"What's amiss?"
'The woman woke, and her cries have frightened the babe. She thinks you are going to eather."
Rahel stopped crying and stared at Epor, wide-eyed.
Epor smiled at her, showing his teeth. "I wouldn't. Too scrawny."
I smiled at the jest, and Rahel demanded to know what he said. She looked at me withsuspicion, but seemed to relax a little, especially when Epor leaned against the doorpost,watching Isdra make a bed by the fire for herself, with the babe nestled down beside her. In thequiet, Rahel closed her eyes, and whispered something. I leaned closer. "What did you say?"
She opened her eyes. "Bind me."
"I don't think—"
"Bind me, girl."
"Rahel, you're no threat."
"The fever has me. Bind me now."
"What does she say?" Epor asked.
I explained and he nodded. "Even a weakling with a knife is dangerous. Take no chance,Warprize."
Rahel seemed to sense his attitude. "He knows. Healers know the way of pain. Those that healcan hurt in need. Tie me, I say."
I rolled my eyes, and in the end I secured her wrists to the frame, but only after I had her drinksome broth. She lapsed into an uneasy sleep. Epor went outside to stand watch, Isdra rolledinto her blankets and I settled in for a long night.
* * *
By dawn, Rahel could not be roused. She lay silent, still, and unresponsive.
I was exhausted, and filled with chagrin at my folly. I should have listened to her, forced her totell me everything while she was conscious and talking. I should have heeded her warnings, butI had not believed that a disease could kill so very swiftly.
I knelt by Epor, sleeping in the blankets that Isdra had vacated. They'd traded off during thenight. A touch of my hand on his shoulder, and his eyes were open. He sat up when he got agood look at my face. "Warprize?"
"We need to go to the healer's home, Epor. I need to see what she was trying to do before youbrought her here."
Epor glanced at the beds. "The man?"
"Dead." I refused to look at the body. I'd covered his face, and my failure, with a blanket.
Epor stood, gathering his weapons. His eyes flicked to the corner where the babe rested.
"She's well, at least?" he asked gruffly.
"So far."
Epor led the way, and I followed him out into the main room. Isdra was just inside the door,seated on one of the benches, positioned so that she could see out into the square. She made nocomment as we approached, just lifted an eyebrow.
"A scouting run." Epor spoke softly, tightening his mask. "Anything?"
"All's quiet." Isdra stood. "The others?"
"The babe is well. The woman still lives. The man is dead." I didn't really want to discuss thedetails. Thankfully, Isdra was content with my response.
"We'll finish the search when we return." Epor looked out over the square, and the light thatwas growing steadily. "No sign of the crazed one?"
"None."
