Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza (34 page)

“Are there any trained healers in this city?” Alex asked, dropping to the floor to rest for a moment.

“A few,” said Tilac.

“Summon them,” Alex ordered. “I will need their help if we are to save the injured people of Ossbo.”

“And my son?” Lady Shelnor questioned.

“He has many broken bones that will take time to heal, but he will live.”

“How do you know? How can you be sure?” Lady Shelnor asked, her voice shaking in fear.

“I know,” said Alex.

“But—”

“He will live,” Alex repeated firmly. “Now, summon the healers. There is much work to do in this city, and I will need their help.”

“Go, Tilac, do as he commands,” said Lady Shelnor with a wave of her hand.

“Forgive me, lady,” said Alex, “but I must rest a moment before going to help your people.”

A short time later, Alex left Lady Shelnor with her son and made his way back to the main entrance of the palace. He met Tilac there, with a small group of people following him. Alex could see that most of the people had at least some power in them. He felt his own strength returning as they gathered around him, waiting for him to speak.

“How many people are injured?” Alex asked.

“Most of the guards,” said Tilac. “I would say a hundred of them badly, and the others only slightly.”

“And the people of the city?” Alex asked.

“Many have burns and cuts,” said one of the healers, stepping forward. “We know charms and simple spells to ease their pains, but we have no great store of medicines.”

“What is your name?” asked Alex.

“I am Roanna.”

“Go to the kitchens, Roanna, and find the largest caldron or cooking pot you can. Fill it with clean water and set it to boil. I will follow shortly.”

Roanna bowed to Alex and left, running.

Alex turned back to the rest of the healers. “The people rescued from Bray’s camp? How are they?”

“Weak and hungry,” said Tilac. “There are few injuries among them that a meal and a good night’s sleep will not heal.”

“Very well,” said Alex, looking at the faces around him. “Find those who are injured the worst. Bring them here to the palace as quickly as you can. I will go to the kitchens and make some healing potions for you to use. Tilac, make sure those who were rescued from the carts get something to eat, and try to find them a place to rest.”

“As you command,” said Tilac with a bow.

“Go now, my friends,” said Alex to the healers. “We have a great deal of work to do, and the night is already growing old.”

The healers left the palace, and Alex went to find the kitchens. When he finally found them, Roanna was there, boiling as much water as she possibly could in several large pots.

“I could not move the largest pots to the fire,” Roanna explained, not meeting Alex’s eyes. “I thought I should do as much as I could. I hope it is enough.”

“It will be fine,” said Alex, leaning his staff against the wall and clearing a large table in the center of the room. “Do you know anything of adventurers?”

“I have heard stories,” said Roanna in a slightly confused tone.

“Very well. I don’t have time to explain things now, but I’m going to disappear for a few minutes, though this bag will remain. You will not be able to move this bag while I am gone. When I return, I will try to answer any questions you might have.”

Roanna nodded that she understood.

Alex lifted his magic bag and quietly spoke the password. Once inside his bag, he moved as fast as he could to collect what he would need. First, he went to his greenhouse to collect herbs and roots, flowers and leaves. Then he went to his library, where he stored his other magical items for potion making. It took him less than ten minutes to get everything, and with his arms full, he returned to the kitchen.

Alex began setting out the items he’d collected on the table, arranging them in groups so they would be ready for each potion he planned to make.

“This is dwarf’s beard,” said Roanna, picking up one of the plants.

“That is one of its names,” said Alex.

“But it is rare here in Nezza, and it only grows in the far north,” Roanna said.

“I had it in my bag,” said Alex. “You said you’d heard stories of adventurers—what do those stories say?”

“They say that adventurers carry magic bags with them, bags that can hold many things in a small place,” answered Roanna.

“That is true,” said Alex as he moved to one of the smaller pots of water. “Magic bags make it easy for adventurers to carry everything we might need. As you can see, I have a great many things in my bag.”

As the first potion began to boil, Alex started mixing a second and then a third. When the third potion was brewing, he returned to the first and removed it from the fire, checking its color to make sure it was finished.

“Take a goblet of this to Lord Roland. Make sure he drinks all of it,” Alex said to Roanna. “Can you splint broken bones?”

“I have done it many times,” Roanna answered with pride.

“Roland’s bones are already set, but his left arm and leg will both need splints,” said Alex. “You should also bind his ribs because several of them are broken.”

“As you command,” said Roanna, taking a goblet from one of the shelves and filling it with the potion Alex pointed to.

“When you are finished with Lord Roland, return,” Alex said as Roanna moved toward the door. “There are many others who will need our help.”

Alex returned to the potions he was brewing and began making one more he thought would be helpful. It wasn’t long before Alex thought he heard Roanna coming toward the kitchen. He turned to ask why she was back so soon, but to his surprise, Lady Shelnor entered the kitchen. Her hair was pulled back and she wore a common work dress now, and there was a fierce and determined look in her eyes.

“Roanna told me there was much work to do,” said Lady Shelnor. “How may I serve my people?”

“Great lady,” said Alex with a slight bow. “I have two large cauldrons of healing potion that are ready. The healers are bringing those who are hurt the worst to the palace. Find some men to help you, and take these cauldrons to the healers. Have them give some of this potion to all who come here. I will have more potions ready soon.”

“As you wish,” said Lady Shelnor, turning to go.

The night seemed to go on forever. Alex continued to brew potions, and Lady Shelnor and Roanna continued to take them to those who were injured. The work seemed endless, and from time to time Alex had to call on the power of the dragon to refresh himself so he could keep going.

When he finished making potions, Alex went back up into the palace carrying a large pot full of a thick, reddish-brown mixture. The healers gathered around him when he arrived.

“This mixture is for burns,” Alex explained, setting down the pot. “Spread a little of it over any burned skin. It will ease the pain and help the skin to heal.”

The healers immediately did as Alex commanded.

Alex turned to Roanna. “Now, show me those who are most hurt.”

Roanna led him through the palace, stopping at the makeshift cots to tell Alex what was wrong with each person. Alex did what he could for each of them, taking away their pain and their fear and setting them on a path of healing.

When Roanna fell asleep while Alex was helping a sickly old man, he motioned for one of the other healers to take her place. When he had seen all the people in the palace, he went out into the courtyard, helping those who needed him. Alex lost track of time as he worked, trying to do all he could for the injured in the city.

When he returned to the palace, it was dark. Alex didn’t know how long he had been working, but he thought at least one day had gone by. Moving quietly so as not to disturb anyone, he was surprised to find Lady Shelnor and Roanna waiting for him.

“My lord, you must rest,” said Roanna in a concerned voice.

“There are still many who need help,” said Alex with a weak smile.

“And they will receive help, but you must rest,” said Lady Shelnor.

“It has been three days since you came to our city, Master Taylor. Surely you must need food and sleep,” Roanna added.

“Three days?” Alex asked.

“It has been three days since you saved our city,” answered Lady Shelnor. “You have done much for my people, and now you must rest.”

“Yes,” said Alex, suddenly feeling tired beyond words. “A little food and sleep would be good.”

“Come. A bed has been made ready for you,” said Lady Shelnor.

Alex followed Lady Shelnor into the palace. He could see that many of the injured were looking better already. Most of the people in the great hall turned to look at him as he passed. He was taken to a large room where a fine-looking bed and a meal were waiting for him.

“Rest, my friend,” said Lady Shelnor. “If anyone deserves a rest, it is you.”

“Call me if there is need,” said Alex.

He didn’t eat but fell onto the bed as soon as the door to his room was closed. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so tired, and the soft bed was more than he could have hoped for. He let himself sink into the softness and drift away into a happy, restful sleep.

When Alex woke, the sky was getting dark again, and he guessed that he had been asleep for twelve hours or more. He got up and changed his clothes, then hurried back to the great hall of the palace.

Lady Shelnor and Roanna were both in the main hall, serving food to those who were well enough to eat. Alex went to them and asked if anyone needed his help. Lady Shelnor smiled and told him that all the injured were doing fine, and she insisted that Roanna take Alex back to the kitchens.

“Make sure he eats something,” Lady Shelnor said to Roanna. “It will not do for an honored guest of the city to go hungry.”

Roanna led Alex back to the kitchens. There were several people in the kitchens now, and the air was full of wonderful smells. The smells made Alex hungry, and he was happy to let Roanna bring him a large meal. Roanna sat down and watched him as he ate.

“You have power as a healer,” said Alex.

“I am nothing compared to you,” said Roanna.

“Are you so sure?”

“You did more in three days than I could ever do,” said Roanna.

“I did what was needed,” said Alex. “But you did a great deal as well.”

“You were watching?” Roanna asked in surprise.

“I see many things,” said Alex. “Tell me, who trained you in the art of healing?”

“My grandmother,” said Roanna with a touch of pride. “She had great hopes for me as a healer.”

“Had?” Alex asked.

“I was not able to pass the test,” said Roanna quietly. “I feared the wall too much to ever even try.”

“That is nothing to be ashamed of,” said Alex. “There are many who do not wish to go there.”

“Have you been to the wall?” Roanna questioned.

“Yes.”

“I was told that I could never be a great healer unless I went there,” Roanna said. “I could never find the courage to go, so I will never be a great healer.”

“You may never be known as a healer of power, but you are still a great healer,” said Alex. “Journeys to the shadowlands are dangerous, and only a small part of a healer’s craft.”

Roanna looked like she was thinking very hard.

Alex waited for a moment, then said, “Do what you can as a healer. Do not be troubled by the wall or what lies beyond it.”

Roanna nodded, and Alex thought she understood what he was trying to say. When he finished his meal, Alex returned to the halls of the palace to talk with the healers about their art. He knew that he would soon need to leave this place and return to Karmus. There was still so much work to do before Rallian sat on his throne.

Chapter Twenty-One

The King of Nezza

Alex had been in Ossbo just over two weeks when Stonebill turned up. He landed on Alex’s shoulder, shaking water out of his feathers, as Alex was sitting down to dinner with Lady Shelnor and the few lords that remained in Ossbo. Alex laughed, but Lady Shelnor and the lords of Ossbo all looked shocked by the bird’s arrival.

“Your storm has lasted for nearly three weeks, and I’ve had a hard time finding a dry place to sleep,” Stonebill complained.