Ponderosa woke up confused because she was facing the fire burning in the hearth. She shifted ever so slightly then started to panic a little panicked because she couldn’t feel Lady Iredys laying beside her. Confusion and happiness intertwined when she noticed Lady Iredys standing beside the window. The cottage still felt a little cold, despite the height of the fire burning brightly in the hearth. Lady Iredys didn’t seem to be shivering, but she brought her a blanket anyway.

Lady Iredys embraced her then, including her in the warmth of the blanket, and calmed her conflicting emotions. How long had she been awake? What thoughts were running through her mind? Was her leg hurting her? She shifted to pull away so she could get Lady Iredys off her broken leg. She had tried to ask her if she needed anything with her thoughts without response. Finally, she had touched Lady Iredys lips and hoped she understood that she was asking if she was ready to eat something. Lady Iredys shook her head.

Ponderosa left her alone for a while then, shaking the herbs to make sure their medicinal properties were pulled into the alcohol or oil they were soaking in. She lit a lamp so she had more light to work by. She had just started to reach for Krissy’s book when a halting inhale and soft whimper came from behind her. Lady Iredys was crying. Ponderosa grabbed a handkerchief from her chest and brought it to Lady Iredys. She held it out to her with no response. Ponderosa sat beside her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Lady Iredys eyes fluttered shut for a moment. They opened again when Ponderosa set the cloth in her hands. Lady Iredys blew her nose.

Ponderosa checked to see if she was ready to eat now. Again, Lady Iredys shook her head. She lay down on the cot just before her shoulders arched and her head tipped back. Her breathing sounded a little ragged as her body remained in the stiff position. Ponderosa set her hands under her neck and over her forehead. Hoped it would be enough to keep the convulsions at bay if that was what would follow, but after a few minutes, Lady Iredys’ shoulders sank to the cot. Her head lolled to one side as she seemed to return to sleep.

Covering her with both blankets, Ponderosa left her to rest. She picked up Krissy’s book to finish her search in regards to the stones in Lady Iredys’ chest. She turned the pages slowly as she looked for the Peridot.

‘The Peridot aids the purification of the subtle bodies. It alleviates emotional burdens and is known as the stone of transformation, renewal, and rebirth. It enhances harmony in relationships and strengthens extra-sensory perception like abilities.’

Ponderosa held the book in one hand and rubbed her eyes. Lady Iredys had two rebirth stones. So which one was responsible for keeping her alive? Or were they both responsible? The skin on her chest was still healing, but other than the occasional silver fleck, there was nothing to indicate which of the many runes had been forced upon her. Shaking her head, Ponderosa opened the book once more and searched for the Aquamarine stone.

‘The Aquamarine connects the spirit of the wearer with the Spirits of the Sea. It can prevent them from drowning. The stone is, also, known for its ability to calm fears and phobias. It promotes verbal self-expression, enhances spiritual connection, clears all communication blocks,....’

‘If it does, then that means we should have been able to talk to one another this morning.’ Ponderosa set the issue aside for now as she turned back to the book.

‘...it encourages clarity of thought and eases the assimilation of new knowledge. It quickens resolution thinking, allows one to see emotional situations from different perspectives, encourages tolerance, releases old patterns and behaviors and gives depth to one’s meditative state.’

Ponderosa nodded to the book. Another communication stone and yet one that related to aspects of relationships, but which rune had been used? With that combination alone there were at least seventeen possible runes that he could have used. Fifteen if he wasn’t doubling up and some of her previous guesses for the other stones were correct. Looking up from the book, Ponderosa noticed the fire was getting a little low. She put the book down and approached the fire. She cleaned out some of the ashes before adding another log.

She remained beside the fire to warm her fingers a little bit. A soft mew reached her ears. She turned. Her eyes scanned her cottage, but there was no sign of the tiny fur ball that made that sound. The sound came again, this time from Lady Iredys. Ponderosa stood. Did that mean the Peridot stone was combined with Dagaz? Had that man, also, cursed her to be able to transform as she did? Lady Iredys drew in a shaking inhale before she rolled onto her left side and wept. Ponderosa sat beside her and rubbed her back.

‘I wish I knew what would help you, My Lady. I wish I knew what that man did to you in the year and four months that you were in his hands, so I knew more of what I could be doing to bring you comfort.’

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Ponderosa continued to rub her back until Lady Iredys’ sobs stopped and her breathing returned to being deep and even. She adjusted the blankets a little to keep Lady Iredys warm then returned to Krissy’s book. The Diamond was the last stone she needed to find. The last bit of information that would, hopefully, connect all the pieces together.

‘The Diamond represents purity, innocence, love, fidelity, faithfulness, trust and truth. It has been known to represent illumination, creativity, fortitude, courage, and fearlessness. It provides strength, enhances one’s inner vision, invincibility, and protection. It has also been said to enhance telepathic communication, as well as amplify the energy of goals and intentions.’

Relationships and communication again, so many possible runes, but would that man really double up on rune properties? If so, what aspect had he chosen? Communication? Creativity? Protection? Vision? If anything, she was feeling more puzzled, because so many of the stones were associated with communication when there had been hardly anything spoken between them. Did that mean he had purposefully chosen other properties so she couldn’t speak? If so, how had she been able to hear Lady Iredys’ voice? Especially over the distance that lay between Mediocre Village and Pride Town.

Ponderosa put the book down and agitated her herbs once more. A click-tap sounded against the table. Krissy’s book was open. She turned enough to check on Lady Iredys. She had curled up and was holding the pillow against her chest, but if she had opened the book then did that mean she was trying to communicate something to her? Turning her attention to the book, Ponderosa skimmed the page to see what stones were on these pages, but the more she tried to scan the less she was seeing. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Her sight landed on the entry for the Garnet.

‘Garnet is the stone of love. It enhances sexuality while bringing sincerity, warmth, trust, devotion, understanding, and honesty into the relationship. It purifies the body and is a great boon in maintaining the overall health of the body. It brings courage and hope when facing less than ideal situations. It sharpens the perceptions one has of oneself and others. It is, also, helpful in removing inhibitions and taboos. Garnet is a great stone to use when striving to generate self-confidence and a higher way of thinking.’

Ponderosa’s brow furrowed. Why would she be drawn to this entry? Why was it important? How did it relate to what was going on with Lady Iredys? Or was it something she needed for herself? She read through the entry again. It didn’t feel like something she needed for herself, nor did it seem like something that would help Lady Iredys either. A dull throbbing started in her temples. Uhg. Another overthinking headache. Ponderosa rubbed her temples. She located her Feverfew tincture and took a dropperful.

She swayed on her feet. Lady Iredys shifted on the cot again, leaving room for Ponderosa to lay beside her. Ponderosa nodded and weaved her way over to the cot. She lay with her back to Lady Iredys and closed her eyes to rest for a while.

When she woke again, Iredys was still asleep beside her. She got up slowly, since her head still throbbed some. She warmed some of the water she had and made herself a cup of peppermint tea. Lady Iredys stirred on the bed and moaned as she sat up. Ponderosa made a second cup of tea and brought it over to Lady Iredys. She accepted the cup with a slight smile on her lips. While Iredys drank the tea, Ponderosa mixed up two glasses of meal with a mix of alfalfa and chlorophyll and brought one to Lady Iredys. She drank this too, before she handed Ponderosa the glass then stood and made her way over to the window again.

‘Did you want to go outside, My Lady?’ Ponderosa wondered, as she finished her own glass of meal.

Lady Iredys didn’t respond.

Ponderosa approached her then. She tapped Lady Iredys’ arm then tapped on the window.

Lady Iredys shook her head. ‘Not yet,’ Ponderosa heard her thoughts softly whisper.

‘Okay,’ she replied with a nod.

She was about to walk away, when Lady Iredys hooked her arm around Ponderosa’s. ‘A turn about the house might be nice though.’

‘Sure, My Lady.’

‘Your Lady is dead, Ponderosa,’ Lady Iredys chastised lightly. ‘If you insist on calling me by the name this body had, please drop the honorifics. I am simply Iredys until my son is born.’

‘As you wish, My… Iredys.’

A small smile lifted her lips before she turned to start walking around the cottage. Ponderosa let Iredys set the pace. The two of them walked around the cottage slowly. Iredys limped slightly on their second time around, before she was ready to rest again. As she sat, Ponderosa noticed that her broken leg was twitching a little. She started to kneel to check on it when Lady Iredys stopped her.

‘It’s okay, Ponderosa,’ she thought. ‘The muscles are just a little tired.’

‘Are you sure, Lady… Iredys?’ Ponderosa thought back.

Iredys nodded.

‘Alright.’

Iredys lay down on the cot and Ponderosa covered her as she fell asleep once more. She rubbed Iredys’ shoulder a little, happy that whatever had blocked their communication early that morning seemed to have been taken care of. Now it should be easier for her to find out and address the needs that La… Iredys still had.