Thus, Maxi was officiallyrecognized as the resident healer of Calypse Castle. The knights had always been hesitant to approach her because of Riftan. Once the news broke, though, they waited in line to see her.
The infirmary was always full of knights requesting healing for their purpling bruises, cracked heels, and cuts on their hands sustained during training. From time to time, craftsmen and servants also sought her services. When shewas not tending to the wounded, Maxi read through a pile of books to study magic.
The number of patients she treated each day gradually doubled—then tripled—and the remedies she prepared ran out as quickly as she made them. As her workload steadily increased, Maxi wanted to beg Riftan to find someone who could help her as soon as possible.
However, hiring a healer proved more difficult than they thought. The mages who had arrived in Anatol to acquire materials for their various magical devices had long since left for Livadon, and even the few mercenary mages had already gone northwest after being hired or commissioned by other estates.
After searching for quite some time, Riftan was able to hire an old mage nearing seventy from the Earl of Loverne. The mage would come to Anatol in exchange for a military alliance with the earl.
“I have never been so cheated in my life,” Riftan complained, having been forced to agree to less favorable terms than he’d wanted in order to secure the mage’s services. “I just hope he isn’t as decrepit as I fear. I want him to have a long life in service to Anatol.”
Contrary to his hopes, however, the mage who arrived at Calypse Castle accompanied by six guards was actually nearing eighty. Maxi was outside to welcome their guest, and she grew wide-eyed at the sight of the scrawny old mage. He was so emaciated that she wondered how he had managed the trip through Anatolium.
His garments were worn, his back was crooked, his face was wrinkled, and his hair was as dry as corn silk. Looking asif he might collapse at any moment, the mage tottered into the great hall and shakily bowed to Riftan.
“Melric Aaron, at your service, my lord. I thank God for giving me the honor of”—he coughed, briefly cutting himself off—“serving the most honorable knight in all of Wedon.”
Riftan stared at him in disbelief before asking in an even voice, “How old are you?”
“I turned…sixty-eight this year, my lord.”
It seemed he was subtracting at least ten years from his actual age. Maxi and Riftan exchanged glances.
Although it was obvious that he had been hoodwinked by the Earl of Loverne, Riftan brusquely ordered the soldiers to show the mage to his room instead of venting his anger on the poor old man, then called for a messenger to be sent to the earl immediately.
“Do you…intend to c-complain to the earl?”
“Of course. No one can deceive me and get away with it,” he growled, then rubbed the back of his neck in irritation. “But it would be difficult to send the old man back. I do not think he will be able to endure the trip across the mountains again.”
“He may just be worn out from the journey. I’m sure that he will be able to p-perform his duties as a healer…once he has had some rest,” Maxi said, trying her best to reassure him.
Riftan regarded her skeptically. “All I wish is that he doesn’t become another patient for you to look after.”
Maxi laughed awkwardly.
—
Despite Riftan’s worries, Melricnoticeably regained his vigor after two days of nutritious meals and a soft bed. Once she confirmed that he was fully recovered, Maxi showed him the infirmary next to the training grounds. The old man’s eyes sparkled with intelligence despite his pitifully gaunt face.
After thoroughly inspecting the recipes, as well as Ruth’s concoctions on the shelf, Melric untied two leather pouches hanging from his waist. “I see that the remedies available are rather limited, my lady. I have brought with me seeds for more than sixty types of herbs. Would you be able to provide me with a field nearby where I could grow them?”
“There is…an herb g-garden behind the great hall, but I am not sure…if there is enough space f-for all of them.”
“My herbs grow well even in rocky soil. If you could provide me with a small field, I shall grow a magnificent herb garden for you, my lady.”
The old man’s determination made Maxi smile.
“I shall…have the servants prepare one for you. Please…do not do the work yourself.”
“I may not have the strength to plow a field, my lady, but I still have enough in me to sow seeds. If you could have the soil tilled for me, I shall cultivate the herbs myself.”
Melric was eager to prove himself useful, and he quickly set about planting his garden.
Once the servants had plowed the field and followed the mage’s instructions for the fence that they put up around it, Melric got to work. Maxi asked him questions about herbs as she watched him sow the seeds in even rows, and he answered them all with ease.
Although he was not a sorcerer of great magical ability,his knowledge of medicine was far more extensive than Ruth’s. And Maxi soon learned that Melric also knew several illusion spells to calm panicked patients, and that he was quite an expert in healing magic. He had even developed a spell that made plants grow more quickly.
Rather than healing people with magic all the time, he preferred to use herbs, warm compresses, and his own assortment of ointments. He did not believe in relying solely on magic.
