Thalia and Earth

Chapter 5: The Examination

Chapter 5: The ExaminationAt the Laird's Home, Daniel started his usual run at Lorenz when they entered, but Melanie stepped in front of Lorenz.

“Ye must wait till tomorrow. Can ye nay see there tis a bandage?”

Twelve-year-old Daniel stared at his fither, his large shoulders still hunched. All he had wanted was to be held. Diana appeared in the doorway, her face full of concern and then realized that Lorenz would be fine. She started to back away when Lorenz spotted her. Both Diana and Daniel had the lighter brown hair and eyes of the House of Troy. Unlike most Thalians, Diana's hair fell in waves.

“Diana, don't run off. Y'all are the reason we have visitors.” His grey eyes lighted and he smiled that transforming smile at the sight of her. With a few quick steps he was beside her and hugging her. He turned to the couple in the doorway.

“Where do y'all wish to do the examination?”

“A spare room with a cot would be fine.” Melanie was puzzled. The Kenning Woman was considered Tri while protected by Don and allowed to wear the Tri blue, but in reality she was Ab.

Ishmael walked over to Diana and hugged her. “Di, tis good to see ye. I canna believe it.”

Lorenz did a mental shrug and forced his jealousy downward. This is Thalia, he reminded himself as Diana and Ishmael greeted each other.

“Our bedroom is here.” He took Diana's arm and led them down the hall and into the room where they slept.

Melanie raised her eyebrows, but followed.

In the blue hued, blue draped room Lorenz led Diana to the bed. He did not see Ishmael stop at the doorway.

“I wish ye to stay with me.” The fierceness in her voice surprised Lorenz. She would not relinquish his hand, but tightened her grip.

“Why? They are both here out of friendship.”

“I dinna trust Medicine. They belong to the Sisterhood.”

Lorenz looked at Melanie who gave a faint smile.

“That tis why my sister, Marta, took her laddie, Timor, and fled.” She looked at Diana.

“Ye need to stretch out on the bed.”

Diana nodded and complied.

Melanie pulled her scanner from her bag and ran it over the length of Diana's body. “Ye need to lie on your stomach now that I may scan the other side.”

Diana swallowed, let loose of Lorenz's hand and did as bid. Melanie quickly ran the scan.

Lorenz stood trying to block any view from the doorway as though he was blocking the view of Diana's painful movements.

“How soon will y'all be able to recommend anything?”

Melanie gave him another puzzled look. “Right now, but first I need to ken if your Maca has seen her.”

“Why? What does he have to do with it?”

“She tis the Kenning Woman, but all ken she tis Ab. The Maca must name her.”

“He gave me the name of Diana when we met.” Diana's prim words caused Melanie to pause. Diana stood beside Lorenz. “But I nay expect ye to believe me.”

She half-turned her head. “Ye, Lorenz, must answer.”

“Of course, I've introduced her to my Fither and grand…, Elder Mither. Why wouldn't I? Isn't that what families do?”

Melanie smiled. “Forgive me, Lorenz, but at times it tis hard to remember ye consider him yere fither. Ye rarely call him that.”

For a moment Lorenz didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. He began to understand the amusement that lurked in Llewellyn's eyes while on Earth. Thalian ways could be as infuriating to an Earthman as Earth's customs must have been to a Thalian. It was better to laugh than lose one's temper.

“If we could have your professional opinion, please, we can decide on a course of action.”

“She sustained these injuries several years hence. That has allowed the damage to continue. The leg and hips bones need to be immobilized and the nanorobs injected. The same goes for the damaged shoulder. There was also some damage to the cranium which would benefit from treatment. She probably experiences frequent aches in all areas. Since she tis Tri, I can leave these here.” A smile dimpled her cheeks and she proffered a small case of pills. “They are but a temporary solution against pain. Ye dinna need to worry about their purity. Nay kenned that I would be here. Take one now and then one each morning.”

“Thank ye.”

Lorenz smiled and asked, “One more question, can the nanorob treatment be done here?”

“Nay, she will need to be immobile and there tis more than one injection. The procedure can be mildly painful, but a sleeping draught tis given. In the eld days, the bones would have been re-broken. The nanorobs do their job of correct alignment and strengthening, and then the remnants dissolve.”

Lorenz nodded. “That is the same procedure my grandson described as the Justine treatment for injured bones.”

He realized they all looked puzzled. “Gary, is my younger in your language. He's a physician, uh, medicine on our planet. If y'all had refused, we would have waited for Gary to return on the Golden One.”

Melanie shook her head. “Lorenz, your Maca may have named her, but the rest of Thalia considers her Ab. Ye canna take her up to the Golden One.”

“But since y'all can do the procedure, it doesn't matter.” His words were short and clipped.

“I will nay go to Medicine.” Diana was tired of them speaking of her as though she were stone. They will kill me.”

“How dare ye?” Melanie's face flushed with anger.

“Nay ye, but one of the Sisters there would. Could ye truly stop one from using Sleep or Dark?”

The anger vanished from Melanie's face.

“Y'all healed Beauty's wrist without taking her to Medicine. Why can't the same be done for Diana?”

“That was but two small breaks and they were new. I shall have to do one area at a time, and the pain without proper medication can be severe. I may nay be able to take that from the premises.”

“I have lived with the pain for seven years. A little longer will nay matter.”

“Everything may be done at my home. The Sisters would nay believe that I would permit such a thing.”

They turned in the direction of the hall. LouElla stood there looking at them. Daniel was up in her arms, his arms around her neck, his legs dangling downward, and he smiled at them.

“Ye were so intent on the matter at hand, the wee one answered my call.” LouElla set Daniel down. Today she wore the black warrior's uniform and every corded muscle rippled under the black.

“Ye are all correct. It can be done in the home, but more slowly. It would be best one procedure was done here, one at Llewellyn's home, then at mine, and however many more are necessary. Then she comes to live with me to learn to be a proper House Counselor and Warrior. Tis what the two of ye wish, correct?” There was a tight smile on her face.

“Grandmère, your solutions are wonderful, except Diana comes here for dinner and at night. Daniel needs her. She can train with you all she wants, but this is where we sleep.”

LouElla squared her shoulders and explained. “Ye canna wed her till ye ask permission to Walk the Circle and complete the House visits. Ye can ask to Walk the Circle after she tis healed and at the then next Council of the Realm meeting. Nay matter what we do, she,” and she pointed her finger at Diana, “will nay embarrass us when she Walks the Circle with ye.”

“She can still be here with me and Daniel when the pain from the healing subsides. That will just confuse everyone all the more.” His grey eyes and face were hard. LouElla glared back at him and he turned to Melanie.

“Melanie, when can ye start the treatment?”

Before Melanie could answer, Marta's face appeared on the screen. “Laird of Don, I must speak with my sister.”