Chapter 13 The Healer
Chapter thirteen
The Healer
The Sleeping Princess never wanted anything more than her cottage with her three fairy friends. It was a quiet life, and she knew her woods well. The day the prince came, she couldn’t help but feel her life had inexplicably changed forever.
-Tales from Meridea, Volume I
The castle infirmary was a dream come true.
It had a similar golden dome as the library, but instead of books, white shelf after white shelf held ingredients, tonics, different glasses for brewing, and vases of flowers and roots.
A large section of the east wall was dedicated to books on healing and herbology that Luci would have loved to spend time with.
There was a large white table at the center where several concoctions bubbled and brewed over the heat.
It smelled like a symphony of herbs and flowers.
Ginger, garlic, rose, lavender, turmeric, all of it and more, layered upon layer. With this, Luci could make sure Brielle never went without. Maybe she could even find something that would increase her body’s ability to fight off simple infections.
In fact, so lost in the possibilities, Luci forgot exactly why she was there.
“Luci! You are bleeding!” Brielle’s voice cut through her imaginings.
Oh, right. They were here because Prince Ira was courting death by cat.
Luci turned to find a small gathering on the west corner where a blue couch sat against a window at least twenty feet tall, inlaid with gold and white. It overlooked a large gathering of trees that swayed with the afternoon wind. Prince Ira sat at the center of the couch, scratching at his eyes.
“Do not scratch, your highness, it makes it worse. It’s been about ten minutes, you can take the next dose.”
A tall man with striking red hair stood in front of Ira, handing him a vial with a sickly green color. Prince Ira took it without question and downed it in one gulp, though his mouth twisted with distaste like he was forcing it down.
“You couldn’t make it taste any better than that, Hartrich?” Prince Ira asked.
Master Hartrich, the castle’s healer. For some reason, Luci assumed he would be old with wrinkles and a long, graying beard.
“Luci, can you hear me? Master Hartrich, please— “
Luci was so enraptured by the scene before her that she forgot Brielle was fussing over her, except when Prince Ira spoke; his voice was entirely clear.
She understood every word, and it was with the same annoying, charming lilt that got under her skin.
She met his gaze from across the room, and sure enough, those were his eyes.
Still red and puffy, but he could open them.
Ignoring Brielle, Luci strode over to the prince and took the vial from him, bringing it to her nose. Peppermint, Turmeric, butterbur, but there was another smell, something earthy that she couldn’t name.
“What is in this?” she asked, turning to the healer.
Piercing green eyes met hers, set against red hair, but more striking was the scar that ran over his right eye, down past his cheek, and over his lips. It was pale silver, well-healed but jagged and uneven, as it grew with him.
“Turmeric, Peppermint, Butterbur, but the main ingredient in stinging nettle, which is a potent antihistamine,” he said, as he edged closer and gently removed Luci’s hands from her neck.
His eyes ran over her neck, but she was more concerned with the stinging nettle he mentioned.
It wasn't a common ingredient at Blythe, and everything she read about it said it wasn’t particularly useful in illness.
Yet there was no denying that Prince Ira’s recovery was dramatic; even now, his eyes were bright as he watched her, considering.
“I assume these are from the cat in question?” Master Hartrich said.
“Yes, he’s currently under my desk in the library with his hair standing up,” Max said from beside Prince Ira. “Why did you not tell them you were allergic?”
“My question exactly,” Hartrich agreed, stepping away from Luci.
“We would have left him behind.” Brielle fretted, wringing her hands together.
“It’s fine, I knew Hartrich would fix me up as soon as we got back,” he said.
Stupid man.
“Idiot,” Max said, shaking his head.
“May I?” Hartrich appeared in front of Luci, holding a cloth and a small vial.
“What is it? She asked.
The side of his mouth pulled up. “Lavender and clove.”
Luci nodded. They were ingredients she regularly used, but maybe the healer didn’t know everything.
“I usually use sage as well,” Luci said.
His mouth curved up in a wide smile showcasing a bright smile as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial with a milky purple substance.
“I use that once it’s clean to seal the wound,” he said.
Clever.
Suspicious for reasons she could not say, Luci followed his silent order and took a seat at the end of the couch.
Preparing for the oncoming sting, Luci closed her eyes as Hartrich poured the first mixture over her and dabbed with the warm cloth.
She hissed out a breath as it stung with a vengeance, making her toes tingle and curl in a terrible way.
Someone grabbed her hand, and she didn’t question it, only squeezed hard to keep the stinging from turning into tears in her eyes. Crying in front of a healer and two princes seemed like a poor use of her time.
“I’m sorry, this will hurt, but I have to clean it first,” the healer said.
“It’s fine,” she said through clenched teeth.
For a brief second, she considered cooking Calcifer, but it wasn’t his fault that he was afraid.
“Breath, Luci,” Brielle ordered from in front of her.
This was all very dramatic. It was just a few claw marks that were already swelling and angry.
It wasn’t like she was losing her leg or something.
The moment he poured the tincture and began rubbing it away, Luci forgot her name and where she was.
Goodness, what was in that to make it sting like that?
No, actually, that was burning. She was on fire.
Cool fabric slid over her skin, and just like that, the burning simmered down, and the stinging gave way.
“There, that should keep infection from seeping in. Wounds inflicted by animal claws are notorious for infection. I added in some Peppermint with the Lavender, and though it stings and burns something terrible, it’s very effective,” the healer said.
“You could have warned me,” Luci muttered, opening her eyes and finding them moist.
“I find anticipation makes it worse,” he said.
“Are you all right?” Prince Ira’s voice was thick, but gentle.
Luci looked over to find his hand wrapped around hers. Oh no. She quickly withdrew her hand and wrapped it in her own so she could hide it.
“I’m fine,” she said.
“This is all my fault. You both are suffering because I insisted on bringing Calcifer.” Brielle frowned, tears welling in her eyes.
“It’s fine, Brielle. I’m better, and Prince Ira is obviously back to normal, though I would like to know more about how that is.” Luci said.
“I’d be happy to show you if you are up to it, Miss—”
“My apologies. This is Lady Brielle Treveon and her companion, Miss Lucinda Blackthorn.” Prince Ira said, gesturing between us.
Companion. The correct word was servant, and Lord Treveon would surely not appreciate Prince Ira introducing me as such.
“Max, you remember Brielle from the ball?”
I stilled, and so did Brielle, who knelt in front of me, her hands tight on my knees. I closed my eyes and prayed to fairy godmothers, invisible beings in the sky, and magic pumpkins that the youngest Vencia would take pity on me.
“Of course, a pleasure to see you again, Lady Brielle,” he said.
I let loose a quiet breath that made my chest ache. Brielle rose and gave a small bow to Max, whose eyes dashed to me in a universal signal that Luci took to mean, “you owe me.”
So she did.
“I’m Noah Hartrich, nice to meet you, Miss Blackthorn,” he said, bowing his head.
“Luci, please,” she said. “Would you mind showing me what you used to treat the prince?”
His smile was comforting, reminding her of nights curled up beside Brielle, reading their favorite stories.
“Of course, are you a student of healing?” he asked as they walked towards his wall of endless ingredients.
“A little,” Luci admitted.
“More than a little.” Brielle chuckled. “She has been making tonics for me all this time. I couldn’t do without her.”
Luci’s cheeks bloomed with heat at the praise, but also inside her heart clenched.
Brielle was too honest and open for this world.
If the prince’s bride were to go around admitting being prone to illness, it would bring unwanted attention upon her.
Some might go so far as to say she was unfit to be queen.
“Just basic things like feverfew, ginger, and turmeric for headaches. Valerian and lavender to relax.” Luci tried.
“How do you combine them?” Hartrich asked.
“Simple mixing, I saw you boiling some. Is there an added benefit?” Luci asked.
“Boiling? Where?” he asked, eyes roaming over the middle station.
The rise in his voice told Luci she’d said the wrong thing, but she pointed to the first fire that sat below a glass bottle that was erupting in angry bubbles of green and purple that warred with each other.
“Damnit,” Hartrich said, moving to the station and turning a dial so the flame turned to a small blue whisper. “There is no benefit to boiling; in fact, it often nullifies the ingredients. I must have forgotten about it when Prince Ira came in. That’s a shame. I spent two days brewing that.”
The liquid inside cooled enough that it was no longer threatening to bubble over. Luci leaned over and breathed in an earthy wintergreen aroma that burned at her nose.
“Willow bark,” she said.
“Yes, it seems it overpowered the mint and lavender that it was mixed with. Meant to help with pain. I find the herbs work together better if you warm them and slowly introduce them over a few days. It increases the potency.”
“Where did you study, Master Hartrich?” Luci asked.
It was rare that she was able to speak to anyone about herbs, but this man was more than proficient. Maybe coming to the castle wasn’t the worst thing to happen as long as Max protected her secret and Brielle was happy.
“Noah, please, I studied at the Citadel in Foxglove,” he said, adjusting the flames on the remaining mixtures.
Luci’s mouth fell open as she stared at the man next to her.
The Citadel only took students every few years, and very few were efficient enough to go through all five years of training.
Noah was in his early thirties, which was very young to have mastered enough at the Citadel to become a master healer.
“That’s— that’s very impressive,” Luci said, feeling it was hard to find the words.
“Hartrich is a prodigy. Youngest healer to achieve the rank of master and the youngest to go through the Citadel’s training successfully.” Prince Ira said, rising from the couch.
“Thank you, Your Highness. That’s very kind.” Noah said.
Prince Ira shrugged. “It’s true. Now that all that’s done with, we should be on our way. Thanks very much, Hartrich.”
Go? Go where? Why would she leave when there was endless knowledge to be gathered, knowledge that could help Brielle?
“If it’s all right with you, Brielle, I’d like to stay here awhile, if that’s all right with you as well, Noah?” Luci asked.
“Of course,” Noah said with a bright smile.
When Luci looked at Brielle, she was wearing a half smile that always meant she was up to exactly no good. The question was what.
“That’s probably not a great idea.” Prince Ira said, scratching at his nose.
Luci shot a glare at him before she remembered she wasn’t supposed to be glaring at princes.
“Why is that?” she asked, the words sharper than she intended.
Shuffling his feet, Prince Ira ran his hand through his hair.
“Someone should go get Calcifer and bring him to your rooms,” he said.
Strange man.
“Room.” Luci corrected. “And I can go get him in a little bit. He’s safe and contained. You don’t happen to have anything to calm cats, do you?”
“While they aren’t my usual subject, we might be able to find something.” Noah offered.
“He'd better not eat my research,” Max grumbled.
“See? Max’s poor research is at risk.” Prince Ira said.
“Maybe you should go get him if you are so worried,” Luci said.
The words were out of her big mouth before she could take them back. Maybe her life was just one possible beheading to the next, finding new and creative ways to offend royalty.
The room was painfully silent as everyone waited for the shout of “guards!” or maybe “you’ll pay for this!” Instead, Prince Ira’s deep laugh filled the white walls, and everyone let out a long breath.
“You really do say whatever you are thinking,” he said through his laughter.
“What’s funny about that?” Max said, watching his brother with narrowed eyes.
“All right. Luci, you stay here, and we will meet up with you later. I was hoping I might get a chance to meet your sister, Prince Ira. I’ve heard she’s wonderful at croquet.” Brielle said.
Croquet? Brielle? Those words did not go together in the least. Worst was the wink she sent Luci’s way as she placed her arm in Prince Ira’s and gently guided him from the room. His laughter quelled, and his mouth opened and closed as he glanced at Luci, but it was too late now.
Luci already took several vials in hand and turned to place them in front of the wall of ingredients, tapping her finger as she took in each one.
“What about fevers?” she asked.
“I have a wonderful book on that, let me grab it,” Noah said.
Brielle’s lilting voice slowly disappeared, but Luci was lost in the possibilities before her. A world opening with endless possibilities. Maybe coming to the ball hadn’t been the worst idea after all.