The Second Son

Chapter 26

I was floating. The cerulean sky glowed above me. The sun was beginning to descend but the air was still warm and humid. It felt like a velvet robe wrapped around me. But I was cool, surrounded by the crystal clear water of the stream that bordered my uncle's lands. I was taking a dip on a warm day in late summer. The leaves on the trees were still bright green and the smell of honeysuckle wafted through the air. I felt totally at peace and never wanted to leave. Suddenly, the sun got blindingly bright and a soft feminine voice pulled me from my dream. I awoke to Betsy drawing my curtains and informing me that I needed to rise and start my work.

"Sorry to rouse you Miss Emily. The King has sent word that you are to be shown to your surgery and begin seeing patients immediately. There is no time to waste. I've brought you your morning meal and I will help you prepare for the day." Betsy walked over to a small table in the corner of my room situated by the fireplace and started preparing a cup of tea for me. I was happy to see bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and toast with blackberry jam waiting for me.

The smell of the bacon was like a siren's call pulling me from the warmth of the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. I could get used to this! I gobbled down the delicious breakfast as quickly as I could. It sounded like I had a lot of work to do today. Betsy helped me slip on one of my work dresses that I brought with me. I caught a look of disgust on her face when I pulled it from the wardrobe but I needed to be comfortable if I was going to be at my best. I didn't need to look pretty!

When I was ready to start the day, I grabbed the large satchel I had brought with me that contained all of the premade medicines I thought I would need. I would need to find out where the closest wooded area was so I could restock my plants and herbs to make more. Betsy offered to show me where my surgery was located since I still didn't know my way around the castle.

She led me all the way down the staircase I had used yesterday but we continued past the floor where last night's festivities took place. The surgery was located on the bottom floor next to the kitchens. There was already a line of people waiting to see me. I was hoping to have a few moments to get settled in but I guess I was jumping right into my work. The surgery turned out to be a single room with a workbench and a small cot for patients. One wall was filled with shelves that contained jars of various concoctions but unfortunately they were not labeled. There was also no telling how old they were. Certain medicines only kept for so long. Organizing the shelves was added to the growing to-do list I had going in my mind.

Betsy took her leave and said she would return in a few hours with my mid-day meal. I pulled out everything I had brought with me and laid it out on the work bench. I set a chair up beside it so I could examine my patients and grab what I needed as I went along. It was a rudimentary set up until I had a few moments to arrange the room how I liked. After I was finished, I took a deep, calming breath and opened the door to let in my first patient.

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For the next week, I ate, slept, breathed my work. The magnitude of what was happening in the city was finally hitting me. So many were sick. Men, women, and children. It didn't matter. Some survived, some didn't. And there's no rhyme or reason as to who is spared. From what I had seen before coming here, the elderly were dying at a higher rate than any other age group. But it's morphed into something indiscriminate here. All ages are at risk of death. I've tried to come up with a hypothesis of why this is. The biggest differences here are a larger population and many people are living in poverty.

My supplies I brought with me were already dwindling. I found out from Betsy that there was a large wooded area to the west of the city and it was just a short horse ride to get there. My plan was to make a supply run in a day or two as long as the weather held out. I could probably send someone out to do the foraging for me. The King made it clear that I had access to whatever and whoever I needed to do my job. But if I was being honest, I missed the forest.

I was having a particularly rough day. I had lost two patients and one of them was a child. The loss of a child always shook me to my core. Having to tell a mother that her beloved child was gone was the worst part of my job. When I finished up for the evening, I decided to take a walk to the stables after dinner. I wanted to get a feel for the horses before I borrowed one to ride outside of the city. On my way there, I was stopped by someone calling out my name. I was pleasantly surprised to see Samuel running down the path to meet up with me. I hadn't seen Samuel since the night of my welcoming banquet. I had been too busy either seeing patients in my surgery or making house calls to those that were too sick to make the journey to the castle.

"Good evening Emily!" He gave a little bow of his head out of respect and I had to laugh since I wasn't a lady but it would have been rude to correct him.

"Good evening Samuel. Are you on your way to the stables as well?" The path we were on only went to the stables so I made an assumption.

"Honestly no. I was having a discussion with the armorer in the courtyard when I saw you walking and I thought I would join you. You've been absent from court all week. From what I've heard, you've been working non-stop. Are you finally giving yourself a break?" He fell into step beside me.

"Not really. I need to make a trip to the forest west of the city to restock my surgery with the medicinal plants that grow there and I was going to pick out a horse to ride when I go. I thought I brought enough supplies with me to last a month but I guess I underestimated how much I needed." He was giving me a smirk and I wasn't sure how to take it. I was used to being ridiculed for my unorthodox methods.

"You are a fascinating girl Emily. I would love to learn more about the plants you use for medicines. Please allow to escort you. I'm free all day tomorrow. It would be my honor." As much as I was looking forward to the peace and quiet of the journey by myself, I was unfamiliar with the terrain and having an escort was probably a good idea. And there was no denying that Samuel was good company.

"I would most appreciate that Samuel. Tomorrow sounds perfect. I just need to pick out a horse." We had reached the entrance to the large stables and we both stepped in. With the sun almost set, most of the animals were bedding down for the night so it was fairly quiet. I walked the long row of stalls and Samuel pointed out a mare that was known to be friendly even with people she didn't know. I decided that was my best option for now and we started to head back to the castle before it was full on dark.

"Until tomorrow sweet Emily." Samuel said as he took my hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of my knuckles. A shiver went through me and I felt myself blush at the intimate gesture. He held my hand for a moment and then let go to turn and head to wherever he needed to be. I was starting to feel alive again.