He’s a Madman
Episode 46
“Sewmyflesh?Witha needle and thread?” The Elvish words fly from Elowyn’s mouth. “What sort of healer resorts to such barbaric methods? Tharios would be appalled. He actually heals people. With his life magic. He doesn’t mutilate them.”
“Elowyn! Elowyn, just...take a breath or...or something.” Rominy inches toward her, and she looks from him to the doctor before flying off the bed and huddling behind Rominy. She has no intention of letting that doctor near her again.
Rominy turns to look over his shoulder, where she’s latched on to his coat. “Oh...you’re just...you’re hiding behind me now.”
“Send him away,” she says in Elvish.
“Do what to him?” Rominy tries to turn and face her, but she stays behind him. “Elowyn. Will you come here so I can see you?”
“Send him away,” she repeats in Nunian.
“Oh. Send. That makes sense.”
“I’ll tell you what.” The madman human doctor snaps his ominous black bag closed. It’s probably full of all sorts of primitive torture devices. “I’m going to check on thatboiling water while you two chat. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Let me know when you’re ready.”
The man lets himself out of the room as Elowyn peers around Rominy.
He’s gone. Thank the fates.
“So...that was...unexpected,” Rominy says.
“I agree. He’s a madman.”
“He what? No, not him. You. Come here.” Rominy manages to grasp her good arm and pulls her around to face him. “He’s not a madman. He’s a doctor. A healer, I think you call them.”
“That man was no healer. Have you visited one of these...doctors before?” Elowyn looks up at Rominy’s caramel eyes. Is he laughing? What in the Wildthorne Woods is funny about this?
“I have, Elowyn. Many times.”
“It’s a wonder you’re still alive.”
Rominy’s mouth twitches.
“Don’t laugh!” she says. “I’m in earnest!”
Clearing his throat, Rominy nods. “Of course.”
“Surely you’ve never let one of these doctors approach you with a needle and thread?”
The very idea is appalling. If Tharios were here, she’d be healed by now. With magic. Not by turning her into a pincushion.
“Actually...” Rominy’s voice trails off, and Elowyn’s gaze snaps toward him.
“Actually what?”
“I got stitches once. A fencing lesson went very wrong.”
“Fencing?”
“Like sword fighting. Sort of. Took a cut right across my side, here.”
As Elowyn watches, he gestures to his ribs.
“You mean this is normal?” she asks. “Sewing people together?”
