Page 105 of The Beast Of Gloomenthrall

“Who?” Niah demanded. “Who has been hurt?”

“Baron Heathscote.”

“By that woman there. The hunt master recognised the fletching of the arrow.”

“And look.” This time it was a lady who spoke up. “She’s already killed another victim.”

“Say, that looks like Lady Evagene she’s carrying.”

“Evagene!” The cry so shrill that a flock of geese some distance away took to the skies in response. “My baby. She’s killed my baby.”

If Alia hands had been free, she would have pinched herself. This dream was horrible, she wanted to wake up. Watching in distinct dismay as Lady Poclete broke through the ranks, running towards them, her face a ghastly pale colour.

“She’s not dead.” Alia advised.

“What did you do to her?” The geese flew away faster, the Lady had a voice that carried when she was upset. “Evagene? Genie?” Lady Poclete tried to unsuccessfully wrest her daughter from Alia’s hold. When that didn’t work, she began working at the knot of the game bag tied just under Evagene’s chin.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Get away from her, you evil woman.”

Alia was oh so tempted to just let Lady Poclete have her daughter.

“You need to get back.” Niah stepped forward, trying to shoo Lady Poclete off. Glancing at the crowd, edging closer, hungry for any more scandalous morsels. Niah shook her head, irritation threading her tone. “And there’s no way Lady Alia could have shot Baron… Heathscote, she has been with me the entire time.”

“What’s the meaning of this?” Baron Poclete, a florid rotund balding man pushed his way out of the crowd, his two sons flanking him. “What’s wrong with my daughter? Wexan, Gullis, get your sister. And if that woman tries to stop you, use force.”

Alia rolled her eyes, okay, she was definitely dropping Evagene onto the damp grass and walking away. None of this high drama had anything to do with her.

“Get back.” Lady Niah leapt forward to ward off the Poclete brothers. “Lady Evagene has yerisabe poisoning.” The majority of the crowd took an unneeded big step away.

Lord Poclete paled, before yelling fresh instructions. “Don’t touch your sister, but for the love of the Gods, grab your mother.”

“My baby.” Wailed her ladyship.

“Don’t worry.” Alia assured. “We got to her pretty early, she’d only just begun to itch, and I have her arms tied to her sides and the bag keeping her somewhat under control.”

Big tears rolled down Lady Poclete’s face. “My baby is dying.”

“No, not dying. Just brushed up against a nasty shrub and would scratch herself raw if left unattended. Where can we put her?” She looked to the clueless brothers and then the horrified father. “There’s no reason to be like that, as long as you’re careful and don’t touch her bare skin until it’s been thoroughly cleaned, you’ll be fine. Yerisabe is a plant to be respected but not overly feared to be in anyway life threatening.”

“Yerisabe?”

Alia had never been more grateful to see her sister emerge from the crowd. Blood splatter spotting her dove grey dress, medicine bag clenched in Perri’s right hand.

“How’s Baron Heathscote?”

“He should recover, as long as the Palace sawbones doesn’t disturb the poultice I just applied. I heard your voice and left Lord De’Luca in charge of watching over the patient. Yerisabe poisoning, you say? Smart idea to tie her up in the game bag.” Perri opened her medicine satchel, hunting through the contents, finally bringing out what looked like a medium sized salt shaker. “Put her down right there. Best thing for it is the yerisabe leaves once they’ve been steeped for a month, dried, and then ground up into dust.” She drifted forward, a grey wraith, holding up the shaker. “Loosen the knot of the bag for me, would you?” Over Lady Poclete’s protests Perri proceeded to shake several measures of dust into the bag. “Tie it back up for the moment. It’ll take a little while to take effect.” Turning, Perri looked to the family. “In about two hours I suggest you cut her out of there. Bathe her. Burn the clothes she was wearing. Then apply another two shakes of medicine after wrapping her in a fresh sheet. Here, take the bottle. I have more. If she’s still scratching apply another dose every four hours. Unfortunately, it will take a week or so before the swelling, blisters, and welts to completely disappear.”

All the while Perri was addressing the family, Alia was aware of the hunt master steward questioning Lady Niah about their day’s activities, and in particular, focusing upon Alia’s movements. Thank all the Deities above she had failed to sneak away from her hunting party. If she had, in all likelihood she would be up on attempted murder charges right at this moment.

“Are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that.” Perri dipped into her bag, producing another shaker. “Hands.” Proceeding to dust first Alia’s as a precaution and then Deacon’s. “Leave the dust on for at least an hour.”

“What happened to Heathscote? How did he get hurt?”

“No one knows. The horn blared. They appeared out of the forest carrying the body. The Palace surgeon and I had a vigorous discussion regarding treatment of the wound, which thankfully I won. Though I suspect it had more to do with Brandth discreetly threatening the man with a knife than my display of medical knowledge. Then someone claimed to recognise the arrow fletching as yours. There was talk of sending out a search party to hunt you down… and I believe that was about when you and your companions returned.”

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