Blood Ties

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

        Star maneuvered through the wreckage, keeping a firm hold on Marco’s uninjured arm as she went. The hallways were crumbling and nearly overrun with mold and rot, and a mysterious draft nipped at the stale air. Star hoped to find somewhere in these halls a room with a bed, so that she could tend to Marco’s bites; the poison was traveling swiftly through his body and if she didn’t hurry he could die.

        The castle was like one haunted, ghosts of the past wafting through the gloomy corridors. The lighting was pale and eerie surrounding them, but Star greatly preferred it to the intense darkness of the tunnels. The castle was barren and empty, all valuables having been pillaged and removed long ago. The only thing reminiscent of the wealth that had been was the worn carpet beneath their feet, stained with blood.

        They climbed a winding flight of creaky stairs and went down one more hallway before Star spotted a suitable bedroom. This bedroom had remained untouched in the bloodshed; the covers, though old and tattered, were still spread upon the bed. The room was small and simple, as though made for one of the lesser royals or perhaps upper servants of the household.

        Star led Marco into said bedroom, shutting the door behind her and revealing her trepidation. Why close the door? No one lived here, no one could possibly enter…yet Star only felt safe if that door was shut and the phantoms of the castle sealed out.

Marco collapsed onto the bed, his eyes instantly closing as he relaxed into the covers. Blood flowed freely from both of his wounds, and Star, who was naturally squeamish, resisted the urge to throw up. She said in a shaking voice, “M-Marco, take off your shirt so I can s-see the bite.”

        Only half-conscious, he struggled into a sitting position and did as commanded. His eyes were dull and filled with pain, but he managed to half-smile at her and rasp, “You were right, Star. Snakes suck.”

        “Yeah, well,” she gave a surprised, breathy laugh, “you should listen to me sometimes.” She looked up at the horses, which appeared uncomfortable in the low-ceilinged bedroom, and took one of their bags. She rummaged through it, finding their water, some auxilium, some tranquilitas, and a few other herbs she could only hope worked.

        With trembling hands, she injected him with both relaxing medicines, and then set to work to find out what each of the other herbs would do. She didn’t know what any of the words meant, so, despairingly, she waved one of the jars in front of Marco’s face.

        “Will this help you at all?” she asked desperately.

        He gazed at it critically, his eyes straining to focus on the aforesaid item. Then he shook his head slowly. “That’s for –that’s for burns. Use the bluish creamy stuff.”

        She nodded, reaching for another jar, and held it up for him to appraise. When he gave a positive response, she opened the jar and placed it to the side. Using a canteen of water, she cleaned his wound and dressed it, wondering if it needed stitches but knowing she knew how to do no such thing. No, it probably didn’t; the wound was neither large nor deep, but the venom was fast. If she didn’t tend to it properly, it could spread infection all throughout his body.

        She rolled back the pant on one of his legs, tending to that bite as well. Her hands were surprisingly steady as she did so, her mind kicking into automatic when faced with a dire situation. Finally, she finished, and set to work making a fire in the fireplace. The room was freezing, and Marco, his body temperature already too low, needed warmth.

        When she finished that task, she helped him get underneath the covers and sat beside his bed on a low stool she found. Leaning her head tiredly against the mattress, she sank into an uneasy sleep.