Page 10 of The Guardian's Bride
“Sire, I am glad.” Leaving Holyoak in a rush, she had blended remedies at Lanercost using whatever herbs, oils, andsimples the infirmarian would spare. Learning that King Edward suffered stomach problems, she mixed infusions of mint, ginger, mallow, blueberries, and more to soothe and help heal. “If I may, Sire, I wish to return home tomorrow with my brother, Sir Henry.”
“The physician left, now you too? That leaves Brother Hugo to do all the physicking! What do you say, Hugo?” He growled this at the monk who sat in a corner. “Can you prepare the same simples as Lady Rowena?”
“Sire,” Brother Hugo said, standing. “With respect, if I may comment.”
“Speak!”
Rowena lowered her eyes as Brother Hugo Fitzwalter stood before the king. She felt the monk’s sharp, critical glance. Hugo was a cleric and infirmarian who had accompanied Edward’s party to Lanercost, and who now treated the king in place of John Gadsden, the cleric and physician who had departed for his college at Oxford days after Rowena arrived. Gadsden had been respectful regarding Rowena’s methods and opinions, even offering to send a precious copy of his treatise,Rosa Medicinae,to her at Kincraig Castle. Honored, she was sorry to see him go, needing an ally, especially one who could teach her more.
Hugo the infirmarian was a different matter. When she had first arrived, he refused to let her work in the priory kitchen to prepare a soothing syrup for the king, but John Gadsden had given permission. Still, Hugo had remained cool and unwelcoming to her. Yet since she had dosed Edward with infusions and syrups and advised a plain diet, the king had appeared to gain strength and sleep more soundly. When Hugo asked about one of her concoctions, she shared the recipe willingly. Yet he was disdainful when she revealed that an essential part of the recipe was to dip three crystals in rainwater and add the liquid.
While at Lanercost, she was grateful and relieved that Edward had not asked about her great-grandfather or the charm stone. Sir Malise Comyn had not visited Lanercost in the past weeks, and she hoped to leave before he arrived.
As Brother Hugo spoke with the king, she heard her name. “Sire, some of what Lady Rowena advises makes sense. But much of it is unnecessary and possibly harmful.”
She stepped forward. “Sire, with respect—” At Edward’s nod, she continued. “I am trained in traditional Highland medicine, and have seen such methods work well, helping even when naught else does.”
“Your Grace, I advise dismissing the lady and summoning John the physician back again. Together he and I can provide better cures.”
“Lady Rowena’s potions and treatments are soothing,” Edward said. “Your advice was not sought, Hugo. You may leave. Lady, you will stay.” He waved toward her. “There is a matter to discuss.”
She felt a twist of dread in her stomach. What did the king want? His health had improved under her watch, while the efforts of Brother Hugo and John Gadsden had made little difference. But she had not used the Rhymer’s charm stone, although she had used lesser stones.
“Sire?” she asked, feeling anxious. “Your Grace does look improved, with better color and brighter eyes. You look stronger.”
“Sleeping better. Eating more. The flux is less. Your potions helped some.”
“I am glad.” Unsure of the cause of his poor digestion, she had given him herbs that could calm and slow the stomach. He had been impatient and complained that she was not a physician, and worse, female. But he took what she offered.
“Your Grace, did you consider my suggestion to help the digestion? Smaller meals, no rich or fatty foods, less wine and spirits, and so on.”
“Considered them. Not interested.”
“Sire, some physicians and healers, such as the respected Hildegard of Bingen, whose works I have read, recommend that thoughts, words, and temperament can either ease or damage the body. For example, discontent and anger can harm the heart and stomach.” That comment was a risk, but it needed to be said.
“Hmph. My priests are busy with prayers on my behalf. John Gadsden says the problem is the bilious nature in the blood and urine. He bled me near dry to balance it. The physicians, monks, astrologers and alchemists offer remedies and suggestions too. Naught helped more than your concoctions. You are required to provide more.”
“I will prepare some this evening, Sire, and leave it here, as I wish to depart with my brother. Your physicians are knowledgeable about bodily humors and matters of blood and urine, astrology too. What I know are traditional remedies that have proven reliable. Heaven grants healing blessings through Nature in plants and other elements, and those remedies often alleviate sickness.”
“Stones,” he said. “You put stones in water.”
“I did,” she said carefully. She sometimes used small crystals.
“The monks say charm stones are suspect. Is it nonsense, or healing, or evil?” He put a hand to his belly as if in discomfort.
“I believe these things help, Sire. I do wonder if regular bleeding weakens you.”
“Physicians know more than you do.”
“In some ways, aye. Your Grace may have heard that the Church banned the practice of bleeding among monks long ago, though physicians still use it. Scholars and doctors are alwaysdiscovering more about the body and the healing arts, and there is much to understand.”
“Healing is up to God, so say the priests. However—” He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “We are curious about your other methods, lady. One of my knights says you possess a unique healing stone. Do you have it with you?”
So Malise must have told the king after all. She dared not risk revealing too much, having promised to keep her stone secret and safe. King Edward would turn a greedy eye on it if he knew.
“Sire,” she said carefully, “I used small crystals in rainwater in the simples and syrups I gave you.” She clenched her hands, hoping her answer would satisfy him. “Such things are common in Highland medicine.”
“Huh! Any stone can be dropped in a cup. Look.” He pulled a large ring of sapphire and gold off his middle finger and plopped it into the cup beside him, red wine splashing out. “That will not heal anyone. We hear you have something more powerful.”
