CHAPTER 2
Warmth. That was Lexa's first thought as began to wake. She was much too warm. Before she opened her eyes she felt slick sweat drip from her brow. What a healer, she thought. Allowing her patient to grow too warm.
Lexa opened her eyes and became aware that it was past nightfall. A few candles burned brightly in the tent and Lexa saw the boned knife resting on the table beside her bed.
Disgusted by its presence and becoming increasingly aware of how hot she was. Lexa tried to sit up in bed.
"Easy now Heda." Costia appeared from the darkness her bright red hair catching the candle's like made it look as thought a ring of fire surrounded her head. Without request or permission the healer placed her hand on Lexa's good shoulder and pushed her back onto the bed. "You mustn't move now. Please."
The girl's face was pale and even more sleep deprived than she had been on Lexa's first arrival. There were now dark black stains all down her front. Lexa's blood.
"Remove my furs." Lexa demanded, resolving to stay lying down. She had felt slightly light headed upon rising and was not eager to do so again.
"You have no furs Heda." Costia said sounding more and more worried.
Lexa looked down at herself and was surprised to see that she only wore her trousers and binding, the rest of the furs and her shirt had been removed. Yet still she felt the burning heat on her body.
"Heda you have a fever." Costia said hand on Lexa's forehead.
"How is that possible?" Lexa said relishing in the cool refreshing skin on her burning forehead.
Suddenly the flap of the tent was raised and Gustus made his way into the shelter followed closely by Nyko both had looks of great concern on their faces.
"Explain." Lexa commanded them. A prickle of worry deep in her stomach.
"Commander." Nyko said gravely picking up the knife from the side table. "The knife was coated in Nightshade."
Lexa flexed her jaw and nodded. Nightshade was a toxic plant that was found prominently in the north. Depending on the dosage the plant was known to bring with it burning sometimes lethal fevers, chills, hallucinations, and delirium.
She glanced around at the concerned expressions of her counter parts. They all knew what was to come.
"Heda. We've sent for Anya to come. She will bring soldiers to escort you back to Polis." Gustus said confidently. "She should be here before the moon turns."
"I repaired your shoulder." Costia said lowly looking at the ground. "It was only after I'd finished that I noticed how warm you had become. I apologize Heda I should have realized sooner. A proper healer would have checked you.
"Do not weight yourself with the past Costia" Lexa said pitying the poor girl who was given a task greater than herself. "You must instead focus on the present."
"Heda?" Costia asked looking up at her confused.
"Nightshade is a long and painful sickness, it does diminish after a time but only if it does not kill the infected. I refuse to die by these terms. How do you intend to keep me alive? I am feverish, please bring me cool cloths and clean water."
Costia's mouth opened slightly before she nodded quickly. "Of course Heda." With that she disappeared quickly from the tent.
Lexa turned her attention to her two remaining comrades. Boths shifted nervously on their feet; unsure of how to proceed.
"Now." Lexa said mustering all the strength she had into her voice. "We all know what is to come. We all now the effects nightshade can have on one's body. For the next few weeks I may cease to become myself. I may yell, I may curse, I may cry like a child. I cannot know or tell what will happen. So listen to me know while I am still with you."
Both men stood a little straighter nodding, ready for their instructions.
Lexa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A pounding was beginning with her head.
"No one is to enter this tent until Anya comes. I will not have any villagers stumbling upon me in such a state. I will not have either of you witness what may become of Me."
"But Commander!" Gustus began to protest.
"NONE, shall enter." Lexa said loudly continuing. "You must alert Polis that I will be remaining in Tondc longer and anticipated. Have the council suspend any hearings until my return. Do not tell then was has happened here."
"But Heda, someone must care for you. " Nyko pleaded, nightshade is a terrible toxin and you will not be able to care for yourself. "
Lexa nodded. "That is correct, but still none shall enter this tent. None with the exception of her." Lexa redirected her eyes to the girl who and just entered the tent. She was bearing a tray of water, fruit, and cloths. "She shall be my soul caregiver."
"Heda! Please." Nyko protested loudly as Costia's jaw dropped in shock. "Allow me to care for you Heda. I far more skilled than my apprentice." Nyko assured.
Lexa turned to look at him. "You have not slept in some time my friend. Your people are hungry and wounded. You have many things to attend to. This apprentice does not. I will need someone to stay with me at all times. She will suit the job well. Do you accept this task Costia?"
Costia's lips quivered for a moment before she regained her composure, her healer's demeanor. This girl was nearly as skilled at masking her true emotions as the Commander was.
"Yes Heda. Of course. You will be well taken care of in my hands. I will stay with you night and day."
"Then it is decided." Lexa returned her focus to the soldiers before her. After a moment both nodded in agreement.
Before Lexa could speak again Costia cleared her throat.
"Now I must ask both of you to leave. I must change the Commander's dressings."
Gustus and Nyko looked from Costia to Lexa who simply raised her eyebrow, impressed once more at how quickly the girl had changed.
"I will bring Anya here as soon as she arrives." Gustus assured her before quitting the tent. Nyko paused at the flap and looked at his apprentice. 'Remember your lessons well for this is your final test."
Costia nodded and bowed to her superior.
With one last look at the pair of them Nyko let the tent flap close and was gone. Costia slowly approached Lexa and placed the tray on the table.
"I must apologize again for my mistake." She said staring at the ground.
"The past is the past." Lexa said rubbing her now pounding temples.
"Does your head hurt Heda?" Costia said taking Lexa's wrist and lowering it from her head.
"It does pain me a little." Lexa confessed. She had decided to drop any acts of strength she may have been tempted to portray. She was sure that this headache would not be the worst thing to occur in this tent. She may as well start now with honesty and allow this girl to help her.
Costia poured the pitcher of water into a small glass. Before handing it to Lexa she sprinkled a few herbs into it.
"This should help." She said passing it to Lexa's good arm
"Thank you Costia." She said thankfully gulping down the water. The water was refreshing but it seemed to only aggravate the headache. It was growing very quickly into an unbearable pounding mass on her shoulders.
"Did that help at all?" Costia asked softly.
Lexa turned to look at the healer and suddenly became aware of how brightly green her eyes were. They were stunning, they had flecks of yellow in them that very much reminded her of sunlight hitting a green lake. Deep eyes. She could almost see the great fish leaping within the water. These great fish had always fascinated Lexa even as a child.
"Heda?" Costia asked concerned. For the commander was staring so intently as her she was growing nervous. "Heda, is your head still aching?"
Costia placed a hand hesitantly on the Commander's good shoulder. Even though she had moved the other woman was still staring intently at the spot she had momentarily. Certain this was the beginning of the predicted delirium Costia tried to lower her patient onto the bed. However she would not budge. Costia tried harder but it seemed as if every muscle in the Commander's body was tighten and she would not be moved.
Costia resolved to stand back up and stare back at the Commander. She could hardly believe the position she was in. Not two days again she had merely been Nyko's skilled young apprentice and today she was in a staring match with the most powerful woman of the tribes and this was a battle that she needed to win.
"Heda?" Costia prodded, snapping her fingers in front of the now vacant eyes of her patient. "Commander?" She said louder moving closer to the frozen woman. Drops of sweat were beginning to appear on the Commander's forehead.
"Lexa!" She yelled gripping the women with both arms and giving her a slight shake. Suddenly the hers eyes came back into focus and Costia found herself staring back at the cold dark eyes of the Commander.
"What did you just called me?" The Commander said icily.
Costia stumbled back, her face had been so close to the Commander's that their noses had brushed.
"I just." She stuttered hopelessly knowing the line she had crossed. No one had the right to address the Commander by her former name. "You were not with me for a moment Commander."
The Commanders eyes narrowed dangerously. "Costia." She said fiercely.
"Yes Heda?" Costia said certain that she was about to be forced from the tent to fetch another healer; one that could show respect to this powerful woman.
"Fetch me my horse." The woman commanded.
"Pardon me?" Costia said completely caught off guard by the request.
"You heard me." She said firmly "Fetch me my horse. I must ride to the great lakes. The fish require my presence."
Costia exhaled. She now noticed how incredibly shaky the woman before her had become. Sweat was now pouring from her forehead. Not to mention her eyes now stared without seeing. The Commander was not here. She was elsewhere, no doubt somewhere where fish required her attention.
"Of course. Of course. Lexa." Costia said calmly. Deciding that the Commander's true name would yield the most focused reaction from her. "But first you need to lay down. Then I will get your horse."
Lexa turned her dark eyes on the healer and for a moment Costia was once more fearful that the true Commander was present.
"You mustn't allow the fish to escape." Lexa said dangerously.
Costia suppressed a smile. "I would not dare."
"Good." With that Lexa lie down and shut her eyes. Costia took advantage of this momentary lapse of movement to dampen a cloth and place it on the poisoned girl's fiery forehead.
"You are in good hands Lexa." Costia said softly, the name Lexa felt strange on her tongue but she knew it was someone the proper way to refer to the patient for here she was not Heda or Commander she was just a sick hurt girl who needed her help.