Chapter 32 The Sick
They had been able to visit over two dozen homes since they began that morning. Kort could see Beret becoming more and more worried about Misara. And he had reason to be, Kort thought. Misara appeared to be getting exhausted from the strain of healing all those people. But she had made it clear to them that she would not let these people down.
And so, home after home they went. “Please rest,” Beret finally said to Misara.
Misara just looked at him and kept going. When they reached the next house, Misara stopped and stood outside the doorway. She appeared as though she was losing her balance.
“I – I feel dizzy,” Misara said almost in a whisper.
She began to collapse. Beret’s quick reflexes allowed him to catch her before she hit the ground.
Kort heard Beret whisper to her the words, “My dear Misara.”
The family living in the house came outside and saw Beret carrying Misara. One of them was an old woman. Perhaps the grandmother, Kort thought. A young boy was with her.
“Bring her inside,” the old woman said to them.
Beret hurriedly carried Misara into the house. The young boy motioned them into a private chamber where there was a bed. Beret understood and gently laid Misara down.
“What happened?” the old woman asked them.
“We’ve been visiting the sick here in Narul,”
Kort said. “Misara here is a priestess of Misar.”
Upon hearing this, the old woman’s expression brightened.
“Thank the old gods!” the old woman exclaimed.
Beret sat beside Misara as he stroked her forehead. The old woman approached and appeared to be examining her.
“It is only exhaustion,” the old woman said. “Bring her some water then let her rest. When she has regained her strength, bring her some food as well.”
Beret went to get some water from a clay jug in the old woman’s kitchen and poured the contents into a cup for Misara to drink.
As Misara drank, Kort expressed his gratitude to the old woman.
While Beret attended to Misara, Kort noticed that the young boy seemed very familiar. But where had he seen him before? Kort kept wondering.
“Stay as long as you wish,” the old woman said.
The sky was getting darker. Clouds were forming and it appeared that it would rain soon.
“Fetch that lantern from the kitchen,” the old woman said to the young boy.
Kort watched as the boy went into the kitchen. The boy returned bearing the lantern and placed it on the small table beside the bed where Misara lay.
As they were all finally able to settle down, Kort started thinking about Revik and Aisha and what they may have found in the forest.