Page 65 of Sun Warrior

“I already know that. We’re wasting time. I’m assuming you brought more medicines than just aloe plants in those baskets, and Jaxom needs something potent for the wound in his back,” Sora said, trying to pull her hand from Mari’s.

Mari held on more tightly. “Sora, you’re not listening to me. The stag infected Jaxom. Then Jaxom bit you. Deeply. His bite broke your skin.”

“Yeah, so? I already know that, too. I don’t know the point of all of this. We’re way too busy to—”

“Jaxom infected you,” Nik blurted.

Sora stared from him to Mari.

Mari nodded and loosened her grip on Sora’s suddenly limp hands. “Your symptoms are identical to those Jaxom and Rose described. How have youreallybeen feeling? Sick, feverish, and unnaturally angry?”

“This is ridiculous. It’s just a simple cold. Let go of my hands!” Sora ended the outburst shrilly, yanking her hands from Mari’s and baring her teeth in a menacing snarl at her friend.

“Sora, this isn’t you—it’s the illness. Think, Moon Woman.”

Sora opened her mouth as if she would hurl more abuse at Mari, and then Jaxom’s somber voice interrupted.

“Sora, she’s right. Try to think through the anger and the pain.”

Sora looked down, as if she was surprised to see that her hands were already at her wrists, digging bloody furrows in the inflamed skin that peeked from under the arm of her tunic. “Oh, Goddess, no! I am infected.” Sora covered her face and began to sob, her shoulders bowed like a willow branch.

“Sora, stop! It’s going to be okay.” Mari gently pried Sora’s hands from her face, leading her to a chair not far from the hearth. “Where’s more of that poppy tea?”

“N-no. I c-can’t take any. It’ll make me sleepy and there are too many people to tend.” Sora coughed miserably and wiped her mouth, leaving a long red slash on her tunic sleeve. The young Moon Woman stared at the scarlet streak. “This is bad. This is really bad.” Her gaze locked with Mari’s. “Please help me!”

Mari knelt beside her. “I’m going to help you, but you need to do as I say.”

Sora nodded shakily as she scratched at her elbow crease. “Anything, just don’t let me go mad.”

“First, you need to drink the tea.”

“There’s more of it in the big basket next to the water bucket. There are mugs next to the cauldron beside the hearth.”

Mari nodded to Nik and he went to the basket, pulling out a little pouch of herbs like the one Sora had given Rose. He placed the cauldron over the fire and ladled water into it, slowly adding the dried pods while he stirred. Satisfied that the tea was brewing, Mari returned her attention to Sora.

“Let me see your arms.”

Sora hesitated, but only for an instant. Then she held out her arms and allowed Mari to roll up the sleeves of her tunic to reveal the blisters and red welts that were forming at the creases in her friend’s otherwise flawless skin.

Sora turned her face away and wept.

“Jaxom, let me see your arms again.” Mari hurried to the young man on the pallet. He held out his arms, now free of bandages—and Mari realized he didn’t need the bandages reapplied. His skin was already healing. “How do you feel?” she asked him.

“Much, much better. My back hurts pretty bad, but the skin around my wrists and elbows and knees feels almost normal.”

“What about your emotions? How are they?” Mari said.

“Other than not knowing how to live with the things I remember doing, I feel good. My mind is clear and my anger is gone. I’m myself again,” Jaxom said.

Mari hurried back to Sora. “You felt better when you Washed the Clan, didn’t you?”

Sora sniffed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I thought I just had a little cold. I didn’t think it could be anything too bad if I was able to draw down the moon. I can’t believe I was so wrong. Mari, you have to go look in your mom’s journals. See if she has a cure for this—whatever it is.”

“I don’t think I need to do that.”

“But you have to! You have to help me, Mari!”

“Hey, s-s-sh. You’re not yourself. Of course I’m going to help you, but I already know how. I don’t have to look in Mama’s journals, though I am curious if she ever noted an infection like this before.”