Chapter 2: The Instructions
The white wolf got up and walked to the bodies. As she approached them, another wolf came into the clearing. It had smelled the blood, so it came to investigate what it was. As the wolf stepped forward, Ardina let out a low threatening growl. She advanced towards the wolf when it did not move and growled again. The lone wolf got the message and turned back the way it came.
Ardina walked back to her kin and her kin's friend. She placed her paw on Maerad and entered her mind.
'My daughter,' Ardina said. 'Once I let you choose t die or not. Now, you will not have a choice.' Ardina felt Maerad's panic.
Maerad did not want to die. She could be lying to herself, though. Her thoughts and emotions were all jumbled up. Cadvan had stabbed her. Cadvan!! Her best friend in all of Edil-Amarandh! Maybe he isn't my friend, she thought. Maybe he really is a Hull! She thought. No, he's not argued another voice. He just confused you with the fake Ceredin. After all, you know you look similar to her. These thoughts wreaked havoc in her mind, warring with each other.
Finally she was able to speak. 'I do not wish to die though.' Maerad said.
Ardina laughed softly. 'That is not the path you must walk now. You will have to eventually, though, just not now.' Maerad's relief swept through Ardina's body, and felt pure joy and hope for the first time in a long time.
'Listen to me, and take heed of my words. Do your best to remember them,' Ardina said to Maerad. 'I could heal you, but not by much. You will be able to wake, and not die from your wound. Only be warned, you will be in great pain.' She did not wait for Maerad to say anything. 'Once your wake, you must search for the wisest tree and under its roots you will find a flower with eight petals. Remove the petals, and set them aside. You must not lose any of the petals. If you do your friend could die." At this Maerad's head became crystal clear.
'Cadvan's dying? But…how?" Maerad asked Ardina.
'I cannot tell you. Now listen to my words and don't interrupt,' Ardina said gently. 'Once the petals are in a secure spot, cut the stem into three parts. Make sure to cut it in a bowl of some sort, to collect the liquid. Take each part and squeeze it gently, till all the liquid is in the bowl. Put the eight petals, and the three stems into the liquid. You must grind it all together using a stone, taken from the water nymph's lair. She is dead now, Cadvan killed her. Her lair is in the place where a death almost took place. Grind all the ingredients together when the full moon is highest in the sky, where a loved one died many years ago. You must journey back before the moon is highest the following night. Then before the dawn, you must spread the mixture over your wounds and on your friend's wounds. Maerad, I may not help you, or repeat what I have said. You must hurry, for the next full moon will be in three days,' Ardina said.
Maerad nodded her head. 'What about Cadvan,' she asked.
'I will watch over him for you,' Ardina said. 'Whenever you are ready, open your eyes.' Ardina left Maerad's consciousness and trotted over to Cadvan. She lay down beside him.