Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘I was more concerned you would be forming an odd opinion of me,’ Zacharias admitted.

  ‘What does an immortal need with tonics, medical salves and ointments?’

  Zacharias was shocked by her calm assurance. ‘You know what I am? How?’

  ‘I can feel how different you are, how strong your life force is. I am right in thinking that you heal far quicker than regular people?’

  ‘Yes. You were right to set my bones quickly. I was worried about that.’

  ‘You could have said something, or don’t you want anyone to know?’

  ‘I’d rather people thought I was a regular guy and you seemed to be acting with the speed I needed. You’ve no idea how annoying it is to have people demand unreasonable things of me, expecting me to be prepared to take risks they would not. I won’t live forever, it just seems that way. The reason I buy medicine is because I can die like anyone else of something poisonous or a bad injury. My ability is really only being able to heal very fast, but I can’t if the problem is still in me. It’s why treatment of any injury is necessary immediately.’

  You’re not impervious to injury and don’t live forever, just far longer than ordinary people?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Huh. I suppose your inherent healing ability would slow down the ageing process,’ Megan mused. ‘That is what makes you appear immortal?’

  ‘I’ve never heard it put like that but you’re probably right. So, do I need any more treatment?’

  ‘You do really. In addition to the break and gash, your arm is badly bruised and trying to swell. I can keep the swelling down if you’re here and apply my salve to ward off any infection.’

  ‘You want me to stay? For how long? Surely people will notice me healing if I stay?’

  ‘They will notice if you leave too soon, too. Did Ginny give you a sling?’

  ‘No. Well, that might be one on the table here ready. Do I need that in bed?’

  ‘Keeping your wrist pointing up will help keep the swelling down. Can you hold your arm up across your chest and sit up? Good, lean forward and I’ll sort these pillows for you. There, lean back. Is your arm comfortable in that position?’ she asked seeing by touch where he held it. It was awkward to rig a sling without being able to see but she could do it with the aid of a quick spell that tailored the soft cotton to mould to and support his arm. She ensured the tie at the neck wasn’t going to pinch and that his elbow was cushioned before stepping clear of him. ‘There, lie back. How is that?’

  ‘Strange, but you’re right that it’s already starting to ease a little.’ He glanced at Ginny wondering how long she’d been there in the room. Megan’s ministrations had been painful despite the potion she’d given him and he hadn’t noticed they were no longer alone.

  ‘Thank you Ginny,’ Megan said, turning to her assistant and holding out her hand. Ginny placed the pot in her hand and watched Megan open it to sniff the contents. She nodded in approval, replaced the lid and set it beside his bed.

  ‘What’s that stuff for?’ Zacharias asked, noticing nothing happening with it just now.

  ‘I’ll need to check your wound later and that salve will lessen your pain once the willow-bark has worn off. It will also aid healing,’ she told him and a small smile hovered over her lips. ‘Rest now. Sleep if you can; it’ll help.’

  ‘You will come back?’ he asked aware she’d risen to her feet to go. He ignored Ginny’s knowingly bright smile.

  ‘Of course,’ Megan assured him before slipping from the room.

  He’d been very surprised to hear a soft voice calling his name, proving that he’d actually fallen asleep.

  ‘Relax, you’re safe,’ Megan had told him.

  ‘How do you know how I’m feeling?’ he asked and watched her lean over and place her hand unerringly over his heart.

  ‘Your aura pulses only slightly when you’re asleep but flashed bright red just now as you woke. It steadied as you realised where you were. It seems to mirror your heart beat. Do I make you nervous?’

  ‘I didn’t think so,’ he replied, cursing that now his arm didn’t hurt so acutely he was very aware of her close proximity. He was reminded that she was an attractive woman with a slender but shapely figure that he’d been wistfully watching from afar. He was conscious of her hands resting lightly on his chest and the fall of her hair brushed his cheek. He breathed deeply, taking her subtle floral scent into his lungs. He noticed her small white teeth biting her lip and wondered what she was thinking. Surely she couldn’t discern the effect she was having on him?

  ‘Is there something else wrong with me?’ he couldn’t help asking, unsure why she was monitoring his heart rate. She backed off him immediately and he wondered why he’d opened his mouth.

  ‘Forgive me,’ she said quietly. ‘I’ve never met an immortal before. I was wondering what other differences you have.’

  ‘Immortals in general, or me in particular? And compared to whom?’ She shrugged seeming a little embarrassed. ‘I suppose we are comparable to others with magic. The end result of magic in people has evolved very strangely hasn’t it? Immortals are called that but it’s not actually true. We do live a long time, but can only heal ourselves. Animus can only change form, but wizards have access to their magic. Broadly speaking you can use it as you wish, which is far more useful.’

  ‘Useful? Yes I suppose so. We can’t all do the same things though.’

  ‘No, wizards vary greatly in ability and what you can then do with the magic. For instance I have no idea what kind of wizard you are.’

  ‘Join the club; no-one has been able to categorize me so far. My blindness has, I think, triggered some unusual perceptions, but they don’t enable me to see in the recognised conventional manner. It’s annoying, but not really very important to anyone bar me. I’m blind, therefore useless.’

  ‘I don’t want to hear you even thinking that way of yourself,’ Zacharias said sharply and wrapped his one good arm around her, guiding her to perch properly on the edge of his bed. ‘There is a great deal more to you than initially meets the eye true enough. But those who cannot recognise that are not worth your time.’

  ‘You are just being kind.’

  ‘No, I mean what I say,’ he told her earnestly. She blinked a few times, lost in thought. Then her head went up, turning towards the doorway.

  ‘Someone’s coming,’ she warned him. ‘You can count on me to keep your secret Zacharias,’ she whispered seriously.

  She’d then become quiet and businesslike, competently slipping his arm out of the sling, removing the bandage and treating his wound with the cooling salve. He watched her, guessing she knew exactly who had come in and that Madam Turner was observing Megan’s treatment with critical attention. That annoyed him.

  ‘Is everything to your satisfaction, Zacharias sir?’ the lady asked noticing his hawk-like regard.

  ‘Yes, thank you. Wizard Megan is clearly a very skilled healer,’ Zacharias said warmly.

  ‘I’ll arrange for one of the nurses to come in and dress your arm for you again later.’

  ‘Why? Megan is my healer. Or does she have more important things to be attending to?’

  ‘Hardly.’

  ‘Good,’ Zacharias interrupted. ‘I’d prefer to be in one person’s care rather than be passed off to a junior.’

  ‘But Megan is blind.’

  ‘That may be so, but she is also a gifted wizard and has already proved to me just how capable she is. Unless she has any objections?’ he added, suddenly tentative.

  ‘Not at all. I’ll make sure you have the best care possible,’ Megan assured him.

  Zacharias couldn’t help his grin of relief.

  ‘Ah, so you, like so many of our male patients, prefer Megan’s care to our sighted nurses.’

  ‘Of course; Megan truly cares, and she has the most beautiful brown eyes,’ Zacharias admitted. ‘They quite divert a man from his pain,’ he added with a cheeky grin and even Megan laughed. He was flirting
outrageously enough for them not to take it seriously.

  ‘You like my defective eyes?’ Megan asked once Madam Turner had left the room. ‘That makes one of us,’ she added sourly.

  ‘They may not work the same way as mine, but you do see something or you wouldn’t be able to treat your patients. They are not useless and are indeed very pretty.’

  She leaned in to move his re-bandaged arm back into the sling. ‘What are you doing? Are you sniffing me?’ she asked in dismay.

  ‘Sorry, your hair was across my face and it smells really nice. Do you make your own shampoo, too?’

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘I don’t make it to sell. I just like to experiment and also know just what I’m putting on my skin. You like it?’

  Zacharias heard her tentative tone and scowled that ability like hers wasn’t being recognised and praised. ‘Yes, I like it very much. You have considerable talent.’ He leaned back into his pillows.

  ‘Would you like me to leave you to have another nap?’

  ‘You don’t need eyes; you can sense a great deal can’t you? But in answer, no, I was just getting more comfortable. I’m not too tired yet and that salve has eased the ache quite well.’

  ‘Tell me how you were injured. Someone said you’d been hit by a falling tree?’

  ‘Yes. I was cutting the top out of a tree, you know, thinning it ready to fell. But one of the main branches snapped, pinged back and swept me out of the tree. I must admit I was near the top at the time. I’d have been fine if I hadn’t taken the full force of the blow in one small part of my arm. The fall out of the tree winded me but didn’t do more than bruise me further. I knew straight off I couldn’t set my own arm. Luckily I had my horse with me and could get here to the healer hall quickly. Although, if I’d had to wait much longer the break would have begun to knit, and would have done so out of alignment. Why would no-one set it for me? Three people looked at me before you arrived. They all seemed relieved to see you and left.’

  ‘It was a bad break and not straightforward, but I’m surprised they would leave you to me. Unless of course you scared them off?’

  ‘I’m no hard eyed warrior to be scaring anyone,’ Zacharias snorted. ‘Whatever the reason, I know I ended up in the best possible hands.’

  ‘You’re all but asleep,’ Megan said quietly. ‘I’ll pop back in a while.’

  ‘Thank you Megan,’ Zacharias said and let his eyes close. He knew she kept her promise, checking on him at regular intervals throughout the evening. He woke to her touch twice during the night too. He couldn’t remember ever enjoying feeling so dependent on someone, but he liked knowing she was watching over him and caring for him. No-one had given a damn about him for more years than he cared to number.

  Late next morning Megan declared him fit to return home if he promised to be careful and rest. It was of course the safest way to hide the evidence of how quickly his arm was healing.

  He’d impatiently waited enough weeks for a mortal’s broken bones to have mended before returning to the healer hall and sight of Megan. It had felt a little presumptuous to ask specifically for Megan on his arrival, that he wanted her to check over his arm and officially deem it fully healed. It was the only excuse he could think of though, to see her. Madam Turner had tried to hide a small smile and he knew his interest had not gone unnoticed, but she summoned Megan without comment.

  ‘Zacharias,’ Megan had greeted even though no-one had told her who was asking for her. ‘You’ve not injured yourself again have you?’

  ‘No. I was passing and thought I’d get the arm checked over, make sure all is as it should be.’

  ‘Ah, good thinking. Give me your arm?’ she added feeling him approach and holding out her hand. He placed his hand in hers and she grasped it lightly with both hands moving quickly up to his forearm. ‘It’s healed really well,’ she told him wondering what his real reason for coming was, but with Madam Turner still in the room she couldn’t ask. Standing facing him she was suddenly aware of him as a man. His aura was pulsing with masculine strength and the almost overpowering vitality that marked an immortal. He made her feel small, fragile and very feminine. When he’d been here before he’d been wounded and weak. He had also been lying horizontal where she was the taller and stronger; now their positions felt reversed.

  ‘Can I take you out?’ Zacharias asked quietly as soon as the other woman left the room, obviously waiting for Megan’s proclamation.

  ‘Take me out?’

  ‘Yes, to celebrate a successful healing,’ he explained in as light a tone as he could muster.

  ‘You don’t need to do that.’

  ‘I’d like to.’

  ‘Ah. Ok then. What do you have in mind? I’m not meant to be out of the hall after dark.’

  ‘Could I take you out somewhere in the day then?’ he asked.

  ‘Certainly, although I need to gather more herbs tomorrow,’ she told him assuming he’d choose another freer day.

  ‘Do you usually go alone?’

  ‘Yes,’ she admitted without going into the fact no-one was interested in accompanying her on such a boring outing. ‘I don’t have anything planned so far later in the week.’

  ‘No, I will escort you tomorrow, if that is agreeable to you?’

  ‘I look forward to it,’ she told him honestly.

  He’d arrived promptly the following morning and whilst the other women might have eyed him knowingly, Megan did not appear nervous or distrustful and that was all he cared about. Expecting a rather dull day, brightened only by being able to watch her more closely, he’d been surprised to find it had been anything other than boring. He’d spent the morning walking through forest and meadows helping her search out the herbs she wanted. She knew where they usually grew but sometimes needed aid to safely reach the area or to tell her a new patch was visible nearby. Sitting in the grass, he’d watched her select only certain parts of the plant, making sure she left as much undamaged to continue to grow as possible. He’d asked what each was used for and she gladly shared her knowledge, explaining what each plant was good for and how different preparations suited various treatments. He found the experience oddly fulfilling. It had been a long time since he’d had an intelligent conversation with someone. Usually he only chatted with shop keepers when he went for supplies every few days. Those contacts tended to be passively listening to village gossip which had no real substance and bored him quickly since he rarely knew the people involved and wasn’t really interested. Megan didn’t talk for the sake of making a noise. He had the impression she didn’t have anyone to talk to very often either. She looked towards him often, perhaps waiting for signs of boredom, but simply being with her and watching her in her element, filled him with contentment.

  ‘I suppose I’ve got everything likely to be ready to harvest in this area,’ she announced. ‘I brought some things for lunch,’ she added pulling out the small hamper that had been weighing down her backpack and felt him sit back down.

  ‘Excellent. I am hungry,’ Zacharias admitted. ‘That’s one hell of a picnic,’ he couldn’t help commenting unbuckling the straps on the little hamper and looking inside. ‘You are prepared.’ He spread out the small rug also inside and began to share out the goodies.

  ‘What have they packed? I asked for enough for two but don’t know what they put in,’ she admitted.

  ‘Bread, hardboiled eggs, slices of ham, a chicken leg each, a big porkpie, cheese and pickles. There are even little fruit pies and apples. Wow it’s a feast. Mm, wonder what’s in this flask,’ he mused popping it open and sniffing. ‘Cider,’ he told her and poured into the two metal beakers provided. He took a sip before handing hers over and drinking with appreciation.

  Megan watched him or rather the feel of his aura. Unless she was completely misreading him he was relaxed and happy. She remembered going in to the kitchen last night to ask for this. There had been a pregnant silence when she’d finished asking the cook. The cook had then asked who she was
taking picnicking. She hadn’t known Ginny had followed her in until she suddenly spoke up from behind her announcing to everyone that Zacharias had asked Megan out. She seemed to think everyone would know who he was, which was a little surprising since Zacharias seemed to her a quiet man. Was he particularly attractive, or too elusive? Ginny’s suggestive tone had seemed rather envious.

  ‘So, you’ve got an admirer,’ the cook had chortled and nudged her. ‘The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, never forget that dear.’

  ‘This isn’t to be a romantic date,’ Megan had tried to say but now she wondered what his intention actually was. So far he hadn’t made any sexual innuendos or tried to take advantage of her in any way. He held her hand possibly more than she really needed for guidance, but she rather liked the feel of it. He’d been helpful and unbelievably considerate.

  ‘When are you planning on going out again?’ Zacharias asked as they arrived back at the healer hall.

  ‘There are some things that are ready to harvest now over on the east hill. I was thinking of going that way tomorrow,’ she told him. ‘After that I’ll have a good stash of herbs to process.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you tomorrow morning? I’ve some things I need to do but I’ll try and shuffle them round. Unfortunately I can’t promise I’ll be able to make it.’

  ‘Please don’t feel obliged. Today must have been boring for you. It would be nice to have the company, but only if it’s truly not going to inconvenience you.’

  ‘I really enjoyed today actually. I haven’t taken the time to relax and enjoy nature in a long time. But if I’m not here by the same time tomorrow don’t wait for me,’ he told her and she’d nodded.

  Sitting at home later, he’d been struck by just how quiet and lonely his house was. When he’d chosen the spot decades earlier, its tucked away position at the edge of the forest had felt safely isolated from the needs, laws and whims of mortals. Now it just felt an unbearably lonely place to be. He’d lain awake much of the night mulling over whether he should go and see her tomorrow. What signals was he sending her and indeed her guardians, by expecting it to be acceptable to take her out alone and un-chaperoned for hours. It didn’t matter that she was beyond her teenage years; she was still under her hall’s rules for behaviour.