The Salve of Freedom

Chapter VI - part two

After a couple of hours of peaceful swapping stories, Drahush broke the friendly atmosphere by bringing news from the world outside of the little room.

"The Council asks you to explain the events leading to this," her friend said. She looked unsurely at Beala, who was carefully pealing roots for Milka.

"He can understand you," Milka answered her unspoken question.

"Well, that is perfect then." Drahush rolled up her eyes. It seemed she was still not very excited about the newcomer's arrival. She approached the table where Milka and Beala worked and unwittingly started moving dried herbs around.

"Maybe it is not so bad he can speak our language," she said after a while. "He can answer the settlement's questions by himself."

That idea did not even come to Milka's mind. For one, he may be conscious, but he was far from healthy. Secondly, she had already taken responsibility for him. She swore it in front of the head healer and some of the council members. It had been her decision. There was no place for changing her mind now.

"There is no reason why he should do that," she answered her friend evenly.

Drahush did not even try to mask her annoyance with her answer. Milka understood her friend feared for her, but she could not understand why Drahush thought that Milka would consider changing her decision and letting Beala fence for himself in a country whose rules and culture he did not understand.

"Did they tell you when they want to speak with me?" she asked Drahush.

Before Drahush answered, her patient joined the conversation with his accented question. "Who are they?"

"People in our village." When he opened his mouth to ask something else, she gestured for him to save it for later. She did not feel comfortable answering in front of a slightly hostile Drahush.

"When?" she repeated her question.

"They announced the open hearing for tomorrow morning."

"Open hearing," Milka repeated slowly. Her eyes found Drahush. Her friend grimaced and nodded in confirmation. The silent conversation helped Milka to understand why Drahush was so nervous. "Well," she said with a slight tremor in her voice. "I will have time to prepare, then."

"You shouldn't have to," Drahush mumbled. Straightening her posture, she added: "Your hard work speaks for you. They shouldn't question you more."

That would be ideal. Milka felt intensely proud of her work. She was a good member of their settlement. She worked hard and never looked for excuses to slack off. She was known as the most promising apprentice, the one who earned the respect of her neighbours even before the ceremony, establishing her as a full healer.

Drahush was right; she did not deserve their distrust. She should not have been called to an open hearing.

However, the world she lived in was not perfect. It may have been idyllic, but it was not ideal. There was no place in this world that would be without any problems. She knew that. She had not just realised she would feel it, too.

"What was it about?" Beala asked when her friend disappeared a while later. Dreading to find the correct answer to his question, she signed and stopped working. She sat on a stool next to his bed. Her eyes found his.

"Wow. Can you suddenly feel the tense atmosphere?" He smiled at her. "This is the first time you are just sitting here."

"I am not just sitting. I wanted to give you my full attention while I address your questions," she explained. "It is important for you to understand the situation. You deserve my full attention."