The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 48

                                                             Oshie

Grandpa worried constantly now. He wouldn't say why, but I'd catch snippets of talk here and there, mostly at the barracks, of something called moonpox. Everyone had a healthy respect for moonpox. But they also had mixed and various feelings about it and the Lycants at Finton. The lower ranking, younger, less experienced men would say it served them right. But the older, more experienced, and higher ranking men were nervous. They didn't want the peace offering of Finton turning into a disaster.

One night in the mansion, when they thought I was asleep, I wandered down the hall. Grandpa was crying while talking to Sandra about moonpox. He was worried it would take Momma. I didn't know where, or how moonpox could take her anywhere.

I missed Momma and Daddy badly. School kept me busy. Warrior training did too. That's what Daddy had called the long marches through the city. Training.

Now I wondered if I would ever see them again. I felt the tension and worry from everyone. At school I had asked Grant about moonpox. He'd asked me why. So I told him, "There's moonpox in Finton, where Momma and Daddy are."

He was a firecaster. He'd been around watercasters before though. He tried very hard to hide his heartbreak from me. It just didn't work. "Moonpox is bad. Really, really scary."

I frowned. Scary. "Like Dura?"

He shook his head, "No. More like what that evil priest did."

That had been scary. I couldn't do anything then. I was so sick. Momma couldn't help me. Lord Eureces could though. He killed the evil spirit with his great spirit to save me.

I had a great spirit at my command. I had to learn to harness him to save Momma and Daddy. I went to the best school in the world to learn how. That's what I heard all the time, how all the best casters learned here.

If moonpox had to do with being sick then Ms. Arand would be the best helper. She knew all about the body and healing. She had been teaching us how to feel inside of someone so we could tell what was good, or possibly hurt. It took a lot of concentration.

At the end of each class she always asked if anyone had any questions. Today was no different. "Does anybody have any questions?"

I raised my hand quickly, and stood in my seat so she could see me better. All eyes turned to me.

"Yes Oshie, what is your question?"

"What moonpox?"

It felt like I had stricken the class with lightning. Shock. Surprise. Curiosity. Grief. Sadness. And pity. Lots, and lots of pity.

But it was Grandpa's emotions I was focussed on. There was shock. Amazement. Then shame. Regret and shame.

Ms. Arand was watching him too. He caught her eye and nodded, but only after a long moments hesitation, and shame. Why shame?

Ms. Arand said, "Moonpox is a horrible sickness that spreads very easily, and kills, or seriously harms everyone who gets it. We know that it has been around for about 100 years, with certainty. It decimated, that is it killed everyone- every man, woman, and child in a region once. No healers have been allowed into those areas since, and harsh quarantines are placed if it is even suspected. If even one case is confirmed in a town or plantation everyone is kept there for 3 months. If they survive they are moved to another quarantine for 6 months, and the town or plantation is burned to the ground, and the earth turned over. Now, those who live in neighboring plantations are moved to a quarantine until the end of the season, and it is considered safe again."