Juel

[Lazey Winde]

The noises upstairs frightened Juel. She gave Ertzel a fearful look.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel wrapped her fingers around Juel's hand, then stood to lock the door. Sitting back down next to the frightened girl, Ertzel ran some spells through her mind.

[Lazey Winde]

"What's happening?" Juel asked in an alarmed whisper.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I don't know dear, but we'll remain quiet down here so what ever it is might not hear us."

[Lazey Winde]

Juel nodded slightly, though she could not make much noise. Her throat hurt so much still.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel reached over and took her hand again.

[Lazey Winde]

Juel gulped dryly and tried not to panic. She was terrified. She was quite defenseless with the shape she was in.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel covered Juel's hand with her other hand. "Do not fret, I can protect us, if the need arises, " she whispered.

[Lazey Winde]

Juel was doubtful. This woman was elderly and looked unable to hurt a fly. But it was comforting to have her close. She closed her eyes tightly.

[Muffin Puffin]

"You just rest dear. I'll be right here," Ertzel assured her.

[Lazey Winde]

Tears leaked from between her eyelids.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel reached up to brush some hair from her eyes.

[Lazey Winde]

The girl sniffled.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel stroked her cheek lightly.

[Lazey Winde]

"I can't live through it again. I don't even know if I can live after this." The girl whispered.

[Muffin Puffin]

"You can. You are stronger than you know. And I won't let anyone hurt you, especially not while you're in my care"

[Lazey Winde]

She shook. "This shouldn't have happened."

[Muffin Puffin]

"You are right, it should not have. Know that you have us to lean on though."

[Lazey Winde]

"Me and my brother were just gonna come here, he was gonna work with them at the mill and I'd marry Ronan... It can't work now." She mourned.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I still say you won't know that for certain without speaking with him, but I won't push. If you like to bake, Aislyn will be needing help in her bakery."

[Lazey Winde]

The thought of talking to Ronan now was frightening, but he and his family had been expecting her and may be worried when she and her brother don't show up. She would have to talk to him sooner or later.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel poured a cup of water and handed it to Juel. " Here you are, darling."

[Lazey Winde]

Juel clutched the cup and drank deeply. She looked at Ertzel.

 

"I think Ronan should know what happened to my brother, he was going to work at the mill."

[Muffin Puffin]

"I shall watch out the window for one of the local lads. They can take a missive to him."/

[Lazey Winde]

"I don't know what to tell him about me." Juel whispered anxiously.

[Muffin Puffin]

"You have time to think on it, I'm not certain it's safe to go to the window  yet or not."

[Lazey Winde]

Juel closed her eyes tight.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel sat quietly, holding Juel's hand.

[Ayshe]

Boaz, the young potter, whistled to himself as he walked up the lane,
passing by the healer's cottage. His shirt was spattered with dried
mud and his hands had been stained reddish brown from the clay he
worked with.

[Lazey Winde]

Difyr lightly knocked on the door before opening it. She looked from Juel to Ertzel.

"How is she doing?"

[Lazey Winde]

"Ertzel?" Difyr said softly.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel turned and smiled. "Yes, dear?"

[Lazey Winde]

"How's she doing?" Difyr asked, her eyes flicking over the patient.

[Muffin Puffin]

"She's still very upset, understandably so. I'm certain you will have to give her more to calm her nerves. When she wakes, I want to get the information on her young man so we can send for him."

[Lazey Winde]

Difyr nodded.

"My other patient has woken up and has reacted... strangely."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Oh? Do tell," Ertzel replied.

[Lazey Winde]

"She's angry, but not angry like you'd think you'd be." Difyr said. "She seems more angry about being out of work because she's too beat up than angry about what happened to her. I think she's a. . . Black Raven girl."

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel shook her head. "Even they need care. And even they don't deserve what was done to them."

[Lazey Winde]

Difyr nodded. "She doesn't want to be taken care of, and has even tried to get up to leave." Difyr sighed. "She doesn't want to speak to the guard."

[Muffin Puffin]

"We can't force her. If she works at the Black Raven, she probably knows these men. And knows they will come after her if she talks."

[Lazey Winde]

"And she has a mark on her like Liadan and this girl." Difyr nodded to Juel. "But it looks like a brand, a healed scar at least a few months old."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Then more than likely she does know them." Ertzel thought for a moment. "We can't force her to speak with the guard, but the guard can come here and force her to talk."

[Lazey Winde]

"She's pretty weak, I don't know how well she can stand against an interrogation." Difyr said.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel frowned. "I wonder if Bren has found anything."

[Lazey Winde]

"She hasn't been back." Difyr said.

Juel stirred in her sleep.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel waddled slowly to the bed and pulled the cover up over Juel's shoulders.

[Lazey Winde]

Juel's eyes cracked open. 

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel leaned over and hushed her softly. "Go back to sleep, darling."

[Lazey Winde]

Juel closed her eyes again and tried to sleep.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel turned back to Difyr and sighed sadly.

[Lazey Winde]

Difyr looked down at her hands. No matter how skilled she might become at healing she knew she could never change what has already happened.

[Muffin Puffin]

Ertzel patted her arm. "You can only shape the future. None of us can change the past," the wise old lady said. "Would you mind watching Juel for a while, I think I am in need of a nap."

[Lazey Winde]

Difyr nodded. "I'll send Tegau to wake you for the midday meal."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Thank you, darling." Ertzel shuffled slowly from the room, feeling even older than her years. She leaned on a few things in the hallway to steady herself until she reached her room. Ertzel crawled into her bed and curled up under her blanket, falling fast asleep.