Wild Magic

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Desantro brought the tray in, planting her sandal soles flat with each step. She shuffled to the bed, set the tray on the bedtable with a loud sigh of relief, then bent over Penhari. She hesitated, touched the back of Penhari’s hand. “Heshal?”

Penhari blinked, tried to move, cried out as her body resisted and the pain she’d briefly forgotten came stabbing back.

Murmuring words in her own tongue, Desantro eased a strong arm under her, helped her to sit up, then shifted the bedtray over her knees. “‘S better to drink this when it’s warm, heshal, orwise I’d a let you sleep.”

Penhari wrapped both hands about the mug and with some difficulty lifted the fragrant steamy broth to her lips. She sipped, shivered with pleasure as heat curled through her. “Do you follow Abeyhamal, Desantro?”

“No, heshal.” Desantro stood at the foot of the bed, her hands one atop the other at her waist, her feet spread apart. “I come from Whenapoyr. It’s forests there. And mountains. My folk when they want a god, they mostly follow Geddrin the Mountain Groomer and Isshann Birthmistress. Rest a the time it’s the tree spirits we talk to, Whauraka we call them. We don’t take up much with strangers, be they gods or men.”

“I see.” Penhari ran the tip of her finger round the cup’s rim. “The Kassian Kurai and the maids-has anything been done with the bodies?”

Desantro looked uneasy. “Nobody tells me aught… I hear… I don’t know if it’s a true thing…”

“Tell me.”

“They say General left word Chambermassal sh’d kick out the house every one he knows…” Her eyelids fluttered. “That… that had the Honey taint on them. Clean house, he, say. Sweep the… the bodies into street, shut door on them. Anyone wants them can come get them. Chambermassal he send word Ombbura Beehouse to clean street, din’t want dogs and disease he say. While you sleeping, I did floor.” She spread her hands, shook her head. “Not much good at cleaning. Did m’ best.”

“It doesn’t matter, Desantro. May your gods bless you for what you tried. Take the tray and help me down. I’ll sleep a while now.”