This is the second to last part for this story arc, and we've come a far ways away from where I ever thought this story would go. As soon as we're done with this arc if I find the time I'll finally post the alternate path the story took last time, since there's no longer any chance of spoilers.

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Previous Part: Part 14

Introduction: Prelude

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--Vaik's Story - Part Fifteen--

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I decided not to risk harming the woman by feeding her without knowing what she was sick with.

“I'll be right there.” I said to her. “I'm just going to find Vanessa.”

I knew the woman hadn't understood me, but it was the best I could do. She said something back and I smiled at her as I raised a finger, hoping the gesture was used here too.

Vanessa wasn't in any of the upstairs rooms. Nor was she on the garden roof. I was just about to despair when I heard a voice coming from behind the building. Descending to the lowest floor again I found a simple door on the back wall.

Outside I found another walled in area, but it was the oddest place I had ever seen. There was a path made of tiny rocks leading to a sort of hut near the back wall. The rest of the place was sand, but not like out in the desert. Someone had taken the time to form grooved patterns into the sand. Large rocks were scattered around with the paths in the sand going around them. The whole thing made me think of nothing more then a river of sand.

Approaching the hut I saw that the walls were made of lattice and a vine was trained to climb the sides. Tiny pink flowers bloomed among the leaves. Inside the hut I saw a small shrine had been set up and in front of this Vanessa was kneeling. A fat candle was being cradled by the figure of a woman and two smaller candles sat on the ground in front of the statue. The fat candle was lit, as was one of the smaller ones.

Vanessa finished whatever prayer she was saying and with a puff of air blew out the smaller candle. Then taking a small piece of cloth she used it to bring a flame from the fat candle to relight the votive. She begin to mumble a prayer over the candle. I paused at the step into the hut, not wanting to interrupt her praying. Again she finished the prayer by blowing out the candle and then she sat up with a quiet groan.

“Come to offer up a prayer?” She asked.

I shook my head. “I wouldn't know how.”

She waved me closer. “Here, come kneel and I'll show you.”

“Fern used magic to help the boy and it wore her out.” I protested. “I came for your help with taking care of the woman.”

“It's fine. This will only take a moment to show you and you can come back later if you choose.” She turned old eyes on me. “I can tell that you have sorrows that you need to resolve.”

She bent down and picked up a small piece of cloth. “We who worship Elunis write prayers on these scraps of cloth and use them to light prayer candles. We believe that this way the prayer will rise to the heavens and be heard by Her.”

“Why do you blow the candle out?” I asked.

“Do you continue talking after you have said what you wanted?” She asked in return. “We blow out the candle so only our prayer goes to the heavens.”

That sort of made sense to me. “Well I couldn't pray this way since I don't know any writings.”

She shook her head. “It does not have to be written. Most people use a picture that reminds them of the one they are praying for. Elunis is the god of healing, so I pray to Her often for my patients. It can be a source of great comfort to know that a god is aware of your plight.”

I shrugged. “I never saw much of the temple at home, so I never really had much to do with gods. My father said it was like our king, you gave him due when required, but he'll never actually care about you personally.”

“That's a rather sad outlook.” She said. “The gods have more to do with us then I think anyone realizes.”

I nodded. “I'm sure that's true, but I was never strong on these questions. We are more practical on a farm.”

She laughed. “Take care of the animals first, all else comes second.” Her eyes twinkled. “Which is your polite effort to remind me that Aine awaits her supper.”

I couldn't stop the smile that flashed on my face. “She looked quite hungry.”

Vanessa stood and brushed the sand off of her dress. “She is a good woman. However even the strongest will fails when broken like hers was.”

“What happened to her?” I asked.

“She was kidnapped by desert bandits.” Vanessa told me. “They killed her husband and did...all manner of evil to her before she was able to escape and make it back here. I have done much to heal her, but she resists most of my efforts.”

“Why?”

“You might not understand, being young in the world, but there are times where such evil has been forced onto you that life no longer holds any pull. I fear if she were not in my care she would have killed herself long ago.”

I tried not to imagine what had happen to her, but I was only young, not naïve. I knew what could happen to a woman. Even though I did not have a sister I could still feel my blood boil at the thought.

Vanessa paused in front of the door. “I will need your help Vaik. She is currently refusing her medication. There is an inflammation in her that I must bring down or it will consume her. She has come a long way, but her spirit is still skittish. She goes into an utter panic if a man gets to close to her. Be gentle and follow my lead.”

That did not make me feel confident I could help. Aine was still sitting up on her cot and she snapped a few words at Vanessa. The healer made soothing sounds as she picked up the bowl and brought it to the woman. Reaching into a pocket of her dress she pulled out a few herbs, which she crumpled into the soup. The woman scowled at this but took the bowl. She was assuredly hungry, for the soup didn't last more then a minute before it was all gone.

“Vaik can you bring me the bottle sitting on the desk over there?” Vanessa asked, pointing.

I retrieved the small glass bottle, which was full of a red liquid. Behind me I could hear Aine saying something in an agitated voice while Vanessa softly, but firmly, spoke back in the same language. I still didn't understand a single word they said, but there was no mistaking the way Aine was pushing away with her hands.

“Here you go Vanessa.” I said, handing over the bottle.

Aine drew back as I came over. I saw the defiant look in her eyes fade into abject terror. I hastily took a step back and she relaxed a bit.

“Why would she eat if she refuses her medicine?” I wondered as Vanessa poured a dose into a small cup.

The healer snorted. “She has only convinced herself she wants to die. Have you ever tried to starve yourself to death boy? It's easy to refuse medication when you're already in pain, but hard to ignore a hungry stomach.”

She tried to bring the cup to Aine lips but the other woman slapped the cup out of Vanessa's hands. The healer snapped something nasty sounding at the woman and picked the cup back up, carefully pouring out another dose.

Again Aine attempted to knock the cup away but Vanessa was too fast and managed to pull it back in time. Vanessa set the cup down and planted her hands on her hips. She argued with Aine, but I had a feeling that neither was going to back down. I was starting to really wish I understood the language.

Then without warning Aine reached to the side and pulled forth a what looked like a cooking knife. With a triumphant smile she made to plunge it into her breath. I acted without thought. Before it even registered I had lunged the few feet separating up and managed to grab her hand. I placed my other hand on her chest and pushed back into the cot.

As soon as I touched her I somehow felt an immense wrongness where I touched her. Instinctively I knew that something was seriously damaged inside her. Even as I twisted the knife from her hand I found the world somehow fading around me as the sensation of wrongness took over my entire focus. Then Vanessa's voice broke through the haze.

“Hold her down Vaik!” She shouted.

I struggled to hold Aine down as she fought to get free. She was screaming now, and her eyes showed a terror that chilled me to the bone, yet she wasn't looking at anything. I had a feeling she was reliving what the bandits had done to her. I wanted nothing more then to get away from her, but I gritted my teeth and held on.

Then Vanessa was back, thrusting something that was burning under Aine's nose. Like a puppet with the strings cut she collapsed unconscious. A whiff of the smoke drifted past me and I felt dizzy. I stumbled back and thankfully Vanessa caught me arm.

“Sweet Elunis!” The healer breathed. “I never thought she would try to go so far! Thank you for stopping her Vaik! Are you alright?”

I pulled free of her arm and wobbled to one side. “My legs feel shaky.”

“I'm not surprised. That was pressed gronkir root. It can put down a full sized kruik. I doubt she'll wake until well past dawn.” She gave me a smile. “Why don't you head on to bed now. Use any of the rooms upstairs as you like.”

“What about her?” I asked.

“I will sleep down here where I can keep an eye on her.” Vanessa explained. “We should be fine until the morrow.”

“Alright.” I agreed.

I ended up choosing the room next to Fern's. I wasn't used to sleeping alone, having shared my attic bedroom with several of my brothers my whole life. At least this way she felt sort of close to me without infringing on her privacy.

There were actual beds here instead of cots, and I marveled at the softness as I laid down. For someone used to sleeping on the floor of an attic it was almost too soft. I rolled first one way and then the other, but I couldn't relax enough to sleep.

I kept thinking about Aine and the wrongness I had felt inside her. Obviously much more had been done to her then Vanessa realized. Had she been beaten? I knew she had to have been raped, but I was sketchy on all that would entail and somehow felt that didn't account for what I had felt.

Thinking of how Fern had helped the boy I wondered if she could do the same for the woman. I didn't think I could heal Aine, especially without any training, but I wondered if I could remove some of that wrong feeling like Fern had. It must take a lot of effort, because even what little I had felt from Fern had exhausted her. Then again I knew just from the spell that I had cast against the chaos shamans that I had felt much more magic then I had with Fern.

A few marks ground their way slowly past and finally I could take it no longer. I could not sleep. I had to help Aine. Throwing all my clothes on against the night chill I crept downstairs. All was quiet , only the muffle snap from the logs in the firepit remained.

Vanessa was softly snoring in a chair by Aine's cot. I careful walked past her and moved to the other side of the cot. It was cramped against the wall, but I didn't want to worry about bumping Vanessa by mistake.

Aine was covered in several blankets, her face looking serene as she slept. Even in the dim light I could make out a long scar marring the side of her face. I placed my hand on her chest and there was the feeling of wrongness, but it was strangely weaker. Could the blankets prevent me from sensing what I was?

Pulling her blankets gently down I saw that she was dressed now in a simple robe. Vanessa must have changed her while I was upstairs. The folds of cloth easily wrapped around Aine's form and I felt very uncomfortable being this close. Hesitantly I placed my hand on her chest again. The wrongness heated my hand and I grimaced, but somehow it still felt like it was being muffled. I wondered if I needed to touch her actual skin.

I almost baulked at my idea and left there, but it was almost as if something compelled me to stay. I could not leave until I had made the wrongness inside her go away. I glanced at the ties near her neck, but decided there was no way I was going to pull that apart. I finally pulled out my knife and carefully cut a short slit over her belly. There, I would be able to touch her skin, but not disturb her modesty.

Gingerly I reached through the slit and placed my hand on her belly. The wrongness flared up my arm like the heat of a fire and I gasped. I could feel the pain coupled to the wrongness and I could suddenly focus on nothing else. I had to get rid of it. I had to.

I felt deep into my mind for that tingle of magic and found it. I pulled it towards myself, grateful that it was easier this time. Its icy chill ran down my arms until it hit the heat of the wrongness from Aine, then it stopped. I gave a little push and it moved further, then as I let go it pulled back, bringing the wrongness with it.

I had felt Fern use magic, but I hadn't been able to sense how she did it. How should I try to use my magic to heal Aine?

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The Voices Start to Whisper...

A) Push the Magic In...

Pull the Wrongness Out...

Updated 24 April 2012 (16:59)

Updated 24 April 2012 (18:25)

C - RAS MICO EURUS!!!

And really, B

Posted by SermarkusIs she pregnant? B!

To be honest I haven't decided yet. It would raise a lot of moral questions and decisions that I'm not sure I would want to be bogged down with right now in the story.

Posted by Szczepan the RedTo be honest I haven't decided yet. It would raise a lot of moral questions and decisions that I'm not sure I would want to be bogged down with right now in the story.

Posted by EtherlordMaybe he's thinking about the story, writer's not a waller, to call him lazy

That's very possible, but still, i like to call him lazy

Posted by SermarkusWhere is next part?!

I'll kill you, you made me so happy by digging this thread!

@ Eirik the Drifter,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LhayxBICJg

Posted by EtherlordI'll kill you, you made me so happy by digging this thread!

Nooo dont kill me