Soaking the instruments in a bowl of wine, Ulla meticulously cleansed all debris from Cardin’s wound and closed the incision with precisely detailed stitches. She cut off the excess thread with Laudine’s knife, wiped the needle clean, and placed it back inside her satchel. With a soft cloth, a bucket of water, and sweet-smelling calendula soap, she washed the blood and gore from the dark hair stretched across Cardin’s chest. Applying a healing ointment of garlic and honey over the row of neat stitches, she bandaged the wound with soft, pure white linen.
Ulla lovingly washed every inch of Cardin’s blood-soaked body and filthy hair, whispering silent prayers that her nurturing care would save him. While Laudine carefully lifted Cardin’s shoulder, Ulla removed the soiled bed sheet from beneath him, replacing it with a fresh one and covering him with woolen blankets. Retrieving the gemstones from the pouch in her satchel, she placed five crystals—one at his head and at each of his four limbs—forming a star to channel the divine healing energy of the Goddess into Cardin’s damaged body. Eyes closed in fervent concentration, she drew upon the curative powers of the crystals, willing the man she loved so desperately to live.
Laudine wrapped the bloodied linens into a ball and handed them to a servant for proper cleaning. She returned to Ulla’s side and draped an arm across her back, giving her shoulders a comforting squeeze. “Stay here and rest.” She pulled a velvet tufted chair up to Cardin’s bedside and sat Ulla down, kissing her firmly on the cheek. “I’ll take care of Lukaz and assist Maëlys with supper. I’ll bring him in later to see his papa and say goodnight. And I’ll have Jehan set up a bed in here for you—and bring a platter of food as well. You must keep up your strength.” Laudine brushed a lock of long black hair from Ulla’s weary face. “We’ve done all we can for now. If he awakens, have him drink the water from the sacred well.” She headed toward the door, turning back at the threshold. “You’re the most gifted healer I’ve ever known. If anyone can save Cardin, it’s you. I pray you will, Ulla. For all of us.” Tears glimmering in her golden eyes, Laudine smiled bravely and left the room, closing the heavy wooden door behind her.
Ulla rose from her chair, crossed the room, and retrieved her satchel.I’ll mix healing herbs into the water from the sacred spring. Calendula to withdraw poison from the wound. Burdock root and red clover to cleanse his blood. Goosegrass to reduce the swelling and inflammation.From the ceramic jug she’d carried into the castle, Ulla poured water into a goblet on Cardin’s bedside table, mixing in carefully measured droplets of each tincture.I hope he stirs soon, so I can coax him to drink. Please, dear Goddess, help me save him.
She must have dozed off in the chair, for she was startled awake by deep, anguished moaning. Cardin was burning with fever, thrashing restlessly in bed. Ulla calmed him with a soothing touch, planting soft kisses on his hot cheeks as she stroked his damp hair. Lifting his head, she held the goblet to his lips, helping him gulp a few swallows of herb-laced water. When he settled back down to sleep, she put a cool compress on his forehead and changed his bandage, adding more crushed garlic and raw honey to the stitches over his wound. She replaced the curative crystals at the five astral points around his body, replenishing the divine energy of the star with fresh healing gemstones.
Pouring some of the liquid from the ceramic jug into a small bowl, Ulla cleansed the used crystals in the purifying water of the sacred spring. Tomorrow, she would replace the five gemstones at each astral point around Cardin’s body once again, bathing him anew in refreshed healing energy.
As promised, Jehan set up a pallet for her along the wall near Cardin’s bed. A short while later, Maëlys popped in with an appealing platter of venison pottage and winter vegetables from Laudine’sverrière,half a loaf of crusty fresh bread, a wedge of ripe cheese, and a pewter goblet of ale. “Healers must eat,” she admonished affectionately, setting the tray down upon the walnut sideboard. Worry creased her forehead as she glanced at the sleeping Cardin. “Any change?”
Ulla shook her head and lowered her eyes. Her stomach grumbled at the enticing aroma of the appetizing food. Indicating the platter with a gesture of her hand, she ducked her chin in gratitude and sat down to eat.
“Laudine will be in soon with Lukaz. He keeps asking about his father. I hope, for his sake, that Cardin improves.” Maëlys smiled politely and nodded at the tray. “I’ll be back later to collect the dishes. Eat as much as you can…to keep up your strength.” With a respectful bow, the irreplaceable servant and indispensable cook discreetly disappeared.
Ulla ate all of the delicious pottage, savoring the rich broth, flavorful herbs, and hearty oats. She spread creamy cheese over the crusty bread, popping the last bite into her mouth when Laudine and Lukaz appeared in the doorway.
“Is Papa going to live? That’s all I want for my birthday.” Lukaz crossed the room and rested his small hand on his father’s thick forearm. Expressive eyes widened with fear, he looked imploring at Ulla. “It’s my Yuletide wish, too. All I want for Christmas is for Papa to live.”
As Ulla rose to her feet, Lukaz flung his arms around her waist, sobbing into her woolen gown. “Please heal him—just like you did Vill. Please, Lady Ulla. Heal Papa.”
She stroked the soft waves of his dark hair, rocking him against her stomach.I wish I could soothe him with comforting words. I long for the voice I once had.
“Ulla and I will do everything we can to save your Papa. But he needs to sleep, and so do you. Now, kiss him goodnight. And saybonne nuitto Lady Ulla.” Laudine waited while Lukaz complied. As she led her sniffling grandson off to bed, she added cheerfully, “Come, I’ll tell you the tale of how Sir Tristan of Lyonesse became the Dragon Knight of Avalon.”
****
The next three days passed in a dull haze. Cardin occasionally roused enough to swallow a few gulps of the herb-infused water, but he did not fully regain consciousness. Servants helped Ulla change his urine-soaked bedding, bringing clean linens for bathing and bandages. She repeatedly applied scalding compresses to the festering wound, extracting the poison from the inflamed flesh, coating the injured skin with crushed garlic, calendula, and raw honey. Each morning, she replaced the five purified crystals at his head, arms, and legs, wordlessly invoking the healing essence of the minerals to restore his weakened body. She placed droplets of coriander tincture under his tongue, praying that the rare herb imported from the Mediterranean would reduce his resistant fever and help him awaken from his seemingly endless sleep.
Although Laudine brought Lukaz to visit his papa each morning and night, she insisted that he practice swordsmanship and archery with his cousins and uncles, and continue riding palfreys with his grandfather and Lord Quentin in the afternoon.
Bastien and Xabi arrived on the nineteenth of December with King Guillemin and his royal entourage from Finistère. Jubilant over the successful signing of the Yuletide treaty and the establishment of the Alliance with Aquitaine between Comte Eztebe Ibarra of Biarritz, King Philippe of Paris, and King Guillemin of Finstère, their gaiety was subdued by the critically injured knight who still valiantly battled for his life.
Laudine had just finished helping Ulla change Cardin’s bandages and now sat with her at a small table near his bedside, discussing the upcoming Yuletide events. “Today is the Winter Solstice. We need to celebrate Lukaz’ birthday as planned. I hope to brighten the holidays as much as possible. And keep the faith that Cardin will recover.” Darting a glance at her sleeping son, she poured two cups of chamomiletisaneand handed one to Ulla. “Maëlys is preparing the wassail—that spicy mulled wine we always drink during the holiday season. Tonight, in keeping with the tradition of our Breton ancestors, I’ll bring our guests outside to decorate the large fir tree at the edge of the forest.” She pensively sipped her cup of herbal tea. “The castle servants have made plenty of sun-, moon-, and star-shaped ornaments from gold and silver threaded cloth. Lukaz, Gunnar, and Haldar will love hanging the shiny trinkets on the tree. When we come back inside, perhaps you can join us in the solar when Lukaz opens his gifts.” Laudine set her cup down and smiled sadly. “I hope he likes the emblem on the new shield Cardin had crafted for him. He wanted Lukaz to bear it proudly—as a future knight of Finistère.”
Ulla’s heart sank at the dim prospect of Cardin’s recovery and the likelihood that Lukaz would return to Finistère without her. She would be alone once again in her small stone cottage, retreating back to the solace of silence.
If Cardin does not survive, I won’t be able to keep Lukaz. Or have him live in the cottage with Vill and me. Gabrielle and Bastien will want to take him back to Beaufort. To train him to become a royal knight. A castle archer, like his papa. I can’t bear the thought of losing them both. My unborn child will have neither father nor brother. Please, dear Goddess, help me save Cardin. Help me heal the man I love.
As much as shewanted to accept Laudine’s invitation to join the celebration in the solar tonight, Ulla refused to leave Cardin’s side. His soul was bound to hers, tethered by a delicate lifeline. If she left him, he would die. How could she explain? Ulla had no words.
She scribbled a message on her tablet and handed it to Laudine.
I must stay with Cardin, but I have a gift for Lukaz, too. Please ask Gaultier to fetch it for me. It’s on the top shelf in the corner cupboard of my kitchen. Wrapped in silver cloth with a dark green ribbon.
“Of course. I’ll have him bring it to you in here. Tonight, after dinner—before we go outside to decorate the tree—Lukaz will come to you so you can give him his gift and celebrate his birthday, too.” Laudine finished hertisaneand rose to her feet, reaching her arms overhead to stretch out her back. “And now, you must excuse me. I need to tend to my royal guests—even if they are my own son and daughter-in-law.” She chuckled, bending down to kiss Ulla’s two cheeks withla biseof farewell. Placing the empty cups beside the teapot, she lifted the metal tray and slipped quietly out the door.
Later, as Ulla mopped sweat from Cardin’s fevered brow, Gaultier brought the birthday gift for her to give Lukaz. He laid the cloth-wrapped package on the table and bent down to kiss her cheek. “He still hasn’t awakened?” Despair dimmed his bright eyes.
Ulla shook her head softly, unable to hold his sorrowful gaze.
“He will. I have faith that you can save him, Ulla.” Gaultier raised her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “Please heal my brother.” With a reverent bow of his dark head, Gaultier retreated from the room.
When Cardin moaned and stirred, Ulla helped him drink more herb-infused water from the sacred spring. She replaced the healing crystals in the five astral points around his head and limbs, and washed his entire body with purifying water from the well. Holding her hand over his inflamed wound, she silently summoned the healing essence of the gemstones and the curative cleansing of the sacred spring.
Dear Goddess Dana, hear my prayer. May your divine spirit pass through these sacred elements of water, forest, and stone that I imbue into Cardin’s ravaged body. Guide me—your devout priestess—to heal the man I love. Please make Lukaz’ Yuletide wish come true.
