Princess of Prophecy (Servants of the Lady) by Alexander Thomas

Author:Alexander Thomas [Thomas, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Healer

True healing is only accomplished by achieving oneness with the motions of the heavenly bodies.

— Considered Revelations, Book 165 “Medicine in the Age of Ignorance”, Chapter 8, Verse 7

The adventurers scrambled out of the collapsed cavern and chased the fading sunset. Almost immediately, they ran into the Moonflow, the wide stream reflecting the dim light.

“The magic wall!” Bookkeeper Andi looked up and down the stream. “How will we cross?”

“Let's try going through,” said Gunthar. “The battlemage said it only blocks one direction.”

Indeed, now that they headed west instead of east they crossed the stream easily, the slow waters only coming to their waists at the deepest point. Gunthar stopped mid-stream and tested the path back towards the Castle again. “Ha! The barrier resists this way. Yet we are free to continue west.”

They led Daisy across the stream, the unconscious Maryan on top.

“It is most encouraging that no magicks bar our path,” said Sir Humphrey. “Yet I am concerned for the princess. She has not stirred, though she breathes still.”

“Let's get to Bluntworth,” said Gunthar. “There will be physicians at the palace who can bleed her.”

Yang winced. “I know bleeding people is a super-popular cure, but I don't think it does much good.”

“In sooth, Apprentice—er, Wizard—I am inclined to agree with you, yet I know no other path.” Sir Humphrey helped Daisy up the western streambank.

Gunthar shrugged. “What else can we do?”

“I'm no physician,” said Yang, “but I don't think bleeding will help. I think we need to carefully clean and stitch the wound and check for broken ribs.”

Bookkeeper Andi walked behind them. “Not bleed her?” She snorted. “You're right. You're no physician. Bleeding is the only way to help your princess now.” She frowned at Yang in the dim light. “Honestly, who doesn't believe in bleeding people? You sound like that crazy mystic healer south of Bluntworth.”

Gunthar stopped. “The who?”

“The crazy mystic…” Andi looked at each of them. “Oh, no. You're not seriously considering taking the princess to the crazy mystic, are you?”

Gunthar waved them forward. “Come on. The moon will come out in another hour, and we can move faster. Let's get to this healer as fast as we can.”

“We shall press on with alacrity, good barbarian! 'Tis night, but now we are on the open Badlands, with nothing in our way.”

“Whoooooo?” called a voice in the darkness.

“'Twas a reference to all of us, of course,” said Sir Humphrey.

Bookkeeper Andi huddled up against the knight, grabbing his arm as she surveyed the cracked, starlit ground. “Please, Sir Humphrey, keep your voice down.”

“Yeah, put a cork in it,” agreed Gunthar, his hand on his axe. “What was that?”

“Whoooooo?” called the voice again, closer this time.

“Well, that time we were referring to you,” answered Gunthar.

“Yes,” replied the voice, floating ethereally above them. “I knowwwwwwwww. I was asking a rhetorical questionnnnnnn.”

Andi squinted up in the darkness. “Is something glowing up there?”

“Look,” said Gunthar, “you obviously know we're here, so you can drop the eerie voice bit. It won't scare us.”

“It might,” countered Andi, still gripping Sir Humphrey's arm.

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