SONGS AND TRAILS (Book 1)

CHAPTER 15

The whole class was seated near the river bank and Caldor had started a fire. Some had fished out of the river and some had hunted from the sky and the ground. Everyone was grilling something at the big fire. The girls went to wash up on one side and the boys on the other. They needed to clean up badly. The sun hitting the water made it sparkle and it called to them for a dip.

Arabella was done fast and went straight to where Marietta lay in the sleeping bag. She was running a fever and trembling, sweat covered her dark shiny skin. Her eyes were open but she was weak, she couldn’t even speak clearly.

Arabella got to her knees and withdrew her dagger. She went and placed it in the fire to heat up. She then put a piece of cloth in the water and draped it on her forehead.

“C...co...old!” Marie trembled.

“We have to get rid of the fever.” Bella said as she helped her out of her coat and she was left with her shirt and trousers.

“Co...old!” Marie cried as she hallucinated.

“What are you doing, Ms. Heydar?” Caldor appeared.

“I’m doing what I remained back for.” She didn’t turn to look at him.

Caldor had given her a warning glare and she almost challenged him but Daya had spoken afterwards.

“Stay!” Daya had begged. “Marie is sick.”

“She’ll be fine. Just get her help.” Bella turned to look at her.

“What if she doesn’t make it?” Daya asked.

“Then just put a knife in fire and rip out the marks the illusionist left on her...” she had started explaining.

“You see? You’re her only hope.” Daya told her. “You know these things that... that none of us know and you’re more experienced at this. She needs you, not us.”

“She needs a healer.”

“I know she upset you and she was rude to you but I also know that you care.”

“Just leave her be.” one of them cut in, “If she doesn’t want to...”

“Fuck off!” Daya snapped forming smoke out of her nose furiously and the student backed away scared. “If you’re not helping, keep to yourself!” she then turned to Bella, calmly. “If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have asked that illusionist to take you and leave Marie.”

“I just tricked it.” Bella pretended.

“Oh come on, Arabella.” Daya smirked. “I think I’ve had my share of time of knowing your thoughts.”

Arabella had looked at her sincere eyes and had looked at the pale and distorted Marietta then sighed in frustration.
“Until she’s well.” she told Daya.

“Deal!” Daya smiled.

“No de...” Caldor almost started.

“Caldor!” Daya raised her hand to stop him, “Not now!”

“Did you just call me, Caldor?” he had asked in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me you left your name at the mountain.” Daya told him.

“Ms. Sandareal...”

“Okay, Bella.” Daya ignored him. “What do we do?”

“We need a river, a big fire, and a dagger.” She had said.

So there they were washing up and Arabella tending to Marietta as promised. She pulled Marie’s shirt all the way just under her breasts and revealed her scarred belly. It was full of boils in different places.