The rain thumped steadily against the roof. Intermittent gusts of wind assailed the tightly drawn shutters, which rattled loudly each time. A squat candle dimly lit the room with flickering lights. A bra hung over the dressing stand. Nadia nestled underneath two blankets. No fire gave warmth to the cool, humid room. The dampness made her shiver. She wanted nothing more than to get up, get dressed, and do some work, but every time she tried to stand, she eventually fainted. A high feverish heat burned over forehead down to her cheeks and ears. Josh was out fetching water.

For two days, she had endured lying on her straw and fur mat almost nonstop, so she determined to sit up, at least for as long as she could manage. She tucked her blankets around her hips and left the cool, moist air hit her sweaty undershirt. The shirt pulled from her skin with some resistance before she fanned it; the wet fabric cooled her too quickly. Chills ran through her body and made her teeth chatter. Not again! She folded one of the blankets around her torso to warm up. A pain burst from deep inside her skull, like an intense drumbeat reverberating deeply. She pressed her hands against both sides of her head while clenching her teeth.

Outside, Bradox stooped into the mud; his spell backfired and caused him to suffer a share of the poison he manifested. The only way to rectify the situation before he lost control was to release the girl from his spell. Rain poured over the back of his cloak as knelt in the mud bracing on his staff. Bradox concentrated especially hard to return his malevolent power to that witch at the inn. If this struggle continued, he would be unable to preserve Nostrum’s wife as he wanted her. Once he released that meddlesome witch from his power, he could take credit for healing her. He thought that might prove to be some consolation. The time it took to finish with this counter attack was alarming, but once the onslaught had been dealt with, Bradox allowed the rain to wash the mud from his hands and robe before continuing to the inn.

Back at the inn, Nadia fainted. A wave of pain struck her with terrible force. She fell back like a shotgun blasted her forehead. A dull thump came from the mat. Her right hand pulled at her blanket, leaving it to crisscross her chest. Her left hand shot upwards and landed behind her head, while her right leg kicked itself out from underneath.

She didn’t hear the swift rap of Dew’s knuckles against her door. After knocking a second time to be polite, Dew checked the knob and found the door unlocked and unlatched. Nadia lay unconscious over top her mat, her eyes still half open, and her blankets in disarray. Dew took her pale clammy hand as he listened to her heavy breathing. Her eyes slowly closed without acknowledging him. It felt as though her skin left a cold wax on his lips when he kissed the back of her hand. Since he wished to see her more comfortable, he took it upon himself to push her stray limbs back on the mat and underneath her covers, which he took the time to straighten.

Once tucked neatly in the mat, she rolled to the left and sent her left foot venturing outside. His fingers went through her hair, of which he lifted a few strands. The tap of a bowl against the table along with the gentle sloshing of water pulled Dew from his trance. Joshes arms held dry towels. They stared at each down, but then both men took a breath and nodded with an identical sense of purpose.

Josh turned away to examine his reflection in the water bowl, “She’s been like this ever since she tried to heal that woman a few days ago. She faints whenever she tries to walk somewhere. I think it’s a bad case of pneumonia.”

“How long exactly is that?” Dew started playing with her hair idly.

“This would be the third day.”

“This sort of illness isn’t common.”

“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out! And why do you keep playing with her damn hair! How’s that supposed to help?”

Nadia suddenly sat up and looked straight at Dew with a puzzled expression. She rubbed her forehead, then looked at him again, “You? Are you even real?”

“Of course I’m real. Don’t you remember me?”

She sighed, “Don’t treat me like an idiot. You must be real. Illusions don’t treat people like idiots. What are you doing here?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Dew took her hand, “I’ve decided to help you. I’ll do only as you wish.”

“You can start by not touching me,” she glared as if her hand was between two soiled rags. “I wouldn’t find you half as repulsive if you’d mind your own business. I told you to leave me alone. Didn’t I leave you with Darrell?”

A sudden burst pain rushed through her entire body. It felt electric this time. She pulled her hand away from Dew and punched the floor. The wood dented under her fist. Her scream pierced. Josh covered his ears while Dew attempted to put his arm around her. She cried desperately as wave after wave burst from inside her chest before spreading through her arms and legs. Nadia jumped from the mat, thrust herself against Dew’s chest, and clutch his shoulders so tightly that he winced as his collar bone compressed, but he cradled her anyway as he looked to Josh.

“She’s never acted like this before.”

Bradox was so close to the door of the inn. A searing pain circulating through his limbs kept him from reaching for the handle. His body staggering upwards, then slammed against the door. The little witch’s resistance to his powers strengthened faster than he expected. Damn her, he thought, she’ll ruin everything. Bradox put a finger to his forehead and concentrated fiercely. The pain subsided just as Swabert opened the door he now leaned against. Bradox fell inside, bruising the shoulder he landed on as his staff clattered. Swabert extended a hand to help him to his feet.

“Oh, Healer Braddox! I’m dreadfully sorry! You don’t look well sir. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“The girl. What room is she keeping?”

“What girl, sir?”

“The only girl staying here, you dolt! The one who is ill.”

“Number three.”

“Thank you. That’s all I need to know.”

Nadia fainted, again. Her breathing became shallow as her head went limp against Dew’s shoulder. He laid her atop of one blanket, then placed a pillow of rolled straw under her head before covering her with the other. Hands pushed against his knees as he got up and went to head out.

“I know of some healing herbs that might help. I’ll pick some.”

“I suppose it can’t hurt.”

A reassuring voice came from the hall, “No need to worry about herbs now,” Bradox walked into the open doorway and leaned against its rough beams for support, as he was quite winded. “If I heal her now, she’ll be normal tomorrow. Let me pray over her.”

“We don’t need help from you.”

“I’m not sick,” Nadia mumbled, “I’m nod sick. I don’t need your help. I can do it myself.”

“You heard the girl, as far as you’re concerned, she’s not sick.”

Dew stepped in front of Josh, “I think she’ll be grateful for any prayer she receives. You have our permission to pray over her.”

“Wait a second! I don’t trust him. He wanted our heads just a few days ago. Why the big change all the sudden?”

“Lord Nostrum made his decision. I harbor no grudges because my advice wasn’t taken. Do I not have the duty, as a healer, to help those in need?”

“Let him try. If he tries any dark magic, I’ll sense it.”

“Fine. Do your stuff, but we’re not going anywhere.”

“So be it. I hope I prove my good intentions to you this day. As I’m going to relieve the plague she brought upon herself the day she snuck into the chamber of Lady Nostrum.”

Dew had his sword sheathed at his hip and the hand rested on the hilt.

First Bradox pulled back her blanket. Then he pulled up her undershirt and rolled the bottom portion tightly to the chest. Josh focused his attention on the window shutters. Bradox motioned an invisible pentagram on her stomach with a clammy index finger.

“Is this healing? I thought you said you were just gonna pray or something.”

“This is what must be done. Do you want her to be healed or not?”

Bradox continued to make the sign over her waist, then he mumbled, “Domas Iparox, Edos Nay Releasum” repeatedly, each time louder until finally shouting. He pushed against her waist with both hands. Dark fog flowed from Nadia’s mouth. As she gasped, dark fog formed into a ball that Bradox took into his right hand, where it compressed and disappeared.

“She will recover quickly. I excised the spiritual poison causing her illness. It was far worse than I anticipated, if I had arrived a moment later, it might have been too late.”

“What should we do now?” Dew asked.

“Leave her sleep. Her clothes and skin are stained with illness. It could take root again. She must take a long bath in a hot herbal solution as soon as she awakens. It’ll take a good hour, maybe two, before it cleanses her spirit completely. Once done with, there’ll be nothing more to worry about. Use these,” Bradox tossed Dew a small bag of scented bath beads, “That solution will rid her body of any lingering illness. I must hurry back to attending Lady Nostrum. I wish you all well.”

He made a show of returning to the hall enfeebled by his efforts, yet refused the help Dew offered him. Once outside, he chuckled quietly to himself and walked in the rain briskly.

Josh continued to look at the shutters as Dew covered Nadia with the blanket once more.

“Did the old man do right by her?”

“He removed a curse, yet strangely enough, the essence of the curse seemed to be the nature of his power. Though, I could be mistaken. Killing him would have been a terrible mistake. His efforts saved her life.”

“As long as she gets better. If something terrible happens, I’ll never forgive myself for letting him near her.”

“No worries. She’ll get better. If I had detected otherwise, that healer would not have left with his head on his neck.”