Sins of the Mother

The healer lowered Aejys' wrist, shaking his head. "Massive blood loss. Someone revivified her…" He gently pulled the pillow from under Aejys' head, moving it to beneath her feet and added the pillow from the far side also. He wore deep green robes and trousers; his waist length, glossy black hair tied back with a simple bit of green leather; a broad woven green band around his neck concealed his gills in an attempt to obscure his mixed species parentage — unnecessary for a member of Aejys' tolerant household, but Taun was new, having been enlisted by Becca after Aejys' departure from Vorgensburg last summer.

Oil-lamps sat on the nightstand, a small table in the center and the two end-tables framing the window seat, their wicks turned all the way up, sending a dancing orange glare through the room in response to the tiny draft entering along the edges of the windows.

Becca shook her head. "What does that mean, Taun?"

"She died." Taun's pale sea-foam eyes hooded with distress, for the thought clearly bothered him. "They brought her back. Sometimes, if a healer gets there in time, they can restart the heart and breathing."

"But she'll be all right?"

"I can't say yet — her blood-pressure is almost too low to…" Taun broke off, changing the subject — he had looked eagerly forwardto finally meeting Aejystrys Rowan, but not like this. This was the worst thing the young healer had ever seen. "That's lifemage work." Taun's finger lightly traced the scars on Aejys' stomach. "Those wounds are only about an hour old."

Becca blanched, folding her arms across her stomach and fighting back nausea at the thought of what had been done to her liege lord. Before Aejys Rowan pulled her out of the gutter side of life, she had been a tavern wench, serving drinks and turning tricks just to survive. Aejys recognized and rewarded her talents, showing her that there was a better way to live, even arranging for Becca to learn to read and write. And if Aejys is lost, then the whole household is in danger. Everything we've gained is lost, she thought, then flushed with shame: I should be worrying about Aejys, just that, not what will happen to myself and the rest of us. No. Aejys would want me to worry about them.

Taun turned to Josh. "Why did they not finish the healing? Why only a makeshift mending?"

"They're dead." Josh dropped his eyes, focusing with distressed intensity on his fingers drawing circles on the clawed arms of hischair. He wore a long nightshirt with a wool blanket wrapped around him, his well-shaped legs sticking out beneath. He had roused from his exhaustion and alcoholic stupor the moment Omer and Raim tried to slide him into bed, managing to stagger down the hall to Aejys' room where he curled up in an over-stuffed chair. Josh had collapsed mainly from reaction to the strain of making the long Jump to safety in Vorgensburg from Rowanslea.

Taun's eyes went distant, unfocussed. "Genocide," he said softly. "I've heard rumors that the lifemages were all slain by the sa'necari." Then he visibly shook himself free. "Keep her warm. Keep her feet up to reduce the strain on her heart. Should shewake don't let her out of bed for any reason. Find some kind of bowl for her to relieve herself in. Get all the liquids into her you can. Lots of broth and tea." He pulled three bottles from his satchel. "Three fingers of this three times a day. It's a bloodtonic." He sat a large bottle of amber liquid on the nightstand, placing a bottle of golden holadil next to it. "Two fingers for pain and to keep down the chance of infection. As needed. But at least three times a day for now."

"What's that for?" Becca picked up the smallest bottle, which contained a blue powder.

"With her blood pressure so low there's a chance of seizures. Should it happen, rub the powder into her nostrils and gums."

"That would mean we're losing her…" Becca guessed this.

Taun's expression clouded again. "If we can't stop them quickly enough…" He pulled the blankets over Aejys, tucking them in aroundher. "If it happens, get me immediately. I need to get some splints made for her hands and fingers. I doubt she'll ever have much —if any — use of them again — but we must try. And don't leave her alone. Not for a moment!" He shouldered his medicine satchel, rising to his feet.

"Taun," Becca's hand on his arm stopped him. "Would you mind moving into the main building here? I want you right next door to her."

"Can Skree stay here with me?"

"Of course. Skree is always welcome."

"Thank you." Taun's face brightened. His lover was a skeptic, harboring grim suspicions about all landsmyn; so Taun saw this as anopportunity to turn him around. Even more importantly, Skree was a sea-mage with gifts and knowledge more wide ranging than Taun's: if Skree could be persuaded to help, then Aejys' chances of survival would be vastly improved. However, only a lifemage could make a real difference and neither of them were one.

"I'll send Omer and Raim for your stuff."

GODWAR CENTRAL

Sins of the Mother