Brotherband Chronicles: Lydia's Past

Chapter 13: A very good question

Hal was pacing back and forth on Malcolm's little veranda. The other Herons were either on the little bench or on the edge of the veranda. It was a little over two hours later since Malcolm and an unconscious Lydia had disappeared in the cabin and there was still no word of Lydia's condition. Why did these things always happen to his crew? Hadn't they been through enough already? First, all the bullying in Hallasholm, the shame they had to endure when the Andomal was taken, Ingvar's injury during their first journey and so on. He took a deep breath and urged himself to stand still. None of this was going to help Lydia. Besides, if Lydia knew he was blaming himself, she would give him a well-earned punch. Despite the situation, he could not help but smile a little. She would be all right. She had to.

The door latch rattled and the grey-haired healer appeared. They all stood in an instant. Malcolm looked tired, but he smiled as he saw the unspoken question in their eyes.

'She'll be all right.' The healer answered. Multiple sighs of relief spread across the Healer's field. The Herons were finally able to properly breathe again. Hal sunk down on the bench and put his head in his hands. The tension leaving his body. He felt a small hand on his shoulder and looked into Malcolm's eyes.

'If you had been any later, I am not sure she would have made it.' Hal simply looked at him. He was exhausted, Malcolm knew. However, what he had to tell could not wait. He moved on. 'You were right that she was poisoned, but it took me a little longer to figure out what poison it was. It is a very lethal poison, first seen on the Eastern Steppes. To be more specific, it was discovered by the Temujai.'

'Why is it so important we know where the poison came from?' Stefan asked the small man. The rest of the Herons stared at him and Stefan went red. Malcolm only sighed, the annoying questions were normally only asked by Xander, but apparently, fate had a twisted sense of humour.

'It is important to know, because the poison is extremely rare. It is not listed in any major healing texts. You are very lucky I have more knowledge about it than most other healers.'

'I do not get it,' Stig began, 'why use such rare poison on Lydia?'

'That, young man is a very good question.' Malcolm said. 'One that you should ask her very soon. Is there someone you know who may have reasons to kill your friend?'

They stared at him in shock. There could not be anyone targeting Lydia. She did not have any enemies. What Malcolm was suggesting, simply could not be the case.

After a while, Hal replied. 'No, not as far as we know.'

Malcolm sighed. 'All right, right now is not the moment to speak of these things. You should all get some rest.' He turned to Hal. 'Your friend is resting as well and will not be awake for at least a couple of hours. But I am assuming you want to see her.' Hal simply nodded, too tired to speak. 'Then go, but not too long.'

Hal stood, his body aching. Still he did not slow down; he could rest in a bit. Before he entered the little house, he turned around and smiled reassuringly at the others. They would figure it out later. He turned around and entered the house.

Lydia lay asleep on the bed in the corner. Hal sat himself beside the bed and watched her chest rise and fall. He had never thought for it to be reassuring, but after all, he had seen her without the rise and fall.

When Edvin had said Lydia had stopped breathing, he could not belief it. However, as he ran towards her and kneeled beside her, he knew it to be true. Hal felt his heart sink, but he could not stop staring at Lydia. It had happened; his worst fear had come true. She was dead. Numbness had taken him over and he could not remember what had happened after the thought had passed his mind. The next thing he did remember was a little figure approaching them. It turned out Malcolm may not be easily found, but he found other people very quick. It was as if the world had fallen apart and Malcolm was sent to repair it. Malcolm had saved Lydia. She was safe. He repeated the sentence over and over in his mind. She was safe. He gently took her hand in his and gave her hand a squeeze.

'I do not know who did this to you, but I am going to find out who did. I promise.'

When Malcolm came back half an hour later, he found the young skirl asleep in a chair, his hand around that of the girl he had saved. With a smile, Malcolm quietly took a blanket and placed it over Hal's shoulders. Silently, he walked out of his little house and closed the door.