21A Shaman's Duty
It had taken about two weeks for Finn to cross Endymythalian into Dalamerian. Every day of those two weeks had been sickening and draining. She woke every morning feeling more tired than the last and ended each day often passing into unconsciousness. It was sleep, technically, but it was never a choice so much as it was her body just collapsing.
So when Finn awoke that morning, she knew that something was different immediately. She no longer felt like she had been beaten with boards. She felt incredibly sore and heavy, like she had just recovered from winter's cough without aid of her own power, but it wasn't a bad feeling. For a long moment, laying in a very soft bed surrounded by the scent of vegetation and fresh water, she was absolutely certain that she had died.
Finn had no idea that rejoining the Earth would look so similar to life, but who was she to question the Earth spirits?
When she finally found the strength to open her eyes and look up at the ceiling, she began to think that maybe she wasn't dead at all. The realm that the Earth spirits was supposed to comforting and warm. The ceiling above her head, the room around her, while lovely, was very much based in the cold of reality.
Pushing herself up, gritting her teeth with the effort it took, Fin tried to figure out where she was just from looking around. And, more importantly, how she even got here.
This room...The way it was designed...This wasn't human architecture. The circular bed, the direct opposite of human rectangular beds, was very elven. As was the chair that resembled a blossoming flower. And the fire pit in the center of the room. Admittedly, Finn had only been to an elven principality the one time, but their distinct tastes were hard to forget. And it showed in the elaborate embroidery of the blanket laid gently over her body.
Panicking, she looked around quickly. "Ebow? Ebow, where are you!?"
:Finn? You wake?!:
She let out a sigh of relief when she heard her bunny's claws ticking against the wooden floor. She threw back the blanket and dropped her feet over the edge of the bed. She smiled down at the sight of her tiny bunny kit coming out from under the bed.
"How did you get down there?" She laughed, bending over for him.
He jumped into her palm and, as Finn brought him up, she looked around the room.
It was quite obviously the room of someone with wealth. But outside she could see greenery. There were freshly cut vegetables beside the bed begging her to partake. It wasn't a feast, but it was more than she'd had in a while.
And since her stomach was no longer in revolt, she could actually keep them down as she took a few grateful bites. She nearly moaned in pleasure at the sweetness of the carrots. It felt like it had been months rather than a few weeks since she had last been able to taste food.
Which brought up her previous question...
"Ebow, where are we?"
:Man take us here,: her bunny said, sniffing at the carrot in her hand.
"Man? What man?"
:Don't know. Funny man.:
"How was he funny?"
:Look funny.:
"Is that because he had silver lines somewhere on his body?"
:Yeah. Look funny. Weird nose. Weird hair. Wanted to eat it.:
So definitely an elf. Finn looked around, getting to her feet. She had to pause then to get her balance before falling backwards onto the bed. She let out a breath as she brought her carrot within biting distance of her rabbit. She let him eat it figuring he was probably as hungry as her.
Someone had removed her shoes before laying her down. The worn flats were sitting beside the door with her shawl and travel bag hanging from a hook beside it. There was a shallow basin full of water with a bar of soap set beside it for her to wash with. Beside the vegetables on the bedside table there was a mug of fresh water.
Turning, Finn set Ebow down gently on the pillow her head had just vacated. As her kit was turning into a tiny ball of fur, she walked over to the large, open window and leaned on the sill. She looked out over a garden filled with fresh life and vegetables. Finn let out a breath as she turned her eyes over the area, unable to reconcile what she was seeing with what she knew of Endymythalian.
Frowning, she lifted her eyes. The mansion was built on and within a giant tree –another elf architectural choice – but there was also a stone wall around the property. Finn had to squint, leaning out a bit further, to see through the leaves on the far branches.
Just on the other side of the wall she could see dead, dry land. Endymythalian.
Frowning, she withdrew back into the room. Looking around, she felt only confused. Had she been unconscious so long that she had been taken to the border? What border was defined by a literal stone wall?
Finn looked out the window one last time before walking into the room. She wasn't going to waste this opportunity to wash up so she stripped down and began using the washing basin and soap and clear her skin of all the travel dirt and sweat of the last few weeks. It felt great to be clean, even if it just made her yearn for a proper bath. In a country hurting for clean water, she was honestly lucky to be getting this much.
Upon finishing, Finn pulled her clothes back on and walked over to pick up Ebow. Her kit was happy to be back in the pocket he had escaped from while she was sleeping. Finn slipped her shoes back on and pulled her shawl about her shoulders before leaving the room.
The house was empty. She knew that without having to walk into every room. There just wasn't a sense of life around the place. There was a thin layer of dust telling her how important cleaning was at the moment and many of the rooms she peeked into had white sheets covering the furniture. It didn't feel empty, but it certainly didn't feel lived in.
Finding the staircase down to the first floor was simply a matter of following the outer wall until she came upon the steps leading to the foyer. She descended, her eyes moving around quickly. It was an opulent sort of room, but it felt just a little bit abandoned.
Well, if this was an elf home, she wouldn't be surprised. Endymythalian's curse was draining her to the point of coma and death, she could only imagine what it would do to an elf. She was honestly amazed that the king was able to remain here without dying.
Did he live in this strangely alive house?
Walking around the first floor, Finn found herself in the kitchen. The stove was cold; it didn't look like anyone had cooked here for a long time. There was a basket with vegetables so fresh that they were still covered in dirt and a cutting board and knife, but nothing else. Finn moved to the basket, frowning over the offerings.
How were these growing?
From the kitchen, Finn walked outside into the garden. The moment her feet hit the soil she felt just a little bit better. Still tired and worn down, but better. This oasis of life was exactly what she needed after so long in Endymythalian.
But how...
Finn began walking across the grass, down a line of garden plots. They were growing very well, most of them too soon in the season or out of season all together. Finn turned her head taking in the sight of all of the steadily growing plants.
The soil itself was alive here. Which was a huge difference from outside the walls. When Finn found the wrought iron gate she walked to the edge of the land and frowned at the sight of the grass. It was cut off in a perfect line right underneath the gate. From there, Finn could look out and see the empty gardens of the palace, dry and dusty. She could still see the paths and rocks lining what had used to be gardens. The husk of a tree remained, dark and dead, in the middle of the yard.
"I wouldn't leave if I were you."
Jumping, the unfamiliar voice scaring her, Finn turned quickly. Her heart was racing from the fright as she looked over to the beautiful elven woman who had come up behind her. Long black hair flowed like water as she walked across the garden towards Finn. She was wearing a dress that was neither completely human nor elven in design, but was beautiful for being across between them.
"Who are you?" Finn asked as the woman stopped a few paces from her.
"I am Lady Enral Dalamar Rhyanon, ambassador of the Rhyanon clan."
Finn frowned. "Your second name is Dalamar?"
"Yes," Enral nodded regally.
"But that would make you part of the Dalamar family."
"Yes." Enral raised an eyebrow at the obvious statement.
Finn looked around, confused. "But...wouldn't that make you part of the royal family of Endymythalian?"
"It would," Enral nodded. "I am the former queen of Endymythalian. I surrendered the title after the death of my husband. My son runs Endymythalian as the sole ruler."
"Um..." Finn started to curtsy, uncertain what measure of respect and deference she was supposed to pay to this woman. Elves considered propriety and class systems to be very important. Subordinates that didn't give the proper respect to those above them were considered unforgivably rude. But Finn didn't know exactly where a former queen turned ambassador fell on the spectrum. She did know that most elves considered shaman to be beneath them though, so a curtsy was probably safe regardless of where exactly Enral fit.
Enral watched her go down then come back up with hooded eyes. She nodded once when Finn finished, accepting that as a sufficient amount of respect.
"Tell me your name, child," the former queen ordered.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I'm Finn."
"Finn...?" Enral raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Finn Issalt Candaree, ma'am."
"You have three names?"
"Yes, ma'am. I took on the second name of my adopted mother at the coven when I became a shaman. So I bear both of my parents names."
"I see," Enral nodded. Three names was an elven custom, it was strange for her to hear a human introduce themselves in a similar manner.
"Is this your garden, ma'am?" Finn asked, looking around the area again.
"Indeed. I grow food for the palace here."
"How is this place still able to produce life?"
"This land does not belong to Endymythalian. This land belongs to the Rhyanon clan."
"Oh..." Finn breathed, drawing out the syllable. "So Endymythalian really is cursed."
Enral looked her over, ice blue eyes shining. "Unfortunately. Tell me, shaman, how is it that you managed to travel all the way to Dalamerian?"
"I walked?" Finn looked confused at the question.
"Don't act a fool, child. This is a cursed kingdom and I cannot leave this land for longer than a few hours at a time. Shaman can last a few days, but they too die. It must have taken you weeks to walk all the way to Dalamerian. Especially in the state you were in when you were brought here."
"Two weeks, actually," Finn smiled.
Enral looked her up and down critically. "You must be tremendously powerful."
Finn shrugged.
Enral said nothing for a long moment before turning and walking back into her garden. Finn cast one more look over her shoulder before walking quickly after the former queen. She stayed just a step behind her, not wanting to insult the woman by walking right beside her as a presumed equal. That was an honor given in elf culture, not taken.
"Are you feeling better?" Enral asked politely.
"Yes, ma'am," Finn nodded. "Thank you. It's much easier to walk here."
"You are lucky you were brought here when you were. You were already on the edge of falling into the coma that precedes death."
"Yeah," Finn laughed sheepishly, scratching her head. "I kind of overdo it sometimes. I'm stubborn like that. But I'm very grateful that you've cared for me here."
"Did you finish eating?"
"I wasn't able to eat all of it. I didn't want to try eating too much so soon."
Enral raised an eyebrow, confused.
"If you eat too much after starving, you'll just throw it up again,"Finn explained. She wasn't surprised a high born woman who became queen wasn't aware of the phenomenon.
"I see," Enral nodded. "Well then, if you can't eat anymore, I will have a servant bring the remainder to the kitchens to be cooked and given out to the people."
"Please do."
Enral gave her a sharp look. Her bright eyes were a little unnerving. "Do not think to continue to be self sacrificing. Others need food, true, but so do you. Killing yourself for them does nothing."
Finn shrugged again.
Enral made a sound in her throat that sounded like disapproval.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but am I free to leave?"
"Do you mean, are you a prisoner?"
"Am I?" Finn frowned.
Enral stopped and turned to the garden plot of potatoes. Lowering herself down to a crouch, she looked over her growing plants with a critical eye. She didn't respond immediately which worried Finn about the answer to her question.
Finally, Enral said gently, "You are not a prisoner."
"Okay. Great."
"But I would not recommend leaving."
"Um...How strongly are you recommending this?"
"I'm not going to force you to remain, if that's what you were asking. We don't have the manpower to spare to keep you somewhere you don't want to be. However, leaving would be bad for your own health. Especially since you were so recently drained so close to death. Better for you to remain until my son can finish arranging transportation for you."
Finn frowned. "Transportation?"
"Yes."
Finn waited a beat for her to continue but she did not. "Where is it I'm supposed to be going?"
"Don't be a fool on purpose. Of course you're leaving the kingdom."
Finn crossed her arms. "No, I'm not."
"We aren't giving you a choice."
"You just told me that you didn't have the manpower to force me to remain."
"No, but we do have the manpower to send money to Miraliker for food and supplies. Which is who you will be riding with. You should apologize to us for making us go through the effort of saving your life." Enral gave her a cool look and, despite being kneeled to the ground, still managed to succeed in looking down her nose at Finn. "Fools who knowingly walk into death do not deserve to be saved, in my opinion. But we don't need to deepen the curse on our kingdom. Each death of a shaman does yet more damage. So you will leave."
"With all due respect, lady ambassador, no I will not."
Enral stood, glaring. "I was not giving you an option."
"I wasn't picking one," Finn assured her. "Forgive me for saying so, my lady, but these are not the elven lands. We follow human rules in human kingdoms, even with an elven king. And our rules state that no one may force a shaman to go or leave if she does not wish it."
Enral narrowed her eyes on her. "So you are going to kill yourself?"
"I will not leave until I accomplished what I came here to do."
"You cannot break the curse on Endymythalian."
"That wasn't my intention. My sister came to this kingdom and I will not leave until I find her."
"Your sister? Another shaman?"
"That's right."
"You are a fool. If another one of your kind came here, she is already dead."
"Libby is not dead!" Finn snapped, not caring how disrespectful it sounded. "Thank you for your kindness, lady ambassador, but I will be taking my leave now."
"Wait-"
"Good day, lady ambassador." Turning from her, Finn stomped away. She heard Enral call after her again, but she ignored her and continued on towards the gate.
It wasn't even locked. It slammed open against the stone wall very easily, the loud clanging echoing too loudly across the dead, dusty palace gardens. The moment Finn stepped her foot down onto the dirt, crossing the border between the embassy and the palace, the full weight of the curse here in the epicenter of death and decay hit her like a brick.
All of her outrage drained quickly as Finn reeled for a single step. Gritting her teeth, bracing her shoulders as though she were carrying a literal weight, she began trudging forward across the lonely stone path.
:Finn...: Ebow whined quietly. The curse wasn't just effecting her.
"I'm sorry," she said honestly, moving determinedly back towards the palace. She had survived this for two weeks without help, she could do it again. She might even have been able to go on longer if she hadn't been picked up by the king.
It wasn't until halfway across the dry gardens that Finn realized that she had absolutely no idea where she was supposed to be going. Enral wouldn't chase after her into this wasteland, so she felt safe slowing down and turning her head around to try to orient herself.
The palace of Endymythalian had been built with luxury in mind. Finn imagined that, once, the large swooping windows and grand architecture had been beautiful. She could just imagine wisteria climbing majestically up the columns and creating a canopy of flowers underneath the high balconies that the columns held aloft. And that gazebo over there had probably been covered in roses climbing up the rails. The earth basin around it had probably been a pond filled with fish and lily pads.
It was devastating the amount of damage that could be done in only four years. Only the dried vines of the roses remained, all the pond water had been drained away, and the paint and plaster of the once beautiful palace had begun peeling and chipping into dust. With no one to care for its upkeep, it was simply beginning to erode to nothing.
She almost felt sad looking at it. She knew it was only a building, but all that it represented, the weathering and dimming of light and beauty, was too close to the exact phenomenon that was happening to the people of Endymythalian themselves.
Deciding it was probably easier to just walk around the castle than to attempt fighting her way through the likely dizzying interior, Finn started following the meandering paths towards the side. There weren't any servants here, but, as she came around, she started spotted people running around. Most of them were carrying something in their arms. Cloth, water buckets, baskets filled with vegetables in various states of health. The gardens were unimportant, everything was dead back there. As she came around to where the kitchens met the gardens though, there was a near constant stream of people rushing around attempting to gather and distribute food.
Finn frowned as she walked past someone carrying a bucket filled, not with dirty water as she had assumed, but thin soup. It looked very much like the soup she had been given yesterday while she was in the town square. Was this where it originated?
Being sure to stay out of their way, Finn walked past the kitchen exit. The smells coming from within were hardly mouth watering. Which was fine as she wasn't very hungry anyway. Back on Endymythalian soil, she found herself already nauseated.
Back to the town square, she supposed. There were still many people to question about Libby's whereabouts and no few to help either.
So if these people were taking food down to the city, then she should go this way...?
Finn was focused on where she was going. She didn't see the man lift his head from where he was pouring more soup into a bucket slid before him at the exit of the kitchen. He paused, frowning at the sight of her. Turning, he passed the bucket off to someone else before walking quickly after her, his eyes trained on the bright blue of her shawl. A color so out of place in his colorless kingdom.
"Shaman!" Vallor cried over the sounds of his servants rushing around.
She turned on her heel and looked back at him. Her long brown hair, still so full of life, bounced around her shoulders when she did so. The dark forest green of her eyes blinked at him in confusion as she took in the sight of him from his silver hair to his ice blue eyes to the elf lines pulsing against his pale skin.
Recognition came into her eyes and, as he stopped before her, she dipped into a low curtsy.
"Your majesty," she said formally.
"What are you doing out here?" Vallor demanded to know without preamble. He had asked his mother to make sure she stayed at the embassy. Clearly he should have set a guard. Not that he had a guard to set, but still...
"Just heading to the city, your majesty," the shaman said innocently.
"No you are not. You are returning to the embassy."
"With all due respect, my lord, no I'm not." She didn't sound at all respectful. She sounded like she was gearing up for a battle.
Vallor growled, his teeth clenching. Of course she was going to be difficult. And he couldn't force her to go anywhere. Then again, most followed the rule of forcing a shaman somewhere for fear of the retribution the shaman would put on them. What more could she possibly do?
"Give me your name," he demanded, annoyed.
"I am called Finn, you majesty."
"Finn, what coven do you belong to?"
"My temple is in the south of Miraliker. We are a well established and respected coven."
"Well, then that's perfect. Because that's exactly where I'm sending you," Vallor snapped.
Finn's eyes narrowed but she wasn't fast enough to stop him from reaching out his hand and closing it around her arm. She cried out in indignation as he began marching her roughly back towards the embassy. He would set a guard this time.
"Release me!" Finn demanded, fury dancing in her eyes.
"Do your worst, shaman. You cannot possibly make my situation any more dire," Vallor growled, looking back at her through angry eyes. "I appreciate your help, but it is not needed. If you remain here, you will die. So you're leaving."
Finn was sworn to nonviolence. That was part of the Vow of Tens. No human could be allowed to use their power as a means of hurting others. Of course, Finn had seen and heard of shaman breaking that part of the oath to seek revenge, but she would never.
However, that didn't mean she was constrained to never defending herself. Shaman were allowed to fight back against those attempting to hurt or subvert them. Not to kill or maim, but merely to defend and escape.
As Vallor pulled on her, Finn rushed forward just a bit. Bent over his arm. And-
"Ow!" Vallor jerked back, releasing her. He looked down at the red mark on his arm. "Did you just bite me? Hey!"
He looked at her in disbelief only to see her already sprinting away from him. Growling in annoyance and anger, he ran after her.
She bit him! She bit a king!
"Shaman!" Vallor yelled as he chased her across the courtyard. More than a few of his servants looked up to watch and stare as their king chased down a fleeing shaman.
Those rumors were going to come back full force for this.
He didn't care. She was alive. His decision to let her rest in his mother's home had saved her life, but it was only temporary. And if she kept trying to sneak off the land, she was going to keep draining herself. He had to get her out of here before yet another shaman's life was put on his head.
Finn was faster than he would have given her credit for. Gathering up her knee length skirts, she bunched them up in her hands so that her long legs could move freely. Vallor had to exercise a great deal of personal restraint and willpower to not watch the way her long limbs moved. The knee length skirt was indecent enough, now she was giving him teasing, taunting glimpses of her creamy thighs with each step.
He had been far too long without a woman.
"Shaman!" Vallor called again. Irritated now.
Finn jumped to hear him so close behind her. She tried to make herself go faster. But this land was too much of a drain. She was already tired just from walking over here. The effort of running was like trying to sprint in water.
Vallor caught up to her as she was crossing around to the front of the palace. There was less staff here, but she could see the city now and, closer than that, the healers' tent. Vallor caught her by the shawl and jerked her backwards towards him.
Finn struck out, twisting around to slap at him. Vallor grunted as they struggled against each other until he finally caught both of her forearms and held her still in front of him. Breathing hard from the effort, he frowned at her as she tried to pull back.
He had gotten a little tired from the chase. She was already sweating and panting desperately. The draining effect was stronger now. She hadn't fully recovered before leaving the embassy. It would probably take days for that.
"Stop fighting me!" Vallor snapped at her.
"Never!" Finn jerked against him. "You can't stop me! You have no right!"
"I am king! This is my land! And you will obey me!"
"I am a shaman! I am a daughter of the Sun! I go where I please on her great Earth!"
The two of them glared at each other, snarling into one another's faces. She was right, of course. But he was only trying to help! Why was she fighting him about protecting her own life?! By the Sun, one would think he was trying to force her to stay in this cursed place!
"Release me," Finn demanded softly, giving him a dark look.
It was not nearly so effective as she would have hoped. "I will release you when you promise to leave."
"I will leave when I finish the task that brought me here."
"Which is?"
"I am going to find my sister!"
Vallor started in surprise. His grip loosened and she quickly jerked her arms free. Glaring at him, she didn't attempt to run away again. He stared at her, frowning.
"You seek your sister?"
"My sister Libby. She came here a few months ago. I know she did!"
Vallor's frown deepened.
"I will find her. You cannot force me out until I do!"
Vallor's face closed off. His eyes became guarded. Finn gritted her teeth as he very carefully pulled his frown back into a more neutral expression. He looked at her cautiously, refusing to show anything on his face now.
"You are the only shaman to have made it this far and lived more than a day," Vallor said, his voice soft but unyielding in the truth. "If your sister made it here, she did not make it back."
"Libby is not dead."
"She is-"
"She is not!" Finn interrupted harshly. "I know my sister! I'm closer to her than anyone! If I say she's not dead, then she's not!"
"You are deluded."
"I am right." Setting her jaw, she looked at him assuredly. "If she were dead, if she were truly dead, I would know it. I would feel it."
"Shaman have no such power."
"It's not a shaman power! It's a sister power. I know Libby isn't dead. And until I find her, I won't leave this place."
"You will die here as she did," Vallor said mercilessly.
"Then I will have found her, won't I?" She looked at him coldly. "Thank you for your kindness and generosity, you majesty, but I have to be on my way."
Vallor's jaw tightened as he watched her turn and begin walking away from him. Deliberately walking to show that she wasn't worried about him running after her again. He could. Nothing was stopping him from doing so. But short of locking her up and setting guards on her day and night, she was telling him that he wouldn't be able to force her away. And even if he succeeded in that, once she reached the border, she'd turn right around and come back in.
Stubborn, foolish woman. Vallor turned from her and began marching back to the kitchens. He had a great deal more to worry about than one fool determined to kill herself. If she wanted to drain her life into death so badly, then he should just let her! What was one more body to add to the pile continuously growing under his feet?
Vallor's angered footsteps slowed to a stop. He let out a long breath.
Stubborn. Stupid. You are fighting a battle that can't be won!
Growling, rolling his eyes deep into the back of his head, he turned around and began walking after her.
Finn saw the surprise on the peoples' faces when she returned to the city square. Still very much alive and actually relatively well rested, thank you very much.
She didn't say that, of course. She made her way to the edge of a dry fountain sitting, empty and dirty, in the middle of the square. She straightened her skirts, gently patting Ebow where he was curled up in her pocket, as she sat down on the dry lip of the fountain.
Give me strength, Sun Goddess, Finn pleaded silently as she took a deep breath to try and fight back the dizzy spell that had been threatening to take her off her feet these last few city blocks. The nausea had already caused her to empty her stomach of its meager contents and she was that much more hungry for having had that little bit of food and lost it.
But she kept her head high and smiled encouragingly at the first person to start walking towards her with wide eyes. Like he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.
Their disbelief at seeing her still living was short lasting. They shoved that aside to focus on more important concerns. The first confused and concerned man came towards her. Then almost immediately afterward, she had a line forming.
It was exactly like yesterday. Exactly like the two weeks leading up to yesterday. One person after another coming before her to beg for favors and assistance. Her weak powers and low levels of energy were already strained to breaking in this place. There was just very little that she could do for any of them. She certainly couldn't give them the break from suffering they desired.
The little acts she could complete though she was very proud of. After struggling for more than half an hour, she helped a babe finally break a fever that had gripped its tiny body for days. From the dead husk of a seed, she managed to coax life that would grow in this dead soil. Someone brought a bucket of contaminated water that she slowly and exactingly purified.
It would have been labor for her under the best of times. These were the kind of things Libby could do without blinking. Under these strained and draining conditions, even those little feats were gifts from the Sun Goddess herself.
Around midday, Finn collapsed.
She didn't remember how it happened. One moment, she had her hands on a woman that was suffering from pneumonia and could no longer breath. The next she was opening her groggy eyes towards the gray sky. Her back spasmed from having fallen backwards into the fountain and all her muscles felt cramped and tired.
Groaning, Finn picked herself back up slowly. One man from the line before her jumped out to help her up. She must not have fainted for very long because the woman was still there, coughing and taking quick, shallow, gasping breaths while she waited to be healed.
"Are you alright, lady shaman?" The man helping her sit back down asked. "Can you go on?"
"I'm...fine..." Finn said, her voice thready and weak. "Thank you."
The man nodded to her before stepping back. He kept his hands slightly outstretched though, as though waiting for her to fall over again. Though Finn wavered as she sat still, trying to keep her head from spinning, she didn't fall back again.
"Who was...Who was next?"
"It's still me, my lady," the woman coughed, gasping.
Oh, right. Finn hadn't finished. She shook her head, trying to banish the fog that was doing its best to pull her back into the grayness of unconsciousness. Only once her stomach settled again did she reach out and continue attempting to heal the woman.
She couldn't banish the entirety of her pneumonia. Frankly, Finn was honestly surprised that the woman was capable of breathing at all. The most she could do was to advance the healing already attempting to occur and to open up more space for her to breath.
When she sent the woman away, she was breathing hard herself. Her chest hurt as she wiped away sweat from her brow. The next man who came to kneel before her was the man who had helped her sit up just a moment ago.
"Lady shaman," he greeted formally.
"Before we begin..." Finn said breathlessly, trying to force her eyes to focus on him. "Have you perhaps heard of the fate of my sister? Her name is Libby. She came this way just a few months ago."
The man shook his head. "I'm sorry, I have not, shaman. Please, can you look at this wound on my arm. It's beginning to fester. I'm afraid I will lose the limb entirely."
Finn let out a breath as she reached for his injury.
She was past the point of being disappointed. She just accepted the negative answer and focused instead on helping him.
Like the woman before him, Finn could not repair the damage entirely. She could only burn away most of the infection. It was still red and purulent when he stood up. But his own body had a better chance of destroying the infection.
He still walked away frowning at the remaining injury. The people knew that she wouldn't be at full strength because of where she was, but they still wanted more. She was giving a great deal, but it just wasn't enough.
:Finn...Finn!:
It took her more than a few calls for Finn to realize her rabbit was crying out for her. She had just suddenly stopped in the middle of trying to coax fruit from a bean plant. She hadn't collapsed, she hadn't lost consciousness, she had just stopped. Like her tired mind simply couldn't keep up anything more than the most vital functions, her thoughts and movements halted and she had been staring off into space for a minute without seeing anything.
Her kit's call coupled with the way his tiny claws dug at the skin of her leg from where he was resting inside her pocket startled her back into reality though. She jumped, looking around with wide eyes as her heart beat erratically in her chest. It actually took her a moment to recognize the voice of her precious rabbit.
"I'm okay," she told him, touching her own face. Her pale and clammy skin was obvious even to her through eyes that could barely focus on her own hand.
"Shaman?" The man before her pressed his potted plant at her again. His eyes were wide with desperation. He dearly needed her to fix his plant before she collapsed. Just seeing that expression on his face made her feel guilty.
Give me more, Sun Goddess, she begged silently, lifting her hands again. It felt as though her arms had been weighted down with sand. The dull sunlight filtering through the clouds above felt cold against her skin.
It wasn't enough. She had to have more. She asked after Libby again. The man who had already been asked that question repeated the negative. She barely heard it as she focused on putting the last of her power into the bean plant.
Vallor's footsteps were heavy on the cold stone of the square as he started crossing over. He might have misjudged the timing. From here, the shaman looked like she had already pushed herself to the breaking point. She looked exactly as he had found her yesterday.
Instead of trying to fight through the crowd of people waiting to receive her blessings, Vallor lifted his leg and stepped over the lip of the fountain. The dry bed, made smooth by years of water that had once flowed freely, was loud under his boots as he moved in closer.
The crowd of people began to ripple and shift as they caught sight of him. More whispering started and Vallor could hear mumbles of the rumors being born again.
He didn't care. He was focused on Finn.
Pale and cold and unable to focus. She kept swaying in the air like she might collapse any moment and, honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if she did. The bean plant in her hands was shaking with the effort it took her to keep her hands aloft. The man the plant belonged to looked over the shaman's shoulder and gasped. He quickly shrank back, lowering himself in a short bow.
Finn noticed neither him nor the reaction of the crowd in general. She was so focused on her task that everything else had faded. Or else she was so drained that everything else had faded. In either case, Finn was oblivious to the king coming up from behind her.
Vallor watched as her arms started lowering. Her eyes, already half closed, started rolling back into her head. The man cried out, pulling back his frail plant before it could fall against the ground and be damaged beyond repair. It was already weak and dying.
Vallor kneeled down behind Finn and this time it was his body that she fell against. Her back to his chest, head rolling into his neck. She was having a hard time breathing as she lay there, unaware of what was going on around her.
"That is enough," Vallor said loudly, looking pointedly at his people. Most of them were already fleeing from the scene. Eager to escape their king.
"Your majesty," the man bowed, "my beans..."
"Are not worth the life of a shaman," Vallor told him, putting his arm under Finn's knees. He stood, bringing her up with him.
How was it that she managed to weigh even less than she had yesterday? Had she eaten anything at all before leaving the embassy today? He didn't like the weightlessness. It almost felt like she was going to poof into smoke and float right through his arms. Another shaman lost because of his curse of stupidity and stubbornness.
Turning, he started walking with her back across the fountain. He stepped out of it and carried her through town. Exactly as he had done yesterday. It had only happened twice and already he was tired of doing it. At least now he had the hope that merely taking her to his mother's home would help restore her. If he wasn't too late.
In his arms, as he was walking down streets that emptied at his approach, Finn stirred. Slowly. She groaned at the sunlight and the gentle rocking motions. The warmth of Vallor's body was well appreciated. The sickness induced by his movements was not.
It took Finn a long moment, too long, to realize what both of those things were. When she opened her eyes at last, despite the fact that it was right in front of her face, she had a difficult time focusing on Vallor's facial features. And another long moment to actually recognize where she knew him from and why he was so close in the first place.
Vallor knew the moment her eyes opened. He didn't say anything, giving her time to orient herself to the sight of him.
She blinked slowly, her eyelids uneven because coordination of those muscles was too much for her tired mind to accomplish.
"You...again..." she whispered. Not like she was trying to, but just like it took too much energy to raise her voice beyond that volume.
"Go to sleep," Vallor ordered shortly.
"Find...Libby..."
"Yes, yes. I heard you the first time."
She mumbled something else, but he didn't understand what it was. He looked down to see that her eyes had already shut again. She was leaning into his warmth, as though producing her own was too difficult and taking from him was the best she could do.
Damned stubborn creature. She might be cute if she wasn't so obstinate. And gaunt.
It was dark when Finn next opened her eyes. Taking in a quick breath, her heart racing like she had just been scared, she stared up at the ceiling of the very same guest room that she had awoken to this morning. The scent of the garden, the fresh taste of life, was a welcome relief. Even as she was calming down, she felt irritated at being brought back here.
Why couldn't he leave her alone? She had done just fine without him before.
"Ah. You're awake."
She turned over to see Vallor walking in through the open door. The king dressed very simply, she realized. And was currently bearing a tray with something steaming up from a bowl that smelled so good it made her empty belly ache sharply in desire.
"Your majesty," she greeted neutrally.
"You might as well do away with the formality," Vallor told her, setting the tray on her bedside table and giving her a glimpse of the vegetable soup – much thicker than that being served out of the palace – within the ceramic bowl.
"I can't be informal with a king," Finn said, her lips numb. She was still tired.
"Yes, well I would rather not be referred to by my formal title while I'm waiting on you like a common servant," he said, his eyebrow raising. "Besides, a king of a dying kingdom is hardly something worthy of pomp and finery. Just call me Vallor."
Before she could protest or accept his repeated offer, he was reaching down and scooping his hand under her neck. Finn made a small noise of surprise as he gently lifted her head off her bed. Just enough so that he could adjust her pillows. He laid her back again and she now found herself being propped up with no extra effort on her part.
Vallor walked across the room and dragged one of the high backed, flower shaped armchairs from in front of the cold fire pit over to where she was resting. There was no candlelight in the room either. So Finn could see only by the light of the moon coming in from the windows as he placed the chair by her bed then sat down in it. Close enough to reach out and touch her easily.
"You're making me wait on you. The least you could do is thank me," Vallor gave her a long look as he lifted the bowl in his hands.
"You don't have to," Finn assured him, about to reach for the bowl. "I can take care of myself."
"Clearly, you cannot," he rebuffed her advancing hands. "If you could, you would have finished eating the vegetables my mother left for you this morning. Or you wouldn't have forced me to come fetch you from town a second time. Or you would have left Endymythalian entirely."
"You're very adverse to my being here," Finn frowned, refusing to open her mouth to accept the bite of vegetable soup he held out for her.
"I'm opposed to your needless death. I would think that you would agree with me."
"But-"
"Open your mouth."
"I don't-"
"Shaman, eat the food. You can argue with me once it's gone."
Finn gave him a cool look but he returned it with his own. Their stubbornness met and clashed for a brief moment before Finn's hunger overrode her pride and she let her mouth fall open.
Vallor was very gentle when he tipped the spoon into her mouth. The soup, still hot, hit her tongue and Finn had to fight the urge to quickly swallow without even chewing. She hadn't had proper food in a while and the food that she had eaten had been quickly lost again. So she was careful and slow as she chewed the minced vegetables thoroughly before swallowing.
Vallor made no attempts to rush her. Like he knew that she had to eat very slow. He waited patiently without a word for her to swallow the first bite before offering her the second. She opened her mouth to say something but he just pushed the spoon past her lips and ignored her.
She gave him a look that he also ignored. She realized that he wasn't going to let her talk until she had finished eating so she did just that. Though she felt like most of this food could have gone to the people of the kingdom who needed it more, she ate all of it. Even when her weak and starved stomach begged for mercy and insisted she could eat no more, she still forced herself to finish the contents of the, admittedly, shallow bowl.
It actually alarmed her just how little she had to eat to feel full. It was an unhealthy amount and showed just how how much she had starved herself these last two weeks.
When the bowl was empty, Vallor set it back onto the tray. Finn opened her mouth to speak at last but he pushed a mug of water onto her instead. She sighed exasperatedly but took a couple drinks to the point that she felt like she might empty her stomach again right there. Uncomfortably full but in desperate need of the energy in the food.
Groaning, putting a hand to her stomach and marveling that she couldn't feel the lump of food there, Finn pressed herself back onto the bed as Vallor put the half full mug down again. From feeling full, she was tired once more. She was going to have to go back to sleep. There was no one who would be waiting in the square for her to help them in the middle of the night anyway.
"Thank you," she told the king without any sarcasm. She was grateful for the food, even if she felt that others needed it more.
"You're welcome," Vallor nodded once, sitting back in the chair. "Now we can talk."
Finn wanted to groan. She was even more tired now. The food was weighing her down just as much as the strain she had been putting on her body. But this was exactly how Vallor wanted her. Forced to listen and unable to sass back.
"I want you to leave. You know that already."
"Not until I find-"
"-your sister. Yes, I know." Vallor put his fingers together, looking at her calmly. In the pale moonlight, his lines and eyes gleamed that much brighter. "I could force you to leave, but we both know that you'd just find your way back."
Finn grinned. "You can't keep me away. I know Libby is alive. I will find her."
"You are chasing a fool's dream."
"Maybe," she shrugged. She didn't know how to explain to him just how much she loved Libby. They weren't related by blood, but they had been closer than true sisters since they had both come to the temple as children. Libby would do the same for her if their situations were reversed.
Vallor stared at her for a long moment. She looked back at him. Her heavy eyes and tired body were insisting that she sleep off the meal and fighting back that urge was difficult. It was probably rude to fall asleep in front of a king that way. Finn wasn't exactly sure. She had never been in a situation where the question would come up.
Luckily, Vallor finally came to a decision before that happened. Nodding, he leaned in just a bit closer to her.
"Clearly, shaman, I cannot stop you."
Finn grinned.
"So if I can't keep you away, it would seem to me that it would be better to accept you here."
"Thank you, your majesty-"
"I wasn't finished. And call me Vallor. I will stop fighting you, but I am going to set some conditions in return for allowing you to stay."
Finn raised an eyebrow.
"You may continue to help my people, but you are no longer allowed to drive yourself to death doing so. A few hours a day, that is all. Afterwards, you must return to this place to recover."
Finn nodded, considering that to be fair. She wouldn't be able to help so many people at once, but at least she would stay alive so she could help even more later on.
"Thank you, your majesty-"
"I still wasn't finished. And call me Vallor. I would request one other thing from you, lady shaman. I don't expect you to fulfill this condition, however I feel the need to ask it of you regardless. So long as you are here, lady shaman, if it does not put your life at risk, I would beg that you attempt to perhaps reverse my curse."
Finn frowned, her eyes opening again. "Reverse it?"
"Rebound it totally onto me if you have to. Let it destroy me. But only me. I don't care about my life if I can save my people."
She didn't say anything for a moment. The weight of the request was heavy. All the more so because she knew that, with her meager power, she wouldn't be able to do anything. She didn't say that. She felt like it would be kicking a man that was down.
"I can hardly be the first person to try," she said carefully though. "You're mother, Lady Enral, is much more powerful than any shaman. If she could not reverse the curse..."
"I know that. I'm well aware. I already said that I don't expect you to accomplish it. I am desperate enough to try anything though. Maybe it's not even about power. Maybe there's a trick to it that we can't see. Anything to save my people."
Finn nodded, her eyes falling again. "You know I can't. But I will try. If you promise to help me find Libby."
"Your sister. She's rejoined the earth, shaman. You know that."
"I don't know that. She's alive. I know she is."
Vallor grinned. Her stubbornness, so annoying earlier today, was charming now. "You must be a very powerful shaman, Finn."
She said nothing. Her breathing was evening out. Vallor stayed there for only a few seconds, watching her sleep a little too deeply. He knew if he attempted to shake her awake it would take a great deal of force and calling to stir her. She was just that tired.
She wasn't a hope to him. She wasn't even a last ditch effort. As powerful as he knew she must be to last this long, to do this much, she was just him throwing things at the wall. Hoping maybe to extend the life of his kingdom by even only a few days. Save a couple more people. He had reached the point where even a single life would appease him.
Sighing, he stood and left theroom.
He liked being on the embassy lands. It was still alive and he could feel the difference stepping between his land and this one, despite his lack of ability to manipulate energy. But it never felt right to be able to sleep here.
This curse was his. He had to face it. Even if that meant getting only a small amount of nightmare plagued sleep each night. That was his punishment.