Chapter Five: Dear Your Majesty
Guardians of the Twilight Lands -- The Sixth Book of Unexpected Enlightenment
Chapter Five: Dear Your Majesty
Nurse Moth retrieved her scrutiny sticks, two lengths of wood carved with runes and set with precious gems, and ran them over Rachel’s body. Gems flashed. The nurse gestured for her to remove her coat, which she did with help from Gaius. Then Nurse Moth pulled up the sleeve of Rachel’s robe to reveal the bites, bruised and caked with dried blood.
“Trés mal, chérie!”
The nurse bustled off. Left on the bed with her wounded arm outstretched, Rachel felt faint. She purposefully looked away from the ugly bite marks and bruising. Gaius sat on a chair beside her. He squeezed her good hand and gave her an encouraging smile.
The nurse returned with a tray upon which sat a steaming mug of broth, a thick bar of Icelandic chocolate, and a glass of water that she had from the fountain in the center of the infirmary. The broth smelled of savory medicinal herbs. Rachel did not think it would be wise to eat much, but she nibbled obediently on the corner of the chocolate. It was tarter than she had expected, but tasty. She offered some to Gaius. He shook his head, peering at her with concern.
Nurse Moth left again and returned with a long, slanted wooden trough filled with warm water and floating dried flowers that emanated a sweet floral perfume. Rachel recognized chamomile and lavender, among others. The nurse gestured for her to lean forward and arranged the pillows against the headboard. As Rachel leaned back again, Nurse Moth placed the trough across Rachel’s lap and washed her wrist and forearm carefully with a sponge and a green liquid that smelled minty. When she was done, she laid the injured arm in the warm, scented water, arranging it so that the wounds were submerged.
“Can’t you just wave your wand and heal the cuts?” asked Gaius, watching everything carefully. “I thought wounds were easy to heal.”
“Regular wounds,” Nurse Moth replied, “but barghests are half in this world and half in another. They wound the spirit. This water—from our healing fountain—will draw out the ill humors and heal the damage to her soul. After she soaks, I will spread a poultice on her arm to help regenerate her spirit. We should be able to heal the physical wounds in the morning.”
“What would happen if you healed the physical wound now?” asked Gaius, curiously.
“She would experience phantom pains in her arm. Perhaps for years to come.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” murmured Rachel.
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