Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Is it my turn now?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Your turn? But you can see,’ she fell silent as his hands went to her shoulders as she’d done then climbed, circling her neck before moving over her face. His touch was gentle and definitely caressing. In this way he silently proclaimed his interest in her physically. She knew he’d admitted in her hearing he wasn’t immune to her charms, whatever exactly he’d meant, but she hadn’t taken him seriously. Maybe she ought to start; he was a man after all and they were quite alone. One hand went to cup the back of her head while the other caressed her throat and lifted her chin. Before she knew what he was about he’d laid the lightest of kisses on her lips.

  ‘Zach?’ she murmured.

  ‘Sorry, I couldn’t resist it. You’re beautiful,’ he admitted, glad on the one hand she’d brought him out of his absorption of her lips and soft skin before he got carried away. On the other, he wanted her to know he was truly attracted to her. He wanted to get her past her belief that an immortal should be on a pedestal.

  ‘We should go, the horses are getting restless,’ he commented lightly, aware of a slightly awkward silence. She nodded, so he boosted her back into the saddle, passing her the reins. They rode in silence for quite some time, each lost in their own thoughts.

  3

  ‘So, tell me how you know so much about those Scritchers when no-one else seemed to,’ Zacharias asked.

  ‘It was at the general academy for magic I attended growing up. I heard a number of stories involving magical creatures and what can happen when animals are magically altered. Scritchers were one of the horror stories told. I’m glad I listened. As you perhaps gathered, the students at the healer hall don’t have magic, but they do want to go into nursing, doctoring or potion making. My education has been rather patchy. I could of course listen to lectures, but I couldn’t watch any of the demonstrations. I also couldn’t write homework or read up on any subject everyone else was tested on. I certainly couldn’t read or write the exams necessary to acquire a formal qualification either. Obviously, in the real world the most important diagnostic tool is visually assessing a patient’s symptoms. Some things I can discern, but others I cannot. If I could see, I could make an initial judgement with more certainty. I could also go to a library and look up the symptoms and treatment of any unfamiliar illness and learn all manner of things. So, I am reliant on someone else describing what they see, whilst hoping that they haven’t missed anything important. I should have ranked the other staff at the healer hall because I completed a full year of medical training and have magical ability, but instead I was impossible to rank and awkward to place. They kept me on because I can do some things better than anyone else, yet the most simple I cannot.’

  ‘That sounds awful,’ he agreed. ‘Perhaps Santoi’s main medical faculty can aid you. Maybe there are spells they could teach you that could read a book to you?’

  ‘That’s an interesting thought,’ she said brightening considerably.

  ‘Will you consider my blood? It might not work, but surely it’s worth trying. I’d have thought it highly unlikely to do you any harm.’

  ‘I’m not keen on the idea, but if you’re seriously willing to part with a little the least I can do is accept,’ she told him slowly and nervously. He brought her hand to his mouth for a long moment before his horse pulled them apart.

  That evening, as she sat on her bed in another Inn’s guest room, he sat down beside her.

  ‘Are you ready to begin our experiment?’

  She gulped nervously; clearly he wasn’t going to give her time to change her mind. In fact she’d been avoiding thinking about it at all. ‘How are you planning to do it?’

  ‘I thought starting small might be best; then we can test whether it might not agree with you,’ he said.

  ‘Good thinking. So how?’

  ‘I’ll cut my finger and you put it in your mouth till it stops bleeding.’

  ‘Make sure you don’t damage anywhere you need to hold things with, or risk your tendons,’ she warned. She heard his sharp intake of breath and knew he’d begun. He touched her lips and she opened her mouth to a finger. She was shocked at how much blood was filling her mouth. She tried to object, sure he’d hurt himself seriously, but he stopped her pulling away. Knowing something in saliva did ease a cut’s sting she gently laved it with her tongue. His blood was rich and sweet on her tongue and not as unpleasant as she’d been expecting. Soon the flow slowed and ceased and she took the finger from her mouth.

  ‘That was a lot of blood. You didn’t hurt yourself too badly did you?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘Not really. I heal quickly,’ he said airily whilst checking the deep gash he’d made with the kitchen knife. ‘Was that enough to test, do you think?’

  ‘More than enough, probably. At least that way no drop was wasted. Let’s go and eat, you need to regain your strength.’

  ‘Regain my strength? I’m fine.’

  ‘Recovering from blood loss and the shock of even a small injury is quickest done by eating.’ She stood up and rested her hand on his shoulder where he still sat. She leaned down planning to kiss the top of his head but he tilted his head back and she found his brow instead. Abruptly his hands slid around her, keeping her bent and in fact pulling her down a little more. His lips pressed against hers in a quick stolen kiss.

  He rose to his feet aware he’d shocked her. ‘Can we try that again?’ he asked. ‘I’d prefer a less awkward posture for my thank you.’

  ‘Your thank you? I don’t yet know if your blood is going to make me sick. It might not have any healing effect on me you know.’

  ‘Nevertheless, you agreed it was worth a try,’ he said a little stiffly.

  ‘It is. I’m sorry I snapped at you. You did take me by surprise,’ she added. He still stood before her silently waiting. ‘Thank you Zacharias,’ she said looping her arms around his neck and looking up into his face. He didn’t appear to need any more of an invitation than her upturned face she thought with amusement. Damn the man could kiss!

  She quickly took his hand and turned them firmly towards the door before he got any other ideas. She was all too aware of the trouble letting a man kiss her, letting him believe such intimacy was agreeable, could lead to. She’d certainly had boyfriends when she’d been amongst other wizards, but none since she moved to the healer hall six months ago. The few men there were training to be doctors and were rather puffed up with their own importance. None had any magic so viewed her with wary reticence. They only sought her out hoping she would allow them to experiment on her. They didn’t see her as a person, only as an awkward case, certainly when she refused to be poked and prodded. They thought she should be grateful they wanted to test their pet theories on her in an attempt to treat her blindness. That kind of attention she could certainly do without! As for Zacharias, she was yet to figure out what he truly wanted from her. Taking her as a casual lover because he was lonely was doubtless all he had in mind. That might work for him but the thought of being abandoned a few weeks hence bearing an immortal baby held little appeal when she had no home, no friends or way of making a livelihood. Whilst she knew of herbs, that when combined correctly could prevent pregnancy, she didn’t have any with her and even should she find any, they needed to be dried and stored to age into potency. She’d gone to the store room to make up a travel pack of all the herbs she might need, but that was where the Scritcher had been hiding and it had then slipped her mind. Buying a potion from some stranger was an alternative, but would she trust her future to a brew of unknown quality that someone else had made? Abstinence was still safest despite her attraction.

  She struggled to eat all her dinner, feeling progressively rather peculiar. ‘Do you mind if I turn in early?’ she said as soon as she’d finished.

  ‘Are you ok?’ he asked. ‘You’ve gone very pale.’

  ‘I feel strange,’ she admitted. ‘I think I need to go to bed.’ Zacharias went to her side immediately and guided her u
p to their room.

  ‘I shouldn’t have made you take so much,’ Zacharias said. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he added feeling wretched. He watched as she removed her shoes and outer clothes but with no further ado slipped beneath the covers. He watched over her as she fitfully slept, nervous that something might happen and she slip away unnoticed in her sleep. Was she in pain? Hours passed before she stopped moving so fretfully in her sleep. Something was happening because of his blood, but he had no clue whether it was helping or poisoning her. He went to bed; slept for a bit before his concern woke him again and he had to check on her. Finally assured she now slept more peacefully he went back to sleep but woke every time she turned over.

  ‘Megan. Wake up dearest,’ he called to her and even had to lightly shake her shoulder.

  ‘Is it morning already?’ Megan responded dully, struggling to sit up.

  ‘Yes, well it’s later than normal, but I thought you could use a lay-in. How are you feeling?’ he added anxiously since that was why he’d had to wake her, he had to know how she was.

  ‘Like my head has been stuffed with wool and I’ve just climbed a mountain. Otherwise I’m fine.’

  Zach snorted at that. ‘Let’s get up properly and go and eat before it’s all gone. Do you feel up to that?’

  ‘I suppose so,’ she responded doubtfully. ‘I can’t lie here all day. They expect us to vacate the room soon don’t they?’

  ‘Meg, if you need to stay in bed, then say so. I doubt it’s a problem to book us in for another night.’

  ‘No, we need to keep moving,’ she said and dressed. She was aware he hovered and that he was worried. She was scared that he might think her too sick to carry on, or decide she was becoming too much of a burden and leave her. So she got up, ate what was put before her and mounted her horse. She didn’t even notice that he attached a lead rein to her horse. All she knew was that Zacharias rode by her side all day and was amazingly attentive. He didn’t press her to a faster pace than a walk, nor did he require her to speak much. She was glad; it was taking all her concentration and determination just to remain aboard her horse.

  It took a second early night before Megan felt more alert and a third before she felt herself again.

  ‘Where are we headed today?’ Megan asked.

  ‘We’ll reach Carterton tonight if we hurry, unless you’ve any other preferences?’

  ‘You haven’t seen any evidence of Scritchers have you?’

  ‘No, nothing at all. What are you thinking?’

  ‘What kind of place is Carterton? Is it somewhere we could stay a couple of days?’

  ‘It’s a big village or small trading town nowadays. I doubt there’s much of interest there beyond a place to get supplies and lay our heads on the way through. Why? What are you considering?’

  ‘Stopping somewhere long enough to get our laundry done for starters. We can take our time now. It’s not as though anyone is expecting us.’

  ‘That’s true enough. Maybe Longbottom would be a nicer place to stop at. I used to know someone near there, but it’s a little out of our path and I’ve no idea if he’s still in the area. But as you say, we can please ourselves when and where we go.’

  ‘Longbottom it is then,’ she smiled at him.

  He felt a great deal better for that smile. He’d been worried that after making her ill she’d be keen to ditch him at the earliest opportunity. She’d been keeping him at arm’s length throughout their journey so far, much to his disappointment, but he couldn’t say he was surprised. He knew she was still leery of his immortality and would wonder if he planned to drop her at some point simply because she thought she would become a tedious burden. She didn’t yet understand how he truly felt and it really wasn’t because he’d been told he would fall in love with a wizard. He had doubted that after already living so long alone and with many failed relationships, he’d ever experience the love at first sight phenomenon. Like many young men he’d favoured leggy blondes. He was completely unprepared to feel a jolt at sight of this chocolate haired little waif with the pixie face and big doe eyes. Learning she was a wizard he’d initially assumed she must have concocted an attraction spell of some sort. Discovering she was blind and knowing they’d never spoken or been remotely in enough proximity for her to have even noticed him, cut the wind from his sails. There were no other wizards at the healer hall who could have cast such a spell either. Ruefully admitting to himself that his immediate attraction was not imposed, he’d found excuses to visit and secretly watch her from afar. He’d been intrigued to notice she moved about in the gardens confidently, tending vegetable or herb beds, or picking things she stacked neatly in her basket. But when he broke his arm and observed her inside, she was quite different. There, she walked slowly, with a hand brushing along the wall. He’d never forget the way she looked at him, or seemed to, for the first time. Brought by one of the other nurses to the treatment room, she’d almost rocked on her feet when she looked towards him. She’d approached him up on the high treatment bed with a small frown that quickly turned into wide eyed surprise. Hearing of his broken arm she’d suddenly taken charge, her hands going not only to the correct arm, but also homing in on the injury itself, with astonishing accuracy. She’d overridden the other nurse wanting to wait for the right painkiller to be brewed and appropriate splints to be assembled.

  ‘No, we cannot delay setting this break. I don’t know how long ago he broke it, but I can feel it’s already trying to mend out of alignment. I can block most of your pain sir, or would you prefer I wait for the medicine to be ready?’

  ‘I’d rather it didn’t heal all wrong. I’m in your hands my lady,’ Zacharias said quietly.

  ‘I must tell you sir, that I’m blind. If you’d rather someone else took care of this for you, please say now.’

  ‘My name is Zacharias. What is your name, dear lady?’

  ‘I’m Megan,’ she’d told him seeming amused by his formality. She’d glanced sideways and named the other woman in the room, acting as her assistant.

  ‘Please proceed wizard Megan, before too much more time elapses.’

  ‘Yes, so much time normally and so little for things like this,’ she’d remarked. But before he could question her odd comment, her hands descended either side of the break. A strange numbness seemed to flow from her and the pain eased markedly. Abruptly her hands moved pulling sharply and a moment later the break was set in its proper position. He’d hardly had time to do more than yelp before she’d soothed the pain away. But she wasn’t done. He’d watched her frowning in concentration, completely focussed on his arm and then had felt something moving under his skin which was very unsettling to say the least. Clear liquid began to seep from the deep gash around the break. Flecks of something dark slowly emerged too. ‘Ewww, what’s happening?’ he’d breathlessly asked.

  ‘You didn’t need these splinters left inside to cause infection. There,’ she’d finally exclaimed. ‘Now it’s set and clean enough for the splint and to be bandaged. How do you feel, sir?’

  ‘Zacharias,’ he’d reminded.

  ‘Are you up to us bandaging it now Zacharias, or would you prefer to sit for a minute?’

  ‘Are you still blocking my pain lady wizard Megan?’ She nodded, amused by his title. ‘Then please, let us get my arm sorted so you can release me. It must be very tiring.’

  ‘Shall I do this bit Meg?’

  ‘Ah, thank you Ginny, you do make a neat bandage,’ Megan conceded aware her assistant hadn’t had a chance to do anything so far. Instead she moved off to check the willow bark painkilling potion brewing to one side, yes it was finally ready. She poured a small cupful and held it out to him. His warm hand covered hers for a moment and he took the cup.

  ‘Is that acceptable to you, sir?’ Ginny had asked while he swallowed the bitter brew. ‘Or would you prefer Megan to look after this for you too?’

  ‘I don’t mind,’ Zacharias had conceded whilst inwardly cursing that this Ginny seemed to have noticed his i
nterest in Megan. Megan for her part had glanced at Ginny with a small frown and he was suddenly glad she couldn’t see his flush of embarrassment.

  ‘Ginny, when you’re done, could you get a pot of salve from my workroom? Top shelf to the right of the door, first one you come to.’

  ‘No problem. Although your patient probably has some of that at home if you were planning on giving it to him. He’s your best customer. I believe he’s tried everything you do.’

  ‘Megan makes all the remedies?’ Zacharias had asked in surprise. He’d tried some, found them remarkably effective and yes, he’d come back for more.

  ‘I don’t make everything by any means,’ Megan objected wondering who this man was and how serious Ginny was being.

  ‘With the exception of some bandages, he’s only bought things made by you Megan.’

  ‘That merely means he likes to be prepared and has a discerning eye for what is effective,’ Megan said calmly disliking Ginny’s accusatory tone especially in front of a patient. ‘The salve, Ginny, please. I apologise for her. I hope she didn’t make you uncomfortable?’ Megan asked once Ginny had left the room.