Orb and Arrow by V. L. Stuart

Author:V. L. Stuart [Stuart, V. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen It Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

*** 13 ***

Once the men were away, they went to the stable, where Brillar found a pair of heavy gloves, then to the kitchen for hot water in an ewer, a basin, a silver bowl, a small brush used for cleaning pots, and a silver tray. At her mother’s glance, she said, “The dimlock can’t touch flesh or even, I think, something made of earth. Pottery won’t do for it. Just a feeling.” She shrugged. They took everything to a spare room. Brillar fetched the foldbox then bolted the door and poured the water into the silver bowl at a desk.

“Be ready with cleansing spells,” she said as she opened the foldbox. Her mother nodded. “Not for the collar, for the room; there’s bound to be an odor. And healing spells as well, in case it touches me. Open the windows, please, then stand well away.”

First, she took a knife and scissors from the foldbox. When she was ready, Brillar put on gloves and took the cwel skin, cut the straps, and dumped it into the hot water. The stench that arose was quickly dispelled but not before Brillar stood back, holding her breath. She could feel her mother steady her. Slowly, she pulled the cwel skin from the collar. It resisted, and she cut it away with the knife, dropping all the bits into the basin. The work was time-consuming and the gloves awkward but necessary. Even through them, she could feel the pulse of the collar.

Bit by bit, the dimlock was separated from the cwel skin. Darwa freshened her daughter when she felt it was needed. It was nearly two hours before it was all completed, but there was still the dimlock itself to be cleaned. Brillar picked away at the bits of flesh there, trying desperately to forget it was Elden’s flesh. More than once, she was sure she would vomit, but her mother healed the feeling quickly. Once, a slight awkward movement allowed a link of the collar to touch her arm; she cried out, but a healing spell was cast at once.

***

Miles away at the horse market, Prendar was watching with delight as an owner put a black mare through her paces. Elden was tense and uneasy but didn’t know why.

”A fine mare, that,” Prendar said quietly. “Only three, well trained and ready for a stud.”

Elden started to answer, then paled, grabbed Prendar’s arm, and would have fallen if the older man hadn’t supported him. Still, he sank to his knees before Prendar could straighten him, calling Terol to his side.

“Help him to the tavern, boy, while I speak to this man. I think he’s had too much dust and sun.”

Elden was helped to his feet. Terol managed to get him to the inn, where he sank to a chair and dropped his head into his hands. Terol came back with a tankard of ale, but Elden only shook his head and whispered something the lad couldn’t hear.

***

When the collar was finally cleaned, Brillar lifted it from the water and laid it on the silver tray.

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