: magical paper

  Farnum section: a merchant section

  Highborn: a term for the wealthier living in the
center of the city

  Jaku section: a highborn section where easar paper was found.

  Kyza: one of the many gods worshipped in Verdholm

  Lostin section: a merchant section

  Lowborn: a term for people living in the outer sections of the city

  Lycithan: a southern nation. Known for their skilled artisans.

  Narvin Plains: east of the city, thin stretch of land

  Physicker: healers with specialized training at the university

  Piare River: connects to Ralan Bay and the canals

  Ralan Bay: a trading hub along the coast of Verdholm

  Sacred Alms: the healing religion Alec follows

  Sornum: Bastan’s tavern

  Thelns: dangerous brutes

  Valun: a country known for various artifacts, including the stout rope Sam uses

  Verdholm: an isolated city situated near the coast with canals running through it separating it into different sections

  Yisl: one of the many gods worshipped in Verdholm

  Author’s Note

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for reading Poisoned: The Book of Maladies. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would be so kind as to take a moment to leave a review on Amazon or elsewhere, I would be very grateful.

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  All my best,

  D.K. Holmberg

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  Also by D.K. Holmberg

  The Book of Maladies

  Wasting

  Broken

  Poisoned