Vaehandre: Where The Stars Fall [Under Revision]

Chapter 37: The Illness

The Central Infirmary was filled with people. It was wide enough to accommodate 30 people. Three rows of beds were occupied with the sick, some with grieving loved ones kneeling on the side. A soiled white curtain was drawn at the far end of the room, covering a quarter of the area.

Ingrid approached a woman in a brown robe. She had a white strip of cloth wrapped around her arm. It had two red stripes. She twisted backwards and raised a brow.

"Healers from the Academe?" she asked.

Nodding, Ingrid introduced her and her company.

"I'm Cateline, the prime healer."

"What are the symptoms of the illness?"

Cateline glances at a boy coughing out blood. "It starts with a nosebleed. Then hallucinations. At that stage, the patients develop a fever it worsens the bleeding."

A body being brought out catches their attention.

"We're only able to treat their symptoms. No one who's caught it has lived beyond a day or two."

Ingrid scanned the room and focused her gaze at the end of the infirmary. "Is that where the ones in critical condition are?"

The healers looked at the back.

"There's nothing we can do for them," Cateline said grimly.

"We'll do our best."

Ingrid shot a look at the door. A man was being held back by Henry and another knight at the entrance.

"I can see them. They're here. They're back. We're doomed!" The man screamed out.

"Get the sedative," Cateline said to one of the local healers.

The three healers make way as Henry and the other knight drag the man towards a newly vacated bed.

"You have to help me!" the man pleaded. "They're gonna get me. They're gonna get me."

Cateline approached the frantic man. "Here, drink this."

He obliged. His breathing slowed, and his eyes began to droop. He let his head fall back on the pillow.

Ingrid raised her chin. "We'll get started with the ones behind the curtain. Do you have a place where we may brew our potions?"

Letting out a sigh, Cateline replied, "On the second floor. The stairs are to your left."

Henry, having let go of the newly infected, ordered one of his knights to fetch the crates in their carriage.

The three healers aligned their healing potions on a table. The liquid in the bottles was as red as roses. Other healers were there as well, crushing turmeric for those who had open wounds.

"Lady Ingrid, we're dealing with blood loss here," Gytha pointed out."

"I know, but we can still heal the sores that cause the bleeding. It seems like that's what this disease is doing. It's stopping them from clotting their own wounds."

Cateline went up the flight of stairs along with the Rathorian knights, who were bringing up the rest of the supplies.

"Lady Cateline, what have most of the patients died of," Ingrid asked.

"If it's not the blood loss, it's the fever."

Ingrid glanced at her companions. "We'll have to enchant the healing potions. Healing herbs won't be enough. Do you have any supplies of intatem flowers? They're like roses but resemble the shape of a star."

"Some merchants bring them to town on market days."

"What we have will have to do for now. You'll have to start making more potions, Gytha. And Distira..."

The Southern mage was staring the sick below. Her brows were down, and she had the look of pity in her eyes.

"Distira," Ingrid said again. "You'll help me administer the potions."

Ingrid placed her hand above the potions. They had 60 bottles of healing potion. She closed her eyes."Argtum santuh dant hes. Argtum santuh dant hes. Argtum santuh dant hes," she said over the potions. After she had said her spell, the healing potions shone with a crimson glimmer.

All the local healers had their eyes on her. Ingrid looked back at them. "These should be administered little at a time. The wounds won't take long to heal, but the recovery from blood loss will still leave them vulnerable. This potion cannot replenish blood. Having them drink this will prevent them from getting worse with the amount of blood they still have." Ingrid and stepped aside and let the local healers grab a potion. She looked at Distira. "You'll come with me behind the white curtain."

"I'll be accompanying you there as well," Cateline said as she stepped forward.

Distira glanced at Gytha, and she gave her an encouraging smile.