Eternal Spirit
Chapter 21

The healer spread the last of the ointment along the bruising on the young Amazon's neck. She shook her head sadly from side to side. Her eyes drooped slightly from both age and exhaustion. She carefully covered the Amazon with a wool blanket brushed her hair back from her face. "Sleep child." She observed Serenity's breathing pattern with a critical eye. The slight rise and fall of her chest concerned the old healer. She placed her hand upon Serenity's forehead and whispered softly, "All up to you know child, all up to you." The healer exited the hut leaving the Amazon alone to rest.

Solari approached the old woman. "Anaea, is she going to be alright?" It came out more as a statement than a question. She stared hopefully into the eyes of the healer trying to read any expression.

Anaea smiled compassionately at Solari and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I have done all I can for her child. Now it is up to Serenity."

Dissatisfied with the response, Solari persisted, her voice a little louder than intended. "Anaea for Artemis sake tell me something useful. Is she going to make it? You must know something!"

The healer remained calm and looked the Amazon in the eye empathetically. "Solari, I am a healer not an oracle. This fight no longer rests in my hands or in the hands of medicine. This fight now rests in the hands of Serenity." The old woman cleared her throat and released her grip on Solari's shoulder.

"What would make her this weak? I do not understand. You are not telling me everything Anaea." She folded her arms across her chest anxiously.

The healer took a short breath and thought for a moment before speaking. "There were traces of an herb in her system. I was unable to identify it. It seems the herb was a sleeping herb of some kind. I trust the unusual effect the herb had on her system is responsible for her breathing difficulties than any bruising she has suffered."

Solari stared blankly at Anaea. "You are telling me that the condition she is in right now was caused by an herb and we have no idea what it is?" The healer nodded. "Why would she have such dangerous reactions to a sleeping herb? That is very strange. No herb has ever been known to affect someone like that."

The healer shook her head. "I am not quite sure. I assume perhaps it wasn't the ingredients of the herb but the quantity given to her. It seems that the person who administered the herb did not realize the power the herb contained." Her eyes narrowed slightly, "or perhaps that person did. It is useless to try to assess the intentions of another at this point." She paused for a moment. "If too much of any herb is ingested, the results could be fatal. As with herb, since I do not know its origin, I do not know what amount would be safe or fatal to ingest. Now, none of this is of importance. What was done is done. Now, what is important right now is Serenity. I gave her something that will neutralize the effect of the herb. Usually this medicine needs to be given within two candle marks to be the most effective at preventing any damage. In Serenity's case I can say it is working slowly. Her breathing has already begun to show improvement."

Solari nodded in agreement. "Thank you Anaea. I am going to go check on Ren."

The healer smiled warmly and continued on her way.