To Rhial

20

Tells

I hopped off the wagon and darted into that weird building with the tree as fast as I could. Mother Yeline was inside talking with some really buff lady when I interrupted them, which scared me a little, considering I really didn't like talking to people anyways. I didn't want to interrupt anyone.

"M-Mother Yeline, we need help. We have the fireblood. And my friends are paralyzed." Both of them looked back at me. The woman next to her had really intense eyes that I really didn't want to make contact with.

The woman started walking right up to me and talking really loudly. "Fireblood? Paralysis? That sounds familiar to what we dealt with. Is the fireblood alive?" She got right up to me, meeting me at about eye level.

I continued avoiding eye contact, racing to speak. "Y-y-y-yeah. It's alive, but they need help outside."

"Mother, I have just the sigil you can use. I'll bring it right back."

Mother Yeline had a look of worry on her face as the woman sauntered out of the temple and disappeared. Mother Yeline walked forward to me and pulled her green veil back for the first time. Her old gray eyes shimmered, the left one pure white and blind. She took my hand in hers and I stiffened up a little.

"Thank you, dear," she smiled like a proud grandmother. "Bring them. Clinic too small for jinian. I help. Then we use fireblood for town.

A sort of warm, giddy feeling coursed through me. I was almost embarrassed, but confident and glad that I did something for her, for the people of the town.

"I'll go get them."

I ran out and lugged Adam and Brenden in with the help of shirtless Desmond. The stablehand took over watching the fireblood for us. Not that we were worried about it getting out, but we didn't want to risk it waking up and trying to prick people.

The woman brought a book to the Mother. She was followed in by a sparsely bandaged man who looked like her twin. The Mother opened the book and began carving a very intricate sigil in the air.

Why does that book look familiar?

I didn't know much about the books or whatever the magic was, but she seemed like she was struggling with it.

"I apologies. Will take time. Old age slows jzanmah." Mother Yeline took labored breaths as a green orb appeared over Adam, pulling liquid from him.

The woman put a hand on the Mother's shoulder. "Mother Yeline, do not strain yourself. These men have plenty of time, as my brother did."

"Appreciate concern, Milady, but I complete treatment for haste."

After about an hour, the green orbs had drawn all of the poison out of Brenden and Adam. They began sitting up, but their bodies fell back instantly, exhaustion overtaking them.

Mother Yeline stood slowly and held the book out toward me and Desmond. "One return book? Must begin fireblood dissection."

The man with the bandages stepped in front of us. "Allow me to assist you, Mother. I am sure you have already been hard at work preparing for the sake of the town."

The Mother's eyes went wide with worry, "I shan't ask noble man for common task, not after Lady Simira retrieve book-"

"I insist upon it, Mother." He took the book from her and walked out with a wide smile. His sister glared sharply at him, like a mother who was suspicious of her kid for sneaking food. Having seen that many times before from my own mother, I was sure she wasn't trusting him for some reason. It was a little creepy, the way he was practically skipping out the door.