Medice Ceres

Chapter 56

Faint raps on the iron bars of the door woke Waithe and Ceres. Waithe jumped up while Ceres rubbed her eyes and sat up. In the dark, it was difficult to make out the identity of the figure on the other side of the metal grid. Waithe approached the door. A young guard, hardly more than a teenager, shot apprehensive glances down both sides of the hallway.

Waithe narrowed his eyes. "Do you wish something?"

The guard jerked his eyes to Waithe and then to Ceres. His mouth hung open. "My Lady? You be a Medice healer?"

Ceres answered, "Aye, sir."

"Perhaps this not proper, but my mother be deathly ill. And um..."

"You wish healing for your mother?"

"Aye, my Lady. I mean, if you would..."

Waithe tipped his head and raised an eyebrow toward Ceres. She smiled. "I would try. I don't suppose you could take me to her?"

"Um, no. I have not the key."

"Then bring her here to me."

Waithe grinned as the young guard slunk away into the dark hallway. "It seems, my dear daughter, you have a reputation even here in the house of our enemy."

About an hour later, a hushed female voice drifted in from the dark hallway. "Be you sure? Trouble could you find for this."

The young guard answered as they arrived at the cell door, "It shall be fine, Mother. The only one who saw us be my friend, and he be sworn to secrecy."

Waithe spoke softly through the bars as Ceres joined him. "As for us, ma'am, this shall also be our secret."

The guard held up the frail trembling woman who seemed not able to stand on her own. Her long dark hair laid in tangled strands. Even in the faint light, Waithe could see the yellow pallor of her face.

Her hands shook as she held up a small cracked leather purse. "I hope this be enough. It be all I have."

Ceres held her hand up. "Nay, ma'am. I shall accept neither money nor favor. Lay down here before the bars and I shall begin."

The guard helped his mother lay down on the floor, letting her head lay in his lap. Ceres sat down and reached through the bars to take up a hand.

Ceres asked, "Do you know of the Spirits?"

The woman shook her head.

"I would call the Life Spirit Myr. Through her comes the Magic that would heal. Do not be alarmed."

Ceres closed her eyes. Myr's umber light appeared above her, circling back and forth through the iron bars as if they did not exist. The woman's jaw dropped as her widened eyes tracked the Spirit. A small smile came to Waithe's face. Those who saw a Spirit for the first time always had an amazed look on their face. The shimmering Magic, like tiny sparks in the darkness, descended to envelop the woman.

Ceres mumbled, "It is your liver, ma'am. A disease has taken hold of it. Let us see..."

As the Magic worked, the yellow faded from her face, replaced on her cheeks with a faint rouge. After a few moments, the sparks faded away and the Spirit disappeared.

Ceres smiled. "There, you should feel better. You shall still be weak, but your strength will return in a few days with rest. Be sure to eat and drink well."

Tears streamed down her face as her son cradled her. She smiled back at Ceres. "And I had already sewn my burial dress."

"Then wrap it well and store it away. I pray you shall not need it for a very long time."