I just re-uploaded this chapter, breaking up some long paragraphs that were in it. Thanks for pointing them out Fell4 :)

Chapter 11

Ali paced around the room, spinning the pearl ring on the chain Spen had used. After spending a few moments wondering if Spen knew what the ring truly was, Ali dismissed that train of thought and started thinking of the best place to transport to. After she had received the ring from her mother, Ali had researched transporting rings. They could not move from world to world, they also could only take you to places you have been before.

Ali now regretted never going to the Capital City when her father went there for meeting with King Jeneth. She had also only been to three cities on her journey here. The cities had the highest probability of finding a healer. Miriam's hometown was too far away from the Capital City. That left Pos and Isng. Ali was considering going to Pos, she had been inside the Healer's house and could use the ring to get there. But it was also almost two weeks away from their destination. Isng was much closer but she couldn't transport into the city since she hadn't been there yet. This would make her lose time as she searched for a healer.

Mind lost in thought Ali paced through much of the morning, debuting each place. She only had one encounter with Duke Anton. That was her presence was demanded for lunch and then a stroll through the garden afterward. Gritting her teeth and forcing herself not to say anything as she listened to him boast and brag about he had found her with his spies, Ali was able to manage that encounter with no forced kisses, or freezing spells.

When she returned from lunch, Ali found Lea waiting for her with a simple brown dress on the bed and a large packed bag. Smiling gratefully at Lea, Ali asked, "Did you have any problem getting all of this?"

Shaking her head, Lea responded, "No. It wasn't that hard. Like some of the guards, there are other staff members who are willing to help. Duke Anton will have some problems with his horse throwing his shoe on this afternoon's ride. That will give you some more time to get away. It was the best we could think of in such short amount of time." Lea finished with a small shrug.

Ali gave her a grateful hug, "Thank you, it will be plenty of time. Will you get in trouble for helping me?"

Lea looked away to the window and sighed, "I don't know how the Master will react. Although I think it might be time to start looking for another place to serve. Hopefully I will see you again."

Not knowing how to respond to that Ali just echoed, "Yes, Hopefully we will see each other again, someday." She quickly then changed her clothes, picked up the bag and followed Lea out of the room and down to the dungeons.

There was a guard there this time when they approached the door, he gruffly told her, "You only have a few minutes with him by order of Duke Anton. Spend it wisely." Casting her a wink, he opened the door, let her in and then banged it shut and locked it. Ali stood for a moment with her back to the door, alone and surprised at the guard. Looking over at the mangled cot she saw that it was very clear that Spen was worse than he had been the day before. She hurried over to him and put her hand on his forehead, it was hot, very hot. His eyes flickered open and shut in response to her touch. "Spen?" Ali asked timidly. "Are you awake?"

The answer to her question was silence. Ali was hoping that he could help her decide where to transport to, but Spen was not able to answer her. Brushing back his sweat-soaked hair, Ali ran over her choices again.

Making up her mind, Ali made sure that her bag was securely strapped around her, carefully sat Spen up, wrapped a blanket around him, and draped one of his arms around her shoulders. This movement caused his head to roll forward onto her shoulder, Ali could feel the heat from his fever on her neck.

Pushing back her concern for him, she carefully imagined her destination and twisted the pearl three times, then tapped it three times. The world around them grew fuzzy and her stomach lurched. Suddenly their surrounding snapped into focus and Ali found herself in the small glen that they had camped in, just outside the town of Isng.

Carrying, half dragging the larger Spen, Ali laid him out under some bushes and tucked the blanket around him. "I am going to get you some help, Spen." She told him as she took a cloth and gently wiped his face with it. "I will be back before dark, I am not sure if you can hear me, but stay here and I will be back very soon." With that Ali wrapped a cloak around her shoulders and pulled up the hood. Setting down the road at the fastest walk that she could manage Ali headed toward the town.

Reaching the town didn't take too long then heedless of the curious looks sent her way because of her cloak Ali speed through the streets. Since she was afraid to show that she was human, Ali didn't want to ask for directions, but it seemed that she would never find the right shop. It was taking too long, Ali thought as her heart raced with anxiety, maybe she should have gone back to Pos, at least she knew where the healers shop was there. But Ali was worried about spies, and not being able to find Miriam and Ban.

At last, on the last street she found the proper sign hanging in the window. Rushing in and up to the wizened old man behind the counter, she blurted out, "Do you have wolfs bane, cornflowers, and redfish?"

Looking at her very surprised and peering at her face, trying to see it through the shadows of her hood, the old man cautiously answered, "I do have those ingredients and they are in my backroom, if you would like to follow me?" He steadily led the way around the counter to a room in the back. He closed the door and looked at her curiously. "Who are you? And how do you know the code?"

Throwing back her hood, Ali rambled, "My name is Ali, and we don't have much time. I have a friend who is very ill just outside of town. He was injured on the arm and then a werecat bite him and then we were captured and it has been a couple of days and I am worried that it might be too late."

The old man held up a wrinkled hand signaling her to stop, "If time is short like you have indicated, I will get the full story from you later. Listen carefully I want you to leave the shop," Holding up his hand again he stopped her from interrupting, "Yes, leave the shop. Then leave town, start walking towards your friend, I will be along shortly with a wagon and will pick you up. This way people in town don't know that I am with you. What side of town did you come in?"

Ali told him the direction, and then followed his directions. She forced herself to walk slowly, even appearing to stop and look at a few of the street stalls before heading out of town. It wasn't long before she heard a horse clopping behind her. The old man was behind the horse driving a wagon. He motioned for her to get in the back of the wagon before starting down the road again.

Showing him where to pull off Ali quickly jumped out of the wagon, and ran to where she had left Spen. He was in the same position that she had left him in, sleeping fitfully. "Look Spen," Ali said as she picked up his uninjured hand. "I brought help like I said I was going to. You're going to be alright." She looked up at the old man as he knelt down on the other side of Spen, "What is your name, anyways? I forgot to ask you."

"Palani. You were right to be worried about your friend. Hopefully we are able to help him. He needs to drink this, can you raise his head for me?" Palani asked.

Nodding Ali gently raised Spen's head and watched as Palani had him drink something from a small vial. Giving her a short nod to signal that he was done, she set it back down and watched him as he expertly took off the old bandage on his arm, quickly cleaned the gooey infected mess, and wrapped it up again. After putting his supplies back in his healer's kit, he made a face at Spen. "What?" Ali asked.

"I was just trying to figure out the best way for the two of us to get your long friend into the wagon." Palani answered.

He motioned for Ali to one side and he took the other arm and together they lifted Spen up and somehow made it to the wagon. They were both breathing deeply as they settled him into the back of the wagon. "I should have brought one of my grandchildren to help me." Palani said as he climbed up to the driver's seat. "You stay back there and try to keep him steady. Also stay out of view when we get into town. Let's keep this a secret if we can, shall we?" Nodding in agreement, Ali laid down next to Spen's uninjured arm and put her arm around his middle.

The wagon ride was only slightly bumpy as they rode slowly back to town. When they reached town, Ali watched the tops of the buildings go by as they snaked their way back to the healer's shop. When the wagon stopped she waited until Palani climbed down off the driver's seat, disappeared for a moment before climbing into the back with a girl around her same age following him.

Helping get Spen into the house was much easier with another set of hands to help them. They put him into a little room in the back of the house, then shooed Ali into another room. When Ali protested, Palani replied, "We need to clean his arm again, only this time a more thorough cleaning is needed, not the rush job I did before and it will be a lot easier without you pacing about."

Ali was then left alone in a small workroom, that had a long table in the middle of it and shelves a full of books and ingredients and supplies used for healing.

Author's note- Not as long as some of my chapters but I had a hard time writing this chapter and figure that putting up a little is better than nothing. Thanks for the reviews Fell4 and Ashley! Keep the reviews coming!