Six Pillar's Oath

Chapter 7 - Lila

Lila stood in the middle of a muddy stretch of plain. The ground around her churned up and dark but a strong summer sun beat down over head. Looking up she saw the mud around her covered not just rocks and ground, but men still as statues yet not rock hard. They were flesh ground beneath horses hooves, charred by fire. A sound broke the soft whisper of wind, a sharp scraping twisting into a sweet ring, rhythmically over and over. She turned to seek the culprit, who had broken this sacred silence of grief? Her gaze fell upon a shining armour clad figure, the silver armour, white cloak and blonde hair glowing orange in the sun. They sharpened a long golden sword, which seemed to glow with its own light. On the rock where they sat dangling upon it’s highest point, ever so slightly swinging in the wind was a simple crown.

Lila’s breath caught in her throat. She prepared to call out when her foot was pulled behind her away from the figure. On the ground splashed with mud was a man, bright green eyes stark against pale skin and black hair, a smile on his face as he met her eyes. “My love, you came, you can win what has been lost.” He spoke as though spears were not piercing his chest but as though he cradled her on a blanket beneath a harvest moon overlooking a village of lights and dancing. The sharp sound of whetstone on blade stopped and Lila felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Together, we can save him together.” The armoured woman spoke.

“We can?” Lila asked “You promise?” she began to reach her hand down to the man.

“Of course. But he’s over here.” The woman said pulling Lila away from the man.

“He’s not, he’s here, please.” Lila began to beg and reach back but the man in the ground was lost amongst the mud and bodies.

“Here, he’s here.” The Woman said as she threw Lila down into the mud. Lila looked around and saw next to her now a young man, no older than fourteen, straight blonde hair framed a cherubic face twisted in pain.

“You could have made the difference.” He said as he took the woman’s hand and rose easily from the ground, leaving Lila lying in his place.

The pair of them walked away, as Lila tried over and over to pull herself from the sinking ground. As she sank lower and lower she realised her feet were bare and brushing against something cold and smooth in the depths of the earth. They slipped and twisted uncomfortably as whatever it was tumbled and turned while she tried to gain purchase. The clinking of glass bottles soon caught her ears as she descended through the mud into darkness. Glass began to shatter around her slicing open her back and shoulders as she fell.  

Daisy lifted the wooden bowl to her nose and took a sniff, “Not enough witch-hazel. You always said it should wrinkle the nose, but not water the eyes right?” she nattered down to the unconscious Lila on the small bed.

When they had carried Lila back into the inn Bart had told Daisy to move her into the furthest room from the stairs, over looking the stables. It was a cramped little room, but Lila didn’t take up much space. She had seemed so small and delicate when they carried her back, skin pale from blood loss. Daisy knew she was could not be more than ten years younger than Lila, but at that point the woman had seemed both ancient and infantile, a fragility and innocence yet still so wise and brave. Since then Daisy had made it her mission to nurse her back to health. The chair in the corner of the room was covered in her blankets and her notebook sat on the table alongside her hairbrush. Bart had constantly been chasing her downstairs to work in the inn or see to other injured. It was a valuable learning experience but all she could think about was Lila. What if she passed when Daisy wasn’t there? What if she woke up and tore her stiches? What if the venom was still in Lila’s system because she, Daisy the chatty apprentice, had got it wrong? This woman was a legend in Hoppsley she seemed to have helped at least one member of every household at some point or another, as had her mother, and grandmother, she was the last in a line of legendary healers and Daisy could have killed her! So now she stood over the woman and carefuly removed bandages from her back.

The first time Daisy laid eyes upon Lila’s back her throat instantly burned with bile. Her entire back was branded with a criss cross of lines and runes. Daisy had never had a talent for runes and the only one in the village who had was her friend Thomas. Once it had been discovered that he could cast the knights had come and taken him away to Aierrstorr, that was three years ago now, and she had not received a single letter since. So the mystery of what was carved on her mentor’s back would have to wait. It meant however that Daisy was more determined than ever to follow Lila wherever she went.

After a two weeks the changing of the bandages had become nothing but routine for Daisy but it was a welcome surprise when she heard the croaking whisper of Lila’s voice break through the motions.

“Daisy Medowbright, silent? I must be dead.” Lila managed to force out as her eyes fluttered open and the blurred image of her apprentice finally came into focus. It had taken a moment to pluck up the courage, she knew she could hear and smell from the fire and the mixing of witch hazel and salt, she could feel her toes and the prickle in her arms but knew that was no assurance she still had all her limbs. Unsure how much protection she would have from her runes after all this time, keeping her eyes closed allowed her to pretend it was all just a bad dream. But then, the dreams she was having were no picnic either, and Daisy’s cold fingers lovingly applying balm and changing bandages had summoned a deeply buried pang of guilt to the surface and Lila knew it was cruel not to speak.

“Lila!” Daisy gasped throwing her hands in the air triumphantly, before carefully regaining her composure and stoically returning to her task “So nice of you to wake up.” Daisy offered calmly trying to keep the corners of her mouth turning upwards. She was unsuccessful. Lila herself struggled not to smile at this but was quickly returned to the problem at hand as she tried to bring herself upright. The pain was not as bad as she’d thought but still made her suck air and grit teeth as she heaved herself up.

“Describe the damage and treatment plan apprentice Medowbright.” Lila instructed, trying to keep things breezy for Daisy’s sake.

“Well the puncture wound was pretty deep and extracting the venom wasn’t easy, I did try using some of your tools and they were useful. You had a couple of days of fever but that seemed to break all on it’s own after that. Now it’s just waiting for the last of the stiches on your back to heal and you’ll be right as rain. I did think you had a couple of broken ribs but I must have been shaken by the whole thing because there is no sign of that now.” Daisy took a deep breath, “I gave you some poppy the first couple of days because you seemed in pain, but then you weren’t waking up, you were so pale. I thought… I thought..” Her eyes began to well, “I thought I’d ki..”

Lila put a hand up to stop the girl before she could finish, “Shh love, it’s every healer’s fear and burden. Not saving someone is not the same as taking their life with your own hands. Not everyone you treat will survive. For most of us death is part of life and it’s a noble thing to try and fight it, but it’s also noble to ease those who need across the threshold peacefully.” Lila wiped the tears from Daisy’s cheeks with her thumbs “And look, I’m alive, you have worked miracles, very few survive a Chimera’s fangs, you’ve done me and your village proud.”

Daisy gulped and nodded embarrassed at her emotional display, “I know I will have to get used to this, I’m sure I will see many more such monsters when we leave.” Daisy said as she began to busy herself tidying up the bandages. Although she did snatch a glimpse at Lila for her mentor’s approval.

“Daisy, you were very brave,” Lila began before realisation came across her. “You saw the beast?” she asked urgently.

“I.. I did.” Daisy said uncertain if she was in trouble for not obeying Lila and staying put.

“Did you see what I did?” Lila asked even more urgent.

Daisy looked at the floor and nodded, knowing somehow this was not what her mentor wanted to hear. “I didn’t tell no-one. I just said that you were helping the injured when Mateus struck the killing blow and then it went up in flames. He was badly burned and can’t remember nothin’ he’s enjoying being the hero though.” Daisy smiled as she saw some relief on Lila’s face but then knew she had to tell the rest “The Gaff though, he said he had to send for the knights, ten men died and half a crop was destroyed. Someone needs to answer  he said.” Daisy returned her eyes to the floor.

“Did he send to Nerving’s keep? The capital? This is important Daisy.” Lila pressed standing and making her way towards the girl gritting her teeth through any pain.

“Both.” Daisy gulped Turning to face Lila.

“How long ago.” Lila managed to croak out as she grasped Daisy’s shoulders and looked into the girl’s fearful eyes.

“Two weeks.” Daisy stuttered. “Nerving’s men are camped outside town to the north. My cousin Arm said he saw riders processing along the south from the hilltop this morning. But I’m sure…” Daisy cut herself off as a glimmer of fear crossed Lila’s face/

They stared in silence at one another as each formulated what time was left, their answer came as the whinnying of horses and the splat of hooves on rain soaked ground drifted up through the window.

“Help me dress Daisy, and gather your things.” Lila whispered as she looked around the room to decide what must come next.