Water Poisoning

Just before nightfall, the small fishing boat pulled into the Araluen port to sell their catch. Among the crates of fish, a boy unfolded himself from his cross-legged position and stretched. He found the captain in the gathering gloom, and handed over two gold coins.

"Ah, laddie, ye've paid me too much," said the honest fisherman.

"I know sir, keep it as a token of thanks for taking on a strange boy."

"Thankee son, yer a nice lad. Be safe now, y'hear? It's a strange country to ye iffn this is yer first time."

"Thank you sir, I'll take heed to keep my wits about me. G'night to you."

"Aye, g'night laddie," he returned. The boy made his way down the gangplank and stood still a moment, taking in the busy waterfront. He started to walk in the direction of a nearby inn.

"Ah, wait!" called the fisherman. The boy turned back inquiringly. "Ye never told me yer name lad!"

Grinning, the boy tipped his cap to the man. "My name's Michael, sir. G'night." With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.


Bit by bit, and with much menacing, Will managed to gather a mostly true story from the two thieves. The bits that he figured were false, Will had been able to replace with truth gathered from what he'd heard before making himself visible. As far as he could tell, he was dealing with murderous kidnappers on the run from Hibernian authority.

They stayed the night at an outlying hamlet, and the following afternoon, Billy constantly whined as they trudged along behind Tug, their hands tied in front with a rope connecting the two, which was in turn fastened to Tug's saddle.

"Please sir," whined Billy. "Can't we take a wee rest? We're fair famished and awful thirsty like."

"Aye sir, can't we have a bit o' a meal?" joined Arrat.

"Of course not!" Will said cheerfully.

He ignored Billy's whining and Arrat's grousing and rode onward. Will estimated that they would reach the castle before nightfall.

After a while, Tug turned his head to eye Will sidelong. Please kind sir, can't we take a wee drink?

"Alright Tug," said Will, laughing, "We'll stop for some food and a drink. I'm getting hungry too." He stopped abruptly, sending Billy crashing into Arrat as Will dismounted, earning himself a kick in the shin.

"Owowow, Sir, Rattie kicked me 'e did!" Will paid them no heed as he unfolded Tug's bucket and poured a generous amount into it from his canteen.

Tug viewed him critically. So, you'll grant a horse's request before a man's?

"Wouldn't you agree, Tug, that murderers and thieves don't deserve to be treated like normal men?" said Will after a moment's consideration.

Tug shook his mane in agreement. Alright then, hurry up with the oats already! I'm an honest horse.

Grinning, Will tipped up the canteen to drink, but only a small trickle came out. Hmm, looks like that's the last of it. I'll refill at the next stream. "You two, we'll stop at the next stream to have a meal, so shut up until then," he stated, ignoring the moan from Billy and Arrat's dark muttering.

They resumed the journey and soon came upon a slow-moving brook, and there Will refilled his canteen and poured some into the gaping mouths of Arrat and Billy. Building a fire, Will prepared a delicious stew with dried beef, wild onions, and edible woodland herbs. He also allowed himself a cup of coffee to slack his thirst. The stew simmered, sending up savory aromas that made their mouths water, and Will generously measured out stew to Arrat and Billy, then resumed sipping his hot coffee.

They reached the castle soon after and Will handed them over to the jailer, and temporarily stabled Tug, drinking from his canteen as he did so before going up to make his report to Halt and Baron Arald.

"If they hadn't committed trespassing," the baron said, "I would send them back to Hibernia to the jurisdiction of King Sean. But, they will have to be tried here first, I'm afraid. Ah, their type is my least favorite to deal with," he grumbled.

"I'm sure many would agree with you there sir," Will said, "But what will you do after that?"

"I think," put in Halt, "That they should pay a fine, or if they can't do that, serve a punishment here, and then be escorted to Hibernia."

Arald considered this. "Hmm, what sort of punishment?"

"I would throw them in a moat first," said Halt, stroking his bead meditatively without a hint of a grin, "And then put them to work in the fields for a time."

Arald grinned. "I am, ahem, aware or your fondness for moats, but I think manual labor will suffice." Standing, he offered a hand to Halt and Will. "Thank you again Halt, Will, once again I see how essential you Rangers are. I hope you have a peaceful evening both of you. I pity you, Will, going out in that bitter wind," he shook his head.

"Thank you sir, I'll be careful not to get sick. Alyss mothered me to death last time."

"Ah yes, Lady Alyss asked me to tell you that she's already gone back to the cabin, so not to look for her here."

"Alright, goodnight Sir."

Will and Halt parted ways at the bottom of the stairs. Retrieving Tug, Will ventured out into the biting autumn wind. Just as the cabin came in sight, Will suddenly felt light headed and swayed in the saddle. Tug neighed in alarm and turned to look at his friend. Quickly, Will leaned over the side of his horse and vomited, heaving again and again until he could hardly breathe. He tried to clear his throat with more water from his canteen, but he only heaved more violently.

Head spinning, Will suddenly found that the world around him was turning upside-down.

Why would it do tha…

THUNK! Will fell off the opposite side of Tug and lay moaning in the loam. Tug pranced and whinnied nervously. A low shape shot out of the darkness: it was Ebony, Will's black and white Shepard dog. She snuffled and whined, licking Will's face in concern. Seeing that the dog was with Will, Tug galloped to the cabin and neighed loudly. Alyss rushed out, throwing a woolen shawl around her shoulders.

"Tug!" she said, worry etched on her features. Noting Tug's empty saddle, worry turned to sickening fear; fear that nearly stopped Alyss's heart cold.

"Will, where's Will?" she said frantically. Tug reared and kicked his hooves in the air. Realizing that he could take her to Will, Alyss whispered the code-word to Tug. Will had told it to her when they began to go on missions together, in case of emergency, but she had never needed to ride Tug before. Until now.

Swinging into the saddle as Tug tossed his mane in acceptance, Alyss allowed Tug to take her wherever he would. Terror clutched her heart at the sight of Will, prone on the ground in front of her. She nearly fell from the saddle herself in her haste to kneel by his side.

"Will, what happened?"

Will rolled over onto his knees; immediately as his body was in the air again, he vomited.

"I don't know," he gasped "I have no idea what happened!" he shuddered violently and rolled onto his back again.

"Me and Tug will get you back to the cabin, don't worry!" Alyss said. Unslinging his quiver and canteen to make it easier to lift him upright, Alyss tossed them aside and was about to lift him under the arms when Will's vision latched onto the canteen.

"Water! It must be bad water!" he said, "I refilled it at a slow brook. It must be water poisoning."

A shiver that had nothing to do with the wind shook Alyss: water poisoning was caused by bad water often taken from slow moving streams or ponds. No one knew what caused it exactly, and in bad cases, it could be fatal.

Shaking aside the thought, Alyss hooked her elbows beneath his arms and pulled back.

"I'll just get you in bed and see what I can do," she said, as much to reassure herself as Will. She had difficulty in lifting him, as he was almost incapable of supporting himself. Even though he was a head shorter than her, he was heavily muscled thanks to his Ranger training. Surprisingly, Tug helped by latching his teeth onto Will's cowl and pulling up with his muscular neck. Alyss again assisted Will to climb into the saddle. She swung up behind him to keep him from falling off, and rode to the cabin. Will staggered inside, clutching a bucket from the porch, while Alyss quickly bedded Tug down in the stable.

Hurrying inside, she took off Will's cloak and boots and settled him in the bed. Immediately, she put her somewhat-limited herbal skills to use, preparing a strong brew of feverfew and mint. She bathed Wills' forehead and chest with it when it had cooled, to bring down his rising fever, and tried to have him drink some; but he instantly vomited it.

"What can I do if you can't keep it down? Will, do you know anything about it?"

He tried to speak, but constant heaving prevented him, and a splitting headache fogged his head until he couldn't remember a scrap of Ranger field-medicine. Alyss's herbal knowledge was basic, and she didn't know what else she could do to allay the sickness.

"Halt!" Alyss exclaimed suddenly. "Halt probably knows what to do. But I can't leave you, Will…"

Scratching the door open, Ebony darted into the bedroom and leapt upon the bed, snuffling and pawing Will.

"Easy girl, easy," Will coughed. Suddenly, an I deal dawnedon Alyss:

"Ebony! She knows how to find Halt. I'll just write a quick message." Scribbling on a piece of paper, she rolled it up and tucked it into Ebony's leather collar:

Will's sick, I don't know what to do.

~Alyss

"Ebony, find Halt!" said Will, flopping back on the pillow exhaustedly. Barking in reply, Ebony rushed to the front door and scratched frantically at it. Alyss hurried to open the door for her. The brisk wind captured the soft knot of hair on her neck, flinging it loose, sending the golden waves cascading down her back to ripple in the wind as her shawl was blown to the floor. Motionless, she stood on the porch, staring up at the moon: it was a full harvest moon, huge and dominating in the velvet sky. Alyss was bathed in the warm orange glow; somehow, she drew comfort and hope from the all-embracing light as she breathed a silent prayer that the sickness wouldn't claim Will's life.

Enjoy :)

~Mychele