Poisoned: The Book of Maladies

by D. K. Holmberg

  Alec withdrew the rod slightly and changed the angle, sliding it forward again. He thought he was angling it toward the lower portion of her skull near the back. There was no pressure, and all of a sudden, he felt warmth racing through the rod, and nearly let go of it.

  Master Eckerd grabbed his hand, studying it. “Hold it.”

  A stream of blood began to flow from the end of the krashole. Alec held it in place while the bleeding continued, and it abated slowly.

  “Nice work. Now you’ve done something that very few masters can claim.”

  Alec looked over to Master Helen, and she nodded to him. “How long do we leave this in place?” he asked.

  “There are varying theories. One suggests that we leave it in place until it stops bleeding, and then remove it, allowing the brain matter to settle back into place. Another argues that leaving it in place could provide ongoing drainage of any additional bleeding.”

  “Which one is right?” Alec asked.

  Master Eckerd looked up at him, a hint of a gleam in his eye. “Which do you think it is?”

  “I imagine there is a benefit to leaving it in place only until the bleeding stops. But if the bleeding returns, it could continue to cause pressure, so leaving the krashole in place would be a good alternative, but I would worry about having a wick for infection.”

  “Both are reasonable concerns,” Eckerd said. “You still have not made a choice.”

  Alec stared at the open skull, trying to determine which might be the best option. “Even if we remove this rod, there will still be a tract for drainage, and as long as you don’t replace the bone, or suture too tightly, there will still be a way to relieve pressure. I would favor removing the krashole.”

  “Go ahead then.”

  Alec glanced from Master Helen to Master Eckerd. He hadn’t given him an answer and had simply let Alec talked it through. Which was the right solution?

  Alec had to trust that his analysis was at least close to accurate, or surely, Master Eckerd would not allow him to proceed. He started pulling the rod free, and once it was, he set it on the table next to him.

  “Which was the correct answer?” Alec asked.

  “You’ll know when—if—she survives.”

  22

  A Summons

  The knock at his door drew his attention, and Alec looked up. He had been pacing in the room, his nerves on edge since returning from the surgical suite. The rest of the students had long ago departed, sent back to class, or on to find their evening meal.

  Alec hurried over to the door and pulled it open. Unsurprisingly, Beckah stood on the other side, tapping her foot with her hand held up to knock again.

  “Well?”

  She pushed past him and into his room. She turned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “You didn’t even want to come find me?”

  Alec closed the door and turned to face her. “That’s not it. It’s more that my heart has been racing so fast that I don’t know what to do.”

  “It was that traumatic? I thought that you had some experience watching minor surgery.”

  Alec shook his head. “I’ve stitched plenty of wounds. It wasn’t the observation that was what had my heart racing, it was when Master Eckerd had me insert a flexible rod inside this woman’s head. As I did, all I could think about was penetrating her tissue and leaving her in even worse shape.”

  “You what?”

  “One of the physickers got sick when she watched the removal of the section of bone. Master Eckerd had me take her place, and then started asking questions.”

  “Alec, this doesn’t just happen. First-year students are never allowed into a surgery. And students, in general, are never allowed to actually participate in surgery. What you went in to observe was something that only masters are allowed to assist with. Now you’re telling me that Master Eckerd had you actually perform part of the operation?”

  “I don’t think it was a crucial part. He didn’t let me cut into the bone, or remove the first part of blood.”

  “Still. What you did… that’s amazing. Matthias will be so jealous. Can I be there when you tell him?”

  “You’re terrible.”

  She shrugged. “Why is that terrible? He tried to embarrass you in front of Master Eckerd. I still think it’s great that Master Eckerd invited you into the surgery. Maybe that will teach Matthias to not be such an ass.”

  “You know, you might be the first highborn I’ve ever met who uses such language.”

  “Have you met many highborns like me?”

  Alec chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve met many people like you.”

  “Good. I don’t want you to get too complacent here. I mean, I am the best student in our year, and so far, you’re running a distant second, but more days like today, you might move up.”

  “Is that right? Didn’t you tell me that no first-year students have ever been invited into a surgery?”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. I think Eckerd felt bad for you. It’s probably something that has to do with your father. I imagine he knew him, and maybe he owed him something, some debt, but there’s no way it could have anything to do with your diagnostic acumen.”

  “No way?”

  Beckah shrugged. “Well, maybe there’s some way. But I don’t want you to think too highly of yourself. That’s a sure way to get into trouble.”

  “It doesn’t seem to have gotten you into trouble,” he said.

  “Maybe more than you realize.”

  Before he had a chance to ask her to elaborate, there came a knock at his door.

  Alec looked to Beckah. She was the only person to visit him at the university.

  “Maybe Stefan?” she said.

  “Stefan wouldn’t come here, would he?” Alec said. “Unless…”

  “Unless?”

  Alec shrugged. “Well, I think his Grandma Helen was in the surgery.”

  “You had two masters with you in the surgery? And you still were allowed to perform a part of it?”

  “I had the sense that Grandma Helen wasn’t terribly thrilled with what I was doing,” Alec said.

  “No? I bet Grandma Helen just loved the fact that Master Eckerd invited a first-year student into one of the more interesting surgeries that she would do.”

  Alec made his way to the door and pulled it open, expecting Stefan to be there, maybe having heard that Alec had been in surgery with his grandmother, or maybe he had come for the very same reason that Beckah had come, thinking to hear more about the surgery. He wasn’t surprised that Beckah had come but would be a little bit more surprised by Stefan coming. They got along, but Alec didn’t know him all that well, yet. He had the hope that they would get to know each other, especially as Alec had so few people at the university that he could talk to.

  Instead, a messenger waited for him.

  The university used many messengers, though most of them were meant to run between the masters and the physickers. Occasionally, they were used elsewhere, but he’d never seen them inside the students’ quarters.

  “Can I help you?” Alec asked.

  The messenger frowned. “Are you Alec Stross?”

  “That’s me.”

  The messenger shrugged. “Whatever. I was sent to find you and bring you with me.”

  “Why? Where are you to take me?”

  “I’m not the one to tell it.”

  The messenger departed, and Alec glanced to Beckah before following him. She went along with him, taking his hand as she did, and once again, he didn’t resist.

  What was he getting himself into here? He liked Beckah well enough, but he shouldn’t be involved with anybody at the university. Especially since he and Sam…

  But there really wasn’t anything with Sam. Even if he wanted there to be, he hadn’t seen her in weeks. Now that she was at the palace, studying with another Kaver, it seemed that she was no longer interested in working with him. Then again, they had no easar paper so there couldn’t be any practice. Without
the easar paper, what was the point of them working together?

  The messenger led them to the main entrance of the university. A dangerous-looking man waited there. He had the deeply tanned skin and dark eyes of somebody from the outer sections, but it was the pair of knives that were sheathed at his waist that really gave Alec pause. Something about him was familiar, though he didn’t know what it was.

  The messenger nodded to Alec. “Here’s your man.”

  “I need you to come with me,” the man said.

  “Excuse me, sir, I think you need to be clearer to my friend,” Beckah said.

  “Beckah—” Alec said, raising his hand.

  Beckah shot him a silencing glance.

  “You’re needed,” the man said. “Bastan sends me.”

  “Bastan?” Beckah said. “Who is Bastan? And why would he be sending for Alec?”

  The other man ignored her, and Alec stared at him, realizing then why he recognized him. Alec had seen him in Bastan’s tavern.

  “You’re one of his servers,” Alec said.

  “Among other things. Now. Your friend needs you. Are you willing to come with me?”

  Alec glanced at Beckah and knew that he had to answer some questions, but he nodded. “If Sam needs me, I’m willing to come.”

  “Not Sam. Another. The older one.”

  “What happened?” Alec asked.

  “I’ll let her be the one to tell you. They need your… special abilities.”

  Alec’s heart raced for a moment. If they needed those abilities, that meant they needed him and his Scribing abilities.

  “I’ll come.”

  Beckah grabbed his hand. “Me, too.”

  23

  Protections on the City

  Sam stiffened. Why would he bring someone else with him?

  She lifted her hand off of Elaine’s head and stood, clasping her hands behind her back. “Thank you for coming, Alec.”

  Alec glanced from Sam to Elaine before bringing his gaze back up to meet hers. “What happened? I received this,” he said, holding up the note that Bastan had sent with Kevin. “And it said that I was needed urgently. What happened?”

  Sam wondered how openly she could speak. How much did this other physicker know? And, more importantly, why had Alec felt comfortable revealing their secrets to her?

  “She was attacked,” Sam started. “There was an explosion. Like the one in your shop.”

  Alec’s eyes widened slightly, and he studied Elaine for a moment. At least he seemed to understand what Sam was getting at. She had worried that he might be too caught up in this other physicker, and that he might be so interested in trying to impress her that he wouldn’t help Sam or Elaine.

  “I’ll need—”

  “I know. Bastan claims to have supplies.”

  Alec took a deep breath and nodded. “Good.” He turned to the other physicker. “Beckah, I need you go upstairs and see if you can grab a few towels and keep them moistened.”

  The other physicker—Beckah—looked at Alec with a hint of amusement in her eyes. There was something more there, as well, something that made Sam’s blood boil, though it should not. She had no claim on Alec, nothing more than their connection as Kaver and Scribe would allow.

  “Only towels?” Beckah asked.

  “For now,” Alec said.

  Beckah shrugged and turned back toward the door. Sam soon heard her footsteps on the stairs.

  Alec turned to Sam and sighed. “Why haven’t you come to me?” he asked.

  “Why haven’t I… Alec, I tried.”

  “You tried? It seems to me that with your connections, if you were to try, you would be granted entry.”

  Sam looked down. Did she share with him that she had come, that she had seen Alec, but had turned and left when she saw him with this other physicker? How would that make her seem? Probably as stupid as she felt right now.

  “I went to the university to find you once or twice. The last time, I saw you, but you were…” Sam closed her eyes; she felt ridiculous admitting the reason that she had turned around. Didn’t they have more of a connection than that?

  “I was what? In class?”

  “With her.” Sam looked up and met his gaze. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she breathed out heavily.

  “That’s the reason you haven’t come to the university in the last few weeks? I thought I’d done something to upset you. The last time you disappeared on me, you were intent to try to do things on your own.”

  “I seem to remember you applying for the university at that time,” Sam said.

  “Wasn’t that about the same time you were trailing Marin—and your brother—through the city? I think that’s about the same time you were determined to chase the princess throughout every section of the city.”

  “And for good reason,” Sam said.

  “It only seems a good reason now, but that doesn’t mean it was a good reason then.”

  Sam stared at him. “Who is she?” she asked softly.

  “She’s another student at the university. She’s—”

  Alec didn’t have a chance to finish. Bastan burst into the room, carrying a single sheet of easar paper. The paper was distinct enough that Sam recognized it without even examining it closely. There was something about the parchment that was easily identifiable. She could practically smell it.

  “Here,” Bastan said. “You can use this sheet, but that’s all.”

  Alec took the page from him with a certain greedy excitement. “Where did you get this?” he asked.

  “I’m a collector. I find things like this all over,” Bastan said.

  Sam grunted. “A collector? That’s what you would have us believe?”

  Bastan shrugged. “Believe what you want but be thankful I have even this page for you.”

  “And if it were me lying there? How many pages would you suddenly find then?” Sam asked. She knew she was pressing, and she knew that she was making assumptions, but she thought they were somewhat valid. Bastan would help her, wouldn’t he? He wouldn’t let her die just to protect his supply of easar paper.

  “Be thankful it’s not you lying there. I know that I am.”

  Bastan stepped back to the door and tipped his head toward Alec, nodding slightly.

  Sam now knew that Bastan had witnessed Alec mixing their blood before and had seen the way that he’d worked his augmentation, but it still felt uncomfortable for her to have Bastan standing there, watching.

  “I think she’s been poisoned, as well as having a potential internal injury,” Sam said.

  “Poisoned?”

  She nodded. “It’s like what they used on me. The Theln we faced was like Ralun. Powerful.”

  “All of them were powerful.”

  “This one was incredibly powerful.”

  Alec watched her and then nodded. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Sam held her hand out, and Alec pulled a foldable knife from his pocket and made quick work of nicking the palm of her hand. Each time he did, it hurt about the same. Each time, Sam hoped it wouldn’t hurt, but it always did. He pulled a small glass vial from beneath his cloak, and Sam dripped her blood into it, at least a dozen or more drops.

  Alec took a deep breath and made a shallow slice along his own palm. As he held his hand above the vial, he was more cautious than Sam and seemed to count the drops as they fell into it. She noted that he only put in six drops.

  “Why that ratio?” she asked.

  “The healing has to come partially from me, but it mostly comes from the Kaver,” Alec said. “As much as I would like to be the one to take the brunt of this process, healing seems to be tied more to the Kaver than to the Scribe.”

  Alec brandished a pen and dipped it into the vial, stirring the blood inside. He put the easar paper on the table and smoothed it out. Then Alec made a few notes, almost as if he were testing the easar paper. Taking a deep breath, he began writing.

  Sam stepped back, not wanting to watch what he wrote. There
was a particular nature to the words that was important, but she had found that watching over his shoulder always seemed to make Alec uncomfortable. She needed him to be focused. Elaine needed him to be focused.

  He scratched his pen along the page for longer than what Sam was used to him doing. She glanced over out of the corner of her eye, biting her lip as she frowned, and finally, he stopped.

  “Is it done?” she asked.

  Fatigue began to wash through her, working through her in the familiar cool wave she always felt when her blood was used.

  “It’s as done as it can be,” Alec said. “I hope this works, but I don’t know. It’s like when I attempted to heal the princess.”

  A gasp near the door caught Sam’s attention. She looked over and saw Beckah standing there clutching the moistened towels.

  “You… healed the princess?”

  “You didn’t tell her?” Sam asked. “I thought with your new friend—”

  Alec cut her off with a shake of his head.

  “Now I understand why the masters treat you the way they do,” Beckah said with a chuckle.

  “Not because he knows more than they do?” Sam demanded. Beckah turned toward Sam, her eyes widening.

  “Sam—” Alec began.

  Sam shook him off. “No. You know as much as most of those damn physickers. Don’t let them take that away from you. Your father has been preparing you for more than only the university for a long time.”

  “Sam—” Alec said again, this time a little more firmly.

  She shot him a hard look, wanting to glare at him, but it faded as she saw the expression on his face. He nodded toward Elaine, forcing her attention toward her mother.

  She thought Elaine blinked once, and then she opened her eyes and managed to look around the room.

  “Where is this?” Elaine asked.

  “I’ve already told you. We’re in Caster. I brought you to a place that could let me get you some help.”

  Elaine’s features darkened for a moment. “Caster?”

  “It’s not as bad as most of you highborns seem to think,” Sam said. “It’s been good enough for me for the last ten years of my life.”