Shadow of the Wolf

Chapter Twelve

Dartian hesitated as he entered the village. They had felt the disturbance in the air. Now greeted by the high council Dartian didn’t want to deal with formalities. He knew he could not just barge in and force his request but he did not have time to waste. A quick bow to the line of elderly men, Dartian attempted to move past them and head directly for their healer’s home only to be stopped.

“Welcome to our village Dartian. The wind spoke of your trek to reach us.” The elder’s voice rang through the ground, murmurs resounded from them all.

He wanted to shout at them but held his tongue. “Thank you. I will come speak with you once I have had a chance to talk with your healer.” He turned without allowing them to speak more. Dartian needed to get to the healer and quickly. The look of the wound on Saleene’s arm had gotten much worse and she’d become feverish with each passing moment.

He could feel Zachius close behind as he passed the council members. He knew their questions, but he needed them to wait. He would answer what he could, but later. Their concerns were understandable, but they also had to realize the danger Saleene was in. He grunted at their questions and walked past. He had no time to address their concerns; his only thought was of saving Saleene. On the wind, he could hear one question louder than the rest. He turned to face the man whose steel gaze met his own. Ignoring his question, he pushed past them all and headed toward the hut. As Dartian entered the sacred home, the smell of incense and herbs filled his nostrils, calming his nerves.

“It seems that the news of my arrival was heralded before me old one, is there anyone who wasn’t aware I was coming?” Glancing around the home Dartian took in the jars of herbs and substances foreign to him. All he could do is hope that it would be enough to save Saleene. Dartian hesitated to ask for fear of the answer.

“If I am to do this deed, I need only those pure of heart and thought who can aide me in this endeavor. There is much to be done this night and too much time has already passed” An old man moved from the shadows his silvery hair luminescent in the firelight. “If we are to save this child, I will need only those that truly believe she can be saved to be present; all others can scatter to the winds for all I care.” The resolve in the old man’s words seeped into Dartian’s heart and gave him a sliver of hope for Saleene’s survival.

“I will stay old one. If ever someone wanted this woman to survive it is me.” Dartian didn’t care what kind of magic the old man wielded as long as he could save Saleene’s life.

Dartian watched as the healer began crushing herbs into a bowl and pouring them into a pot which hung over the open fire. While the herbs began to boil, the healer went about lighting scented candles around the room. “These candles are made from the purest ingredients and blessed by the gods. The aroma from the herbs and candles, when mixed properly, should greatly increase their natural healing abilities. If we are lucky, my friend, they will be enough to save someone with even the most dangerous of wounds.”

“I did what I could to ease her pain but my skills are not what they should be to help her. I had no choice but to bring her here.” Dartian’s stomach knotted at the sight of the red marks still moving out from the wound. “I hope you have dealt with this poison before.”

“The wound is deep and the poison not one I have seen before, but her will is strong. She certainly has the ability to survive this, but it will be touch and go for a while.” There was hesitation in the man’s voice. His head turned in Dartian’s direction a stern look on his face. “Now understand this Dartian, she knows not of our people and our ways are not her ways. By saving her, a small part of who we are may become a part of her memories. As I do not know how that will affect her down the line, you will need to be prepared to handle any effect this may have”. The healer’s words floated on the air for a second and Dartian was unsure if they were a warning, or something more.