Chapter Eleven
Daniel work with a rueful groan. Laying on his stomach his back throbbed angrily from the previous day's abuse. Janet was already awake and pressed a cold wet cloth against his forehead. Daniel smiled and looked up at her. She forced a smile as well, but she couldn't keep the look of clinical disapproval out of her eyes.
"Before you ask: I'm fine."
"I wasn't going to ask, because I know you aren't."
"No pulling the wool over your eyes, eh?"
"Nope."
This time a far more genuine smile slipped across Janet's face. Daniel laid still and allowed her to clean his skin as best she could with the cloth and a bowl of cold water. Feeling better Daniel forced himself to sit up. He had to pass through a moment of vertigo, but his senses quickly settled themselves.
"Did Ezra come back last night?"
"No." Janet shook her head.
"Sorry about passing out, I hope I didn't scare her off."
"I don't think so. She tried to talk to me for a while and when she finally realized that I truly couldn't understand her she gave me a hug and left."
"I hope that's a good sign."
Janet gave a slight shrug that showed she wasn't very hopeful. Still sitting on the bed Daniel reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. Janet put her hands on his chest to prevent herself from accidentally returning the embrace. Daniel chuckled and gave her a gentle kiss.
The display of affection was becoming more heated when they both caught the sounds of someone approaching the tent. Daniel released Janet and she sat down on the bed next him. Jhan and Gaius entered the tent, looking like they had been arguing. Daniel tensed, but he tried to at least appear calm.
'Doctor,' Jhan greeted 'how good is your female at the medical arts?'
'What do you mean?' Daniel asked rather than answered.
'You say she assists you...can she heal on her own?'
'No.' Daniel gave the only answer he felt was safe.
'Could she do so with your guidance?'
'I don't understand...what do you want?'
'Ezra has informed me that my prize consort has fallen gravely ill. However no man other than myself is allowed to see or touch her.'
Daniel's heart jumped into his throat at the mention of Ezra. He couldn't be sure, but if Ezra was trying to help them this might be an excellent way to separate them from the security of the men's camp. Daniel turned to Janet.
"Jhan is asking about your medical skills. It could be a trap to try and expose you, or it could be Ezra trying to help us."
"Take the chance that it is Ezra."
"Alright." Daniel nodded and turned back to Jhan. 'She is nervous about practicing alone, but she is willing to try.'
'Good. On your feet.'
It was a struggle for Daniel to stand and he nearly lost his balance once he was up. Janet tried to slip under his arm to support him, but Daniel shook his head and pushed her away. He didn't want to show too much weakness to Jhan.
Jhan gave Gaius an unspoken order and he nodded. Gaius picked Daniel's ruined shirt up off the floor and tore it in to several strips. When he was done he ordered Daniel to step closer and turn around. Figuring that he knew what Gaius was up to Daniel did as ordered and peacefully placed his hands behind his back. He ground his teeth together in pain as Gaius secured his wrists which pulled his shoulder blades closer together. Gaius looped a band of cloth over Daniel's eyes and tied it off behind his head.
"Daniel, what are they doing?"
"I'm not allowed to see or touch our next patient."
'Your female will guide you.' Gaius said.
"Janet, you'll have to be my eyes for a while."
In reply Janet put her hand on his arm just above the elbow. Jhan ordered them forward and Daniel made his way blindly through the camp with Janet as a guide. Once they came to the outskirts of the female camp the party came to a stop.
'What is this?' Ezra's voice demanded.
'He is here to heal my consort.' Jhan announced.
'You expect me to allow a strange male into the mists of my family?!' Ezra hissed. 'I forbid it!'
'Ezra, I demand...'
'You have no right to demand anything, he is not of our people's blood. He is a bad omen and has no place among the women of this clan. You may have power over us in your domain, but this section of the woods belongs to us!'
'If he over steps his bounds by a mere inch you have my permission to kill him.'
'Very well.' Ezra replied after a moment of tense silence. 'However, I warn you, if he so much as brushes against any of us...I will cut his heart out while he still breaths.'
'I would want nothing less of you.' Jhan said proudly.
Daniel stayed silent through the gruesome conversation. Jhan lashed out suddenly and grabbed a fist full of his hair and jerked his head back. Janet cried out in alarm, not knowing what was happening. Daniel wanted to assure her that everything was going as well as could be expected but all of his concentration had to be poured into not passing out.
'Behave yourself, Doctor.' Jhan snarled. 'Ezra earned her position by killing a dozen of my greatest enemies, they died screaming in agony. I would hate to see you fall to the same fate.'
'So would I.'
'And if my consort does not live, I will take your female in replacement.'
Even though he felt there was a good chance that the female in question wasn't even ill it still chilled his blood to hear Jhan's threat. Jhan released his hold on Daniel's hair and slammed his heavy palm down between his battered shoulder blades. Breathless from the sudden pain Daniel couldn't even cry out, he simply dropped to his knees and struggled to regain his breath.
'I don't think he'll give you any trouble, Ezra.'
'We'll see.' Ezra spat.
"Daniel?" Janet asked nervously.
"I'm okay, can you help me up?"
Daniel felt Janet's hands slip under his arms and she did her best to help him back up. Once on his feet Daniel took a deep breath. Ezra made a noise of pure disgust and Jhan chuckled at her.
'Come along then.' Ezra growled. 'Remember that you are prisoner.'
'Yes, Ma'am.' Daniel replied respectfully.
Once again Janet took her place to lead Daniel through the wood. They walked a good distance before coming to a stop. Ezra had remained silent the entire journey. Janet helped him forward once more and let him know to duck slightly. Once inside the tent Ezra stepped up and pulled the blind fold off. She smiled brightly at Daniel.
'I need you to kiss me.' Ezra announced.
'What?'
'Kiss me.' Ezra turned her cheek to him. 'Please.'
'Uh...okay.'
Daniel leaned forward slightly and gave Ezra's cheek a quick kiss. She pulled away and nodded. At her unspoken command Ina stepped forward with a knife. Janet was a little hesitant to allow Ina's approach, but when it became clear that she meant to free Daniel's hands she relaxed.
'Ina, you witnessed Daniel over stepping his bounds, did you not?'
'I did. He kissed you, a clear transgression of our laws.'
'Punishable by death.'
'Yes, Mother Ezra.'
For a moment Daniel started to wonder exactly what Ezra's intentions were. She turned away and went over to a large wooden bowl. She lifted a bundle of cloth out of it that seemed to be seeping with blood. Walking over to Daniel she offered him the sticky heap of cloth. He took it hesitantly and looked to Ezra.
'What is this?'
'A deer heart, or rather 'your' heart...I just killed you.'
