“Oh, hush. Let the air get to it whilst I make a new dressing up for it.” Looking within the satchel she frowned as she saw packets of herbs that her father had packed for her. Opening them she gazed into the packets, identifying them by sight and by smell until she was sure of what she had. Then she pulled out her bowl and started to mix them.
I’ve never seen these lines of blackness before. Some sort of poison maybe? I will need something stronger than yesterday I am sure of it. I need to talk to the camp. Surely they have seen this before and can give me a hint of what to do. I wish father was here, he would know what I should do. Sighing softly she pulled some fresh bandages out of her bag and placed the herbal mush upon it once more.
As she wrapped Sasha’s arm once more she watched as the young woman’s eyes dropped closed. “It’s ok,” she whispered, talking gently to her patient. “Go to sleep. Sleep is good for healing.”
“Will you be here when I wake up?” Sasha’s voice was soft, murmuring as the wound and the illness contained within sapped her strength.
“Yes, if you want.” Alice finished wrapping her arm and placing it gently down she reached over and brushed a lock of hair from the young woman’s forehead. The hair was fine, finer than silk and as she touched the silver she remembered the feel of the young wolf in her arms. They can’t be the same, they feel nothing alike. Am I going mad?
“Good,” she heard the whisper, barely audible. “I missed you.” Blinking in shock Alice waited for more, but Sasha was asleep.
Sighing Alice took hold of the stained herb encrusted bandages from yesterday and dumped them in the hot water. “I’m not mad,” she shook her head. “But I must be for you cannot be what I think you are.” Closing her eyes she whispered, “Gods what have I got into.”
Chapter 11
“So, how is my daughter doing?” Alice felt a hand on her shoulder as Pyter’s voice quietly asked the question. “Tell me it straight healer, how bad is it?”
Sasha had been asleep for an hour and Alice had found herself staring at the Walker woman’s face. It wasn’t the fact that her skin was a delicate tanned shade or that her cheekbones were slightly higher than most woman Alice knew. Nor was it the fact that her lips glistened slightly, as if in an invitation that drew her attention.
No, it was the way her face moved whilst she was asleep. It was the way her forehead creased as if some thought bothered her in her dreams. It was the way her lips twitched, first into a smile and then a small frown. It was the way her nose wrinkled. It was a thousand other things.
And it was the question that she needed answered. Are you the wolf that visited me, or are you just a coincidence?
So many questions needed answers and all of the answers were here. She was sure of it but she was also unsure if she had the strength to find them. Her father trusted them enough to send her there, trusted them enough to keep her safe. Why? She wondered, what did he find out that gives him that certainty? How could they keep me safe if the village decided to raid them? They have no weapons, no sign they are a martial people.
Looking up at the Walker patriarch she nodded. Here is my chance to get some answers, she thought and said softly as to not wake her charge, “We should talk but first I will have to wash these bandages and clean them for tomorrow,” Standing she faced him and he shook his head.
“No need,” She watched as he turned his head and shouted, “Elize, wash these and dry them for tomorrow if you would.” One of the older women stood and as she walked towards them Alice could not help but measure her, looking for any issues related to her age. Yet she saw nothing. Elize must have been at least forty but she moved like a cat, sinuous muscles and a desperate, dangerous grace that people half her age did not have.
“Come to my fire. You have questions; I can see them in your heart. I will answer them if I can though you might not like the answers.” He turned and she frowned as she followed him. See them in my heart? Is this the sight that father told me about? Is it some kind of intuition maybe? Or is it long hours of interaction with people. I can read symptoms, can they then read people?
Walking to Pyter’s fire she felt eyes on her and saw the Walkers in the camp studying her with a frankness that made her blush. Expectations she could not understand seemed to pile upon her and when she sat down at the fire and was given a mug of the herbal mixture they called tea she took it gratefully. Sipping it she felt a presence behind her, saw Markus come to sit down next to her and then he whispered, “Peace, what is discussed here will affect all of us.”
“So before questions tell me then healer, how is my daughter?” Pyter asked again and she put the cup on the ground. Composing her face into as neutral a pose as she could she looked up at the patriarch.
“The wound is infected with something I have never seen before. I believe she may be poisoned.”
“That is impossible,” Markus spoke softly but his words were full of certainty. “We do not fall under the spell of poison or disease. It must be something else,”
“No matter how healthy you are everyone is subject to nature, Walker or no.” Alice retorted and then looked back at Pyter. “She is not responding to the herbs I used yesterday so I am trying a different combination. The wound is clean and if we find the right herbs she will be alright, but I do not know if we have time for that for I do not know how this poison will progress.” Then she looked at Pyter straight, catching his attention with a somber expression. “Is she strong?”
She heard a snort from behind her as Markus muttered, “She is the strongest most wilful of all of us,” and saw Pyter nod.
“Yes, she is willful, deciding she knows better than everyone. She gets that from her mother. And yes she is stubborn and that she gets from me. But she is also strong and her heart is true. If this can be beaten she will beat it.” He looked tired and for a moment Alice caught the hint of worry in his eyes. “My Sasha does not give in easily.”
Alice nodded. “I have never seen poison like this from an animal in this forest. It would perhaps help me to see the creature that attacked her. Was it a snake or something similar?” Silence greeted her and she sighed. “You said I have questions and you were right, but what is the point of asking them if no one will supply answers?”
“We do not know what attacked her. All she said was it was a worm-like creature that looked wrong. That is all we know. When we returned to the place of the attack it did not appear to us.” Markus shrugged, “If we knew, we would tell you. Do not assume silence for a refusal to speak.”
Alice nodded. “Ok, sorry. Let me ask you another question then. Is she the wolf that visited me when I was a child? Is she is the one that saved me from the badger and the one that kept me company when I ran from my sick mother? Am I mad for thinking this or is she gifted with some rare ability?”
“That is for Sasha to tell you.” Pyter saw her eyes flash with annoyance and held up a hand. “This is a purely private matter between Sasha and you. Would you have me destroy the trust she is building with you? Would you have me destroy the trust she already has in me? Do not judge us by your standards for our life is very different.”
Throwing up her hands Alice sighed. “Why do I get the feeling that no matter what, I will not get my answers here?”
She watched as Pyter and Markus shared a look, a look that went on far too long and then Pyter turned back to her. “I will try and allay some of your questions then. Tell me, what did your father tell you about us?”
“He told me that you serve the Celestials like the rest of us, just in a different way. That you protect people from places of wild magic and evil and are gifted in magic and foresight that sometimes gives you warnings of the future.”
Pyter nodded. “All this is true, and yet misses so much out. I suspect that he left that for you to find. Markus is gifted in the sight; it is partly why he will make a good patriarch after I stand down. He recommends I do something that I am unsure of.” Holding up his arm Pyter whispered, “Watch,”
“Do you think we are evil?” He asked it softly, his head cocked to one side as his arm and hand returned to normal. “Everyone in this family can do this, everyone but Sasha. She is different which is why I leave it to her to tell you her story. Do you think she is evil? Do you think Markus is? Do you think we mean to corrupt your soul for the glory of the Undergods?”
Shaking her head Alice looked at him, studying him with her eyes. “No. I trust my father. I trust the child who saw another child in pain and wanted to ease that. But I would know more if you are willing to tell me. It might help me to heal Sasha.”
He shook his head. “You are like your father in many ways. When he first came to us he was so desperate. He hadn’t slept in days by the look of it and we gave him the safety of our camp. During the night he fell asleep and awoke when one of us changed. Yet he did not run, did not scream. Instead, he asked if that power could cure his wife.”
Pyter shook his head sadly, “You, like he, look upon us and see the change and think it strange but worthy of study. You see the worth of it, but not the consequences of it. You understand it in your mind, but do not yet feel it in your heart. Until you do, it would be pointless to speak of it.”
“So tell me of it. Teach me about it. Help me to understand. You know if my father kept your secret that I will as well.” Alice placed her cup down and shifted closer to the fire. “Please, help me to heal your daughter.”
“Enough.” He said it quietly, simply, yet his words had an undercurrent of power that she had not heard before. It tore her words from her throat and left her speechless. “It would not help you here and for now Sasha is your only priority. Heal her, and you will get your answers I promise you. Until then,” He raised his arm and beckoned and Alice watched as a young woman strode over. “We must get you looking like one of the family. Go with Mashka”
“Come,” the young woman stood by her, her short mousy blond hair bright in the daylight. “We must get you looking like a proud woman, not one of your church cowed village girls.” Alice nodded, knowing she had been dismissed and got to her feet. Following Mashka to a new campfire, she felt Markus behind her.
“Do not judge him harshly. It is rare an outsider learns of what we can do. They hate us now for having the freedom they do not. They do not know the truth of us and if they knew what we were they would hunt us down and we cannot allow that.”
“Why me?” she looked at him, “What have you seen that means I should be told all this? What becomes of me?”
He smiled, as they came to Mashka’s fire. “Fate has decided things are changing and we must be ready for that change. I will explain later but for now, if you would truly understand us, do as Pyter decides. Follow his commands as the rest of the family does.”
She sighed and nodded as Mashka knelt by her fire. “You are just as cryptic as he is. No wonder he chose you to take over.”
She heard Mashka laugh, “She has your measure, Markus.” Going through various bags and packs the woman began to pull pieces of leather out. “We will have to go hunting soon,” she said matter of fact, “But I believe we have enough to work with.” Then Alice watched as she began to pull out rolls of thread and a thick needle.”Now stand still, Markus, help her.”
She jumped as she felt the Walker’s strong hands on her shoulders. “Do not worry. Mashka is the best leatherworker out of all the families.” She could smell him, manly and strong and it disturbed her. This should be Sasha helping me. She is my friend. She is the one that came to me.
Throwing off his hands with a shrug she said, “I will be quite fine thank you. I require no help.”
Mashka laughed, “Now that is the Walker way. You will fit in fine here village girl.” With that, she set to work and Alice felt her cheeks burn as Markus walked away.
Chapter 12
“Mother! Mother!” Alice jerked awake as the young woman next to her screamed out in her sleep. Throwing back the blankets that covered her she knelt by the side of Sasha and tried to hold her still as the woman thrashed about under the leather tarpaulin. She could hear the camp stirring as Sasha screamed out into the night. “Help me mother!” she heard the young woman scream, “It’s too much alone,”
“It’s ok, Sasha, shush, I’m here.” Brushing sleep from her eyes Alice ran her hand along the hair of the young woman, brushing it off a forehead that was red and shining. Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head as her hand came back slick with sweat. “Gods,” she exclaimed, touching the forehead of her patient properly. “You’re burning up!”
Pulling the blankets from Sasha she saw the young woman begin to shake, her body trembling before it began to jerk violently. “What do you need?” Markus was beside her, his voice strained as he watched a member of his family fight an enemy he could not see.
“Keep her still for a moment,” Markus leaned over and gripped the spasming woman pushing her firmly down and Alice lifted one eyelid gently. She saw nothing but white as the eye rolled back into Sasha’s head and she let the eyelid drop once more. “It’s not good. We have to get her temperature down. I need cold water now!” Markus left to gather what she needed and as she did Alice began to pull at the clothes the young woman wore.
“Father is making us leave Mother. I finally found a friend and he’s making me leave her. I hate him.” Sasha raved as she jerked, and her head rolled as her hair matted with sweat clung to the blankets underneath her. “Why does everyone hate me, mother?”
“Hush,” Alice tried to comfort her. “I’m here. Sasha, I’m here. You’re not alone,” but her voice seemed to do nothing but enrage her further. Alice felt hands upon her, weak and childlike as they tried to push her away and then just as suddenly they fell limp by Sasha’s side as the young woman went quiet.
Taking her chance Alice finished pulling off her patient’s clothes. They were wet with sweat and she threw them to one side before covering her legs and her chest with folded up blankets. Leaving her midriff bare so that the air could cool her Alice looked down at the swollen arm. Even in the dark, she could see the dark veins, a lightning bolt of poison working along Sasha’s arm and she knew the herbal cures that she knew would not work.
“Here,” Markus returned with a bowl of water and a cloth. “I have more coming when you need it. What else do you need?”
“Nothing. Now go!” She saw the look he gave her and reaching over Alice grabbed his jerkin roughly. “I need to cool her temperature so unless your family have no prescription against nudity, go. Send me a woman if you think I need help.” Letting him go she reached for the water and he scuttled backward quickly as she rolled down the blanket covering Sasha’s naked sweat covered body chest.
Soaking the cloth she wiped Sasha’s brow. She could feel the heat coming off the young woman battering at her, like a miniature sun. With a worried look on her face, she ran the wet cold cloth down her cheek and neck. “Whatever magic you have Sasha, use it. Keep fighting and don’t give up ok. Remember the promise we made.” Plunging the cloth into the bowl once more she heard a rustling behind her and Elize knelt opposite her with another bowl.
“I have been sent. What do you need healer?” She heard the Walker woman say and looked up at her.
“Use that water to cool the side of the body nearest you. I will do the same here and hopefully, we can get her temperature down.” Without waiting to see if her instructions had been understood or followed Alice carefully wiped the cold water over Sasha’s naked body, cleaning the sweat and illness from her heated skin. She saw nothing of the naked body she touched, as she sought to remember everything her father ha
d taught her about fevers. All she felt was the wet cloth against her fingers and contours of Sasha’s body as it glided over it.
“Why can’t we return father. I am not liked here. The others call me touched and a half breed. They make fun of me.” Sasha’s head rolled gently from side to side as her dreams became confused with memories. “They say that your bargain was a bad one and I am not the future but a curse.”
“Do you understand this?” she looked up at Elize who returned her stare. “Is this a memory or a dream she is having?”
“I do not know healer. I know that she keeps to herself when we gather but she has never complained.” Elize shook her head, “I do know we have never shunned her but I cannot say the same for the other families.”
Looking down Alice sighed, “Oh Sasha, what life have you led for others to think you are a curse?” Yet am I so different she thought. Father walked out of mother’s funeral, refusing to give honor to the gods who took her and the villagers view us with suspicion because of it. “Well, no matter. Keep cooling her down and I will try and get her to swallow something.”
Grabbing a cup she delved into her satchel and pulled out what she needed. “Feverfew,” she murmured reciting the lessons as much to calm herself as for her audience, “To ease her fever, Cerulean poppy for the pain and red tansy to aid her breathing.” Each plant she named as she crumbled them into the cup and adding water she stirred the concoction.
“I hope this works,” she muttered and lifting Sasha’s head she let some of the liquid fall between the young woman’s dry and cracked lips and into her mouth.
As she did she heard a rattle come from Sasha’s chest and then the young woman jerked once, flinging Alice off. She landed on her backside painfully but the pain was forgotten as her eyes took in Sasha’s condition.
Sasha’s right arm began to palpitate. The muscles shifted under the skin, fingernails lengthened, became thicker and dark black hair began to grow from the young woman’s pores. She watched, shocked and astounded at the sight as Sasha’s arm transformed in front of her eyes. Pink naked skin changed suddenly into wolf fur, the elbow seemingly a line her transformation would not cross.
Wolf Heart: Moon Born book 1 Page 7
