Chapter 10

Finn and the others watched as Erik, Anders and another man lowered the heavy wooden ladder into the hole. They settled it into the dirt at the bottom and then Anders insisted that he go down first. The leg he had injured many years ago was stable and he climbed down quickly. Finn followed him. Down in the cave they examined Rika's ankle and agreed that it was not broken. With help she was able to stand on one leg and with help she climbed up the ladder until the man Erik grasped her arms and brought her up to solid ground.

The hole in the ground showed no sign of collapsing further, which was odd. The two men climbed out and the ladder was retrieved. It was Finn who then lifted Rika into his arms and carried her. This hurt his injured arm, but he didn't care. However, when he came to her home and set her down on a bench, he found his wound bleeding and some of his blood was on her dress and apron. He apologized for that.

"Don't worry about it, Finn," her mother said. "What is important is that she is alright." The older woman had been at the rescue scene and was relieved that her daughter was not badly injured. "Go on to your house and let your mother re-bandage that arm."

Rika spoke up, "Mother's right, Finn. Go get your arm taken care of."

Somewhat reluctant to leave her, he did go and walked across the clearing to his home. His mother was waiting, her basket of cloth handy. She would not throw away the bloody wrapping on his arm. The material was too precious; she would wash and dry it.

While Esther took care of the bloody arm, Finn told her what had happened.

"Do you think it's possible Celesta somehow caused the cave-in?" he asked his mother.

"From what you have told me, I would say no. I don't believe she has strong magic yet. And how would she know where to make the hole? Or that you would be walking right there?"

"I don't see how she could have done it either," Finn said, wincing as his mother worked on his arm.

"This wound is getting redder," Esther said. "I think I will make a poultice or something to draw out any poison."

For the first time Finn considered that the wound might fester so badly that it would poison his whole arm. He could lose the arm! It was even possible he could lose his life! What if he died before he even had a chance to marry Rika? Who in the village would she end up marrying? Or maybe she would grieve for him the rest of her life and never marry. Then he considered that he was being melodramatic. He wasn't going to die. His mother wouldn't allow it.

While Esther prepared something to draw out the infection, Finn left the table and headed for Rika's house. She met him half-way, hobbling along using her father's crutches.

"I was coming to see how you were," she said. "Your arm was bleeding again." She looked at the raw, unbandaged wound. "Oh Finn, it looks angry!"

"It is. Mother is preparing something to put on it to draw out the poison. How is your ankle?"

"It aches. My father says I should keep it propped up, but I wanted to check on you."

"I'll be alright. But your father knows best for the ankle since he has a similar injury. Go on back home and sit down. I'll come over after Mother gets done with me." He leaned close and gave her a kiss. She still had some dirt on her face, but he could tell she or her mother had tried to wash it off. With a sigh, she turned and hobbled off.

He did go see her again before he retired for the night. He did not feel well and had a fever. After a short visit, he said he would see her in the morning. Then he returned to face his mother.

"If this does not look better in the morning," Esther said with concern, "I'm going to do a healing spell."

"Alright, but I hope you don't have to. It makes me think I'm in danger of losing my arm." Finn felt a wave of fear pass through his body and again considered he could, in fact, lose his life.

"I won't let that happen. I did my best to clean the wound, but the poison was already deep."

"It's not your fault, Mother. The bear's claws were very dirty."

Despite the late hour, Niklaus was still awake. He looked at the nasty wound in the light of the central fire. "The bear might have killed me. I'm sorry you got that wound saving me."

"We were all trying to kill it, Niklaus. You, too. You were brave to get so close."

"I was scared," the eleven-year-old admitted.

His mother reached out and stroked his light hair. "Go to bed now, son," she said to him.

Finn finally lay down on his own bed, lying on his right side and laying his left arm on his upper side. His mother had put something on the wound so that it didn't hurt as much, and he was able to fall asleep after a while.

He had odd dreams. In one of them Rika came to him, saying she was worried about his arm. She touched his hair and kissed his cheek. Then she climbed into his bed and snuggled against him. He would have hugged her close, but his left arm had started to hurt and he dared not move it. Then she turned into Celesta and he pushed her away. She left his bed and disappeared into mist.

Then the dream shifted to the bear. It was chained to a tree, but trying to claw anyone who came near. Then the thin tree broke and the bear sprang away, heading into deep woods dragging the tree with it. Niklaus was chasing it with a small spear. The dream shifted again, going from one subject to another. As with many dreams, it seemed logical, but really was not.

Esther woke in the dark of night to check on her ill son. She lit a small torch to observe him. He was making moaning sounds and she could tell he was hot with fever. He was only wearing one layer of clothing and she could feel his heat. The thin wool sheet he had had over him was lying on the floor. She picked it up and laid it across his legs.

Worried that the medication she had put on the wound was not doing its job, she decided to make a different mixture of herbs and cast a small spell on it to increase its potency. She did this outside the door at the table. The torch gave her light. She was surprised when Bennett's Wife joined her.

"His arm is worse?" the woman asked.

"I'm not sure, but he is hot with fever, so I must do something more."

The two women quietly talked about the situation and in the end Esther had a new batch of medicine to put on the wound and also a special tea for him to drink. She entered the house and woke him. He was groggy from illness, but he drank the tea, and he held still while his mother applied the herbal poultice.

"How do you feel?" the woman asked, laying a hand against his forehead. It was hot.

"Not good. I guess I'll live," Finn muttered. "I had some crazy dreams."

"The fever does that. Try to sleep some more now." She watched him for a few minutes until he seemed to be sleeping, then she returned to her own bed. She slept for a short while and then got up again to check on Finn. Carrying the small torch, she came to his bed. She laid a hand on his forehead, which was cool and damp with sweat. Seeing that he was shivering, she laid a wool blanket over him and he came awake.

"The fever has broken. That's a good sign," she told him.

"I'm so cold now," he murmured.

"I added the blanket, so you should warm up soon."

"Mother, did Celesta come speak to me? I dreamed she lay on my bed with me."

"I don't think so, but I was asleep for a short while. She could have snuck over here," Esther said in a quiet voice.

"I suppose it was just the dream. I'm sorry to ruin your night's sleep."

"That's what mothers are for, my son. Let me warm up some more of that tea for you."

"I can drink it cold. You don't have to warm it up," Finn said, wanting his mother to get some more sleep before dawn. He had no idea what time of night it was because he couldn't see the moon. When Esther brought a cup of cold medicinal tea, he propped himself up on one elbow and drank it down, ignoring its bitter taste. He assumed it would help him in some way. With his mother sitting on the edge of his bed, as she had often done when he was much younger, he drifted off to sleep, still wondering if Celesta had come to his bed.

A/N Did Celesta visit him from her end of the longhouse or was it just a dream? Is the new herbal poultice going to work? Thanks for reading, guys.