Waiting for difficult news is hard on even the strongest of men, restraining loved ones trying to protect your child is even harder. Both Lord Orvyn and the young Dustin Hurst, knowing the doctor's unspoken credentials, tried their best to assure Lady Hurst that their guest would surely save their beloved Godiva. Even their loyal adviser Richard Smith, a man sympathetic to their plight, also tried to aid in their collective efforts to calm down the lady of the manor. Unfortunately, their combined efforts fell on deaf ears as her initial assessment of the doctor's character was too much to be overcome.
A sharp knock on the door from the attending guards announced the return of the divinely bestowed doctor and her religious assistant, carrying his child in their arms. The pair were let in without much disturbance, placing Godiva between her parents and setting themselves in front of the fire. “I have some good news and some bad news regarding your daughter's condition” began the doctor, her now uncovered face remaining pale in the fire's warm glow. “Knowing my conclusions and the rumours prevalent around your estate, you may wish to excuse anyone who cannot be trusted to hold their tongue.” Both Oryvn and Richard knew the implication of the statement and signaled to the few guards inside to wait outside the doors and away from earshot.
Now free of any talkative observers, the family and their confidant were left alone to hear whatever news this woman brought. “The cause of your daughter's condition is supernatural in nature.” This bold announcement was met by gasps from everyone present, their outbursts and anguished cries for salvation were tolerated for the brief moment, as would be considered appropriate. “If you touch the back of her head you can feel a small bump, that bump is likely a broken shard of some supernatural trinket which has somehow become lodged inside her head. The fragment in question still has latent magical power and is interfering with her control over her body. Her mind is still present and, by asking Yes and No questions, you can still talk to her. For our tests, any deliberate movement meant a positive answer and no response relates to a negative answer. Feel free to talk with her later as this is only the good news.” Lord Hurst could not bring himself to celebrate this breakthrough, as the notion of a supernatural presence still hovered over the now emotionally brightened room.
“Unfortunately, the young lady's condition is not the biggest problem we have.” Her voice wavering as a series of knocks came on the door, almost as if timed by the doctor herself. “My lord, a man and girl have arrived with a delivery for the doctor.” A nod from the woman was enough for Oryvn to confirm their authenticity. “Let them in.” The door guards let in a rough looking mercenary and a small girl, carrying a small wooden barrel between them. While they placed the box down securely, the doctor pulled out her ornate herbal censor and began to carefully fill it with various powders from her assorted supplies. “The particular mix of components I am about to burn will enable those without supernatural sight vision of natural spirits. It will last for about an hour. If you wish to step out to not see what is contained with-in the box, I will not stop you. That being said, Lord Oryvn I suggest that you and any advisers inhale the incense.”
No one remaining in the room took up the young doctor's offer to remain ignorant of whatever damn creature they had captured. Everyone remained on their chairs as the odd scent wafted around the room, blurring their vision as the substance took effect. The mercenary and the pastor both began to unseal the crate, exposing the liquid with-in to the open air. From the depths of its wooden container a mud-brown fish* stuck its head above the water, it's spiked visage absentmindedly staring at everyone gathered. The creature raised itself from the water using three vividly green, glowing tentacles that originated from behind its fore-fins and its pelvis. The creature simply watched from above its former cage, seemingly unaware of its surroundings. Oryvn guessed that this creature was about 4 feet in length (121 cementers,) with its currently flattened spined dorsal fin likely reaching a quarter of that. The sight of the creature was ultimately too much for his unsettled wife, whose consciousness left her when the second luminous appendage came to rest on the barrel's rim.
“The object currently embedded with-in the young lady was likely crafted from the dorsal spine of one of these creatures.” The doctor said, calmly hypothesizing about its origin. Her assistant, William, was quickly passed a thick pair of gloves, which he used to grab the creature for display and fanning out its various fins. “These creatures have developed a psychic link with your daughter, through such an item and have been drawn from whatever mires they would normally dwell in. Their passivity is likely linked to your daughter's physical state.” Now satisfied with the display, the cleric holding the fish quickly took it out of sight of the gathered audience and killed the creature, sparing such a violent sight from those with weak stomachs. The latest entrants were already making themselves scarce, not wanting to remain in a such a heavy atmosphere.
“This leads us to the problem. As these fish are linked to your daughter's mind, there is the potential that the shock of having the link suddenly severed may send the fish into a violent state.” She said, receiving the gloves from her associate. “It is not my place to decide on how you govern your territory or care for your family. I will provide you with the five options that I have thought of, I will carry out whatever choice you make.” Everyone present wore different expressions on their faces, from abject fear to calculating concern. At this point they decided to wake up Lady Hurst, avoiding such a topic would only cause further outbursts from his wife.
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“The first option is that I can surgically remove the spine from her head which should remove any connection to the spirits. As the only one with both supernatural and medical experience, I would be likely be the only one able to perform this immediately. That being said I would rate the chances of success to be at best one in twenty.” The low odds of success, while discouraging, were a further sign of her authenticity. Many quacks had come to their home and tried to swindle their estate with their 'guaranteed cures,' only to be captured by the guards fleeing in the middle of the night with their payment.
“The second option is to leave things as they are, the fish do not seem too aggressive in their current state and your family can provide ongoing care. The third option is to send her away, I am sure the church or another organization with experience with the supernatural would be able to care for her and try to cure her away from your people.” It was an uncomfortable notion, but with the potential damage that a swarming school of invisible fish could cause, the small sacrifice of their daughter's mobility and potential exile was a small price to pay for the safety of their lands.
“Given the rumours around the town, I am only mentioning this as an option as part of my duty as a doctor to present all available options. Neither my colleague's or my own expertise is in natural magics, seeking the aid of witches or local spirits may yield a at least a small reprieve from the worst of the symptoms, if they are not able to strip the artefact of its magic and return her to her normal state.” Her words, however dutifully honest they were, cut deep into the collective shame they all were forced to wear on their sleeves. Regardless of their desperation, his ego would not permit any dealings which would leave any debt to the ancient gods of the mires.
“The last option is taking her away from the castle and giving her a painless death away from people. It would limit her suffering and damage to your people.” The doctor's final option was quickly drowned out by a sudden outburst from a now distraught Lady Hurst. “NO! How dare you call yourself a doctor if you are suggesting that we kill our daughter!? If you hadn't shown us that cursed fish, I would've had you flogged for suggesting such a thing!” A pair of hands, from both Richard and Lord Hurst, deadened her out-burst. “Even if the doors are closed, raising your voice will surely carry through them.” Richard's rational seemed to grant some measure of self-realization to the sensitive noble. “They were only suggestions, my dear.” Lord Hurst added on “from her supernatural and medical expertise these are the options that she saw would address our primary concerns. She isn't going to do anything unless we ask her too, I won't make such a request.”
The doctor, ignoring the outburst, was already packing up her belongings, “My associate, William, or I will return each morning for the next two weeks to hear of your decision. If you need us, we are likely to stay at a local inn or church. Regardless of your decision, I shall make some more of the incense which you may purchase later if needed.” With a polite bow, their guests left the room. Dustin, who had been quietly holding his sister's hand throughout the meeting, finally spoke up. “Father...” words failing him. Orvyn pressed his hands against his brow, trying to parse his thoughts. “This is... a lot to take in, son. We should all think about what should be done, we have time to arrive at our answer.”
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The large stone hallways of the main manor suddenly felt suffocating and foreboding, it took all the emotional fortitude that Oryvn could muster to maintain his composure in front of his family and advisers. “Come Dustin, leave your sister with your mother. It is soon to be your twelfth Birthday, and this may well be your first test of manhood. If what the doctor said is true, it is our duty to assess the danger before making any rash judgement.” The young boy, steeling himself with whatever courage he could muster, bid farewell to his sister before leaving for the mire.
It had only been a few minutes since they had left the castle and the woman's strange smoke was already wearing off. Victoria had left some spare powder and a receptacle behind to aid in their decision, each man took care to limit exposure to such fumes lest further rumours spread throughout his lands. Dustin, trying to maintain his composure, hung onto his father's cloak as the depth of the danger soon became apparent. Walking down the various trails frequented by the patrolling guardsmen, they felt the gaze of dozens of those abominable fish watching from the shallows. Richard had begun to count the number contained just with-in the garden, only to give up once it had surpassed seventy. As much as he loved his daughter, the threat posed by these unknown creatures was far greater than he first thought.
For the first time in many years, since he had fought in the War of the Roses, the warm embrace of sleep would not come to him. His wife had cried herself to sleep, ignorant as to what lay outside his walls. From his office both he and Richard watched the swamps from the large window, now covered in an incandescent green glow. If not for the horrible truth it would've been a beautiful sight, like a large candle-lit mass on Christmas. “My lord, I know you won't like what I am going to say...” started his loyal vassal. “No need Richard. My daughter's plight will not blind me to this danger.”
“So what is your decision?” he asked, his eyes reflecting the green light from the creatures. “I have never gambled once in my life, games of chance or dreams of wealth did nothing for me. I think I have found something worth breaking my record. Her character and skill has been acknowledged by God, Richard. If that isn't a sign to risk it all on her, I am not sure what other sign there could have been.” His aide nodded, accepting his lord's choice. “I will brief the guard captains, if things get ugly the men should know what they will be fighting. Should I secure Lady Hurst?” Oryvn paused for a second, “No, she will likely interfere with the doctor's procedure. Have them stay in the church while the doctor operates, we will need those prayers for what is to come.”