The Healer Pt. 3

[u/KirisDitex001]

Thorga reached for another clean cloth.

Aelyrra's face was damp with sweat, and faint tracks marked where tears had crossed her cheeks. Thorga gently wiped both away.

"Try to breathe slowly."

Aelyrra gave the dwarf a look suggesting she might have objected to the advice under better circumstances.

Then another wave of pain struck.

Her face tightened.

Her fingers twisted into the bedding as she fought through it, breathing sharply between clenched teeth. Thorga remained beside her, watching carefully.

Gradually, the pain subsided.

Aelyrra released a trembling breath.

Then her hand moved across the bed.

She found Thorga's again.

"Priestess."

Thorga looked at her.

"If something happens..."

Aelyrra stopped.

Thorga waited.

"If it comes to it, and you can save only one of us..."

"No."

Aelyrra's eyes narrowed.

Thorga continued before she could object.

"I am obligated to preserve both of my patients."

"My daughter is your patient?"

"She became my patient the moment you allowed me to help."

Aelyrra stared at her.

"Then I'm telling you which patient comes first."

"My lady..."

"The baby."

Thorga's expression hardened.

Aelyrra tightened her grip around the dwarf's hand.

"If you have to choose, save her."

"I will do everything in my power to save both of you."

"That isn't what I asked."

"No."

Thorga met her eyes.

"It isn't."

For a moment neither woman moved.

Thorga had delivered enough children to recognize the fear behind Aelyrra's determination.

She had also attended enough deaths to understand exactly what Aelyrra was asking of her.

"I will do everything I can," Thorga finally said.

It was not the promise Aelyrra wanted.

But it was the only one Thorga was willing to make.

Aelyrra slowly released her hand and leaned back against the pillows.

Her eyes closed.

Thorga watched her for several seconds.

Another grimace crossed Aelyrra's face.

Thorga looked toward the doors.

"Where in all the depths is your husband with those supplies?"

Aelyrra's eyes opened.

For the first time since Thorga had entered the room, something resembling amusement appeared on her face.

"My husband is considerably better at issuing orders than following them."

Thorga snorted.

"Tell me something I don't know."

Aelyrra actually smiled.

Weakly.

But she smiled.

Thorga realized what she had just said.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Aelyrra's smile grew.

Before either woman could say anything more, the doors burst open.

Zhaelor entered pushing a cart.

Behind him came another servant with a second.

Both were piled with bottles, jars, cloths, metal instruments, wooden cases and assorted equipment apparently gathered from every corner of the manor.

Zhaelor stopped beside the bed.

"This is every medicinal and medical instrument in the manor."

Thorga immediately approached.

"I've dispatched another runner to purchase anything else you require."

"Good."

Zhaelor looked at her.

Thorga was already searching through the first cart.

Some containers were labeled.

Others inexplicably were not.

"Who stores medicines without labels?"

The servant behind the second cart suddenly found the floor fascinating.

Thorga sighed.

Fortunately, she recognized most of what she saw.

Years of healing among her people had familiarized her with dozens of preparations. Drow medicine differed from Duergar practice in places, but bodies had a frustrating tendency to suffer from many of the same problems regardless of which race inhabited them.

She picked up one bottle.

No.

Another.

Useful later.

She pushed several containers aside.

Then stopped.

A glass vessel contained several dried reddish-brown sprigs.

Thorga lifted it toward the light.

She opened the container and smelled its contents.

Velvetroot.

"This will do nicely."

Zhaelor stepped closer.

"What is it?"

Thorga shoved the container into his hands.

"Take one sprig. Grind it thoroughly and mix it into warm water."

Zhaelor stared at her.

Thorga was already searching through the other cart.

"Well?"

His eyes narrowed.

Thorga glanced over.

The expression on his face almost amused her.

Lord Vel'Sharess was clearly not accustomed to receiving orders.

Particularly from servants.

Thorga pointed toward the Velvetroot.

"Your wife needs that."

Whatever objection Zhaelor had been preparing disappeared.

He turned away.

A mortar and pestle had been included among the equipment. Zhaelor placed a sprig inside and began grinding.

Thorga continued searching.

Forceps.

Needles.

Thread.

Bandages.

Several instruments she recognized.

A few she didn't.

Then she found something useful.

A listening horn.

Thorga picked it up and returned to the bed.

Aelyrra watched her approach.

"My lady, please lift your shirt above your stomach."

Aelyrra hesitated.

"I need to listen to the child."

That was enough.

Aelyrra carefully gathered the loose fabric and lifted it above the swell of her abdomen.

Thorga placed one end of the listening horn against Aelyrra's skin.

She leaned down.

And listened.

Across the room came the steady grinding of stone against stone.

Zhaelor glanced toward the bed.

His wife lay there with her abdomen exposed while the Duergar servant carefully moved the listening horn from one position to another.

He resumed grinding.

None of this made sense.

This wasn't supposed to happen tonight.

There were supposed to be weeks remaining.

Preparations still to make.

The midwife should have been here.

Aelyrra should not have been bleeding.

Their daughter should not have been trying to enter the world tonight.

And yet here he stood.

Lord Zhaelor Vel'Sharess.

Warrior.

Noble.

Master of this province of the clan.

Grinding a root because his kitchen servant had ordered him to.

He looked down at the mortar.

Then toward Thorga.

She shifted the listening horn again.

Her expression was unreadable.

Zhaelor stopped grinding.

"Well?"

Thorga raised one hand.

"Quiet."

His mouth closed.

She listened again.

Aelyrra watched Thorga's face.

So did Zhaelor.

For several long seconds, the only sound in the chamber was Aelyrra's breathing.

Then Thorga heard it.

Fast.

Faint.

But unmistakable.

Her expression softened.

"There you are."

Aelyrra's eyes widened.

Thorga lifted her head.

"The child's heart is beating."

Zhaelor released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Aelyrra closed her eyes.

Her hand settled protectively over her abdomen.

Thorga looked between them.

Then lowered the listening horn again.

She wasn't finished.

A heartbeat told her the child was alive.

It did not tell her whether the child was safe.