Illness
Disclaimer: All characters and locations herein are the property of Tamora Pierce. Plot and actual written words owned by me. Written for Challenge 14 of the Seanfhocal Circle.
A woman and a man entered an office, a room in a small stone building. The man hung up his robe behind the wooden door and sat down with a sigh. The woman just sat down, silently. They looked at each other. Then the woman, still sitting, reached behind her to pull open a very small, seldom-opened cupboard door. From within it she retrieved a half-full bottle and two squat glasses. When the drinks were served, the pair sighed in unison.
"Another day, another plague," said Niko, running his thumb over the edge of his glass.
"The crisis is over," remarked Moonstream blandly. "I knew I could trust Riverbend and Icewind."
"Icewind says the novices were of particular help," Niko said.
"He said the same last time," replied Moonstream wryly, sipping from her glass.
Niko shrugged.
"I suppose you'll be leaving soon," said Moonstream.
"Now that you don't need me anymore, probably," Niko agreed. "Not that I was really much help. I've no talent with plagues and such. I just happened to be around. Now, last time there was smallpox in Summersea…" he smiled nostalgically.
"Yes, that was quite different," mused Moonstream. "Although I never believed there is a more depressing place to be during a plague than Urda's House."
"Back then, just finding out which novice had the ability to help seemed like too little to do," said Niko.
"But now…"
Moonstream finished her drink with a gulp and poured herself another. "I hate feeling useless," she said with disgust. "Paperwork and logistics and time-charts and progress reports… and arranging another funeral for one of our healers, when I can't even spur your basic, position-appropriate grief. I wish I had the sense to stay a healer."
"Then it would have been someone else in that chair," remarked Niko, "arranging your funeral."
They looked at each other for a moment, and then burst out laughing. When they finally calmed down Moonstream sighed and wiped her eyes.
"Thank you," she said earnestly, "I needed that."
Niko got up and put away the bottle. "You probably need sleep, more," he said.
"I thought I was the healer, old friend," replied she, making half a face. Then she yawned, and Niko smiled pointedly. "Fine, I'm going," she said, throwing her arms up in the air.
"I'll lock up," he offered. "I know where the keys are."
Moonstream left the office, shutting the door behind her. Through it Niko could hear her dismissing her assistant and climbing up the stairs to her room in the small building's second floor. When he heard the creak and soft thud of a bedroom door opening and closing above, he got up and very quietly opened the cupboard behind the Dedicate Superior's desk. Pulling out the half-empty bottle, he filled up his glass, nearly to the rim. With a soft sigh he lifted it to his lips, making a mental note to wash up the glasses and put them away before he locked up.