A flicker of a smile came first, as if it was too hard to hold for long, and then her eyes fluttered open. Only for a moment, but he saw recognition in them. “Noah,” she managed in a tone so faint he might have imagined it. “Love…you.”
Her eyes closed again, and as desperate as he was to hear her voice, he could see the strain it caused. It felt wrong to steal even that little bit of strength from her.
“Rest, little one. You’re here now, and all these people are going to work to make you better. You’ll be chasing Brody about in no time.”
“Noah?” Only a whisper, but that one word held all the trust and love that kept him fighting for her.
“I’m here.” He took her hand.
“Thanks for…helping…me,” she managed, opening her eyes once more.
Noah swallowed hard against the anguish in his chest. He hadn’t helped her. And worse, he wasn’t sure he could.
Glancing up, he met Paige’s eyes, seeing his own fear in hers. She looked exhausted. Worry lines etched deep around her eyes, but she managed to smile for Emily’s benefit.
Turning his attention back to Emily, Noah did his best to muster one of his own. “I want you to meet someone.” He gestured to Skye to come closer to the bed. “This is Skye. She’s been taking excellent care of me, and she’s arranged for these people to care for you, too. And I would guess she’s also responsible for all these pretty wildflowers.”
Skye sank gracefully onto the chair beside the bed. “I’m so happy to meet you, Emily. Noah’s told me so much about you. And that you love books as much as I do.”
Emily’s eyes brightened slightly, and Noah detected the ghost of a smile.
“You’ll be better soon,” Skye said brightly, her voice full of reassurance. “We’re going to be great friends, I just know it.I’m anxious to share my library with you. There’s so much to choose from. There are books describing wonders you never even dreamed existed. Endless subjects to explore.”
She reached out to smooth a strand of hair from Emily’s forehead, the gesture so naturally maternal Noah felt something tighten in his chest. “But for now, until you’re feeling stronger, I, or your mother, could choose something to read to you.”
Emily’s eyes had drifted closed. Her lips moved slightly, but there was no sound.
“Nothing would please her more,” Paige smiled. “Thank you. We’d both enjoy that.”
“Of course,” Skye replied, rising to join Paige on the other side of Emily’s bed. “And if there’s something I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I want your stay here to be as comfortable as possible.
“I can’t thank you enough for helping us,” Paige said quietly. “For providing all this.” She gestured to the comfortable room, the thoughtful touches that spoke of genuine care.
Noah watched the interaction between them, two women from completely diverse worlds bound by their concern for a desperately ill child.
“I lost my mother when I was born,” Skye explained to Paige. “I would have given anything to have had someone fight for her the way you’re all fighting for Emily.”
Something seemed to pass between the two women—an understanding, perhaps, or simply the recognition of a shared purpose. Noah saw Paige’s shoulders relax slightly and some of the strain ease from her face.
“The healers are waiting,” Skye said, placing a reassuring hand on Paige’s arm. “They’re considered the most skilled in the region. I’ve asked them both to examine her, to see what can be done.”
The two robed figures entered at Skye’s summons, moving with the confident bearing of men accustomed to being consulted in matters of life and death. The elder, a thin man with sharp features and calculating eyes, approached the bed first.
“So,” he said, pulling back the blankets to examine Emily’s pale form. “This is the child with the mysterious illness.”
Noah bristled at his indifferent tone but held his tongue as the healers conducted their examination. They felt for fever, examined Emily’s skin and the scattering of bruises on her legs, noted her weakness and checked the swollen nodes at the base of her neck Paige had pointed out. Their touches were efficient but cold, and Noah found himself grateful when Skye moved to stand beside Paige at the head of Emily’s bed, offering comfort with her presence.
Together they watched the healers work, all three noting their methods with growing unease, exchanging worried glances at the healers’ seeming disengagement. Skye had assured him these men represented the pinnacle of medical knowledge, yet something about their examination felt... primitive. The careless way they poked and prodded, and the dismissive glances they exchanged when they thought no one was watching.
After several minutes, the healers withdrew to confer in low voices. Noah caught fragments:“wasting sickness”“corruption of the blood,” “evil humors,” “advanced deterioration.”
Finally, the elder turned back to face them, but addressed his response to Skye. “The diagnosis is clear,” he announced. “The child suffers from a corruption of the blood. The evil humors have multiplied throughout her body, poisoning her from within.”
“And the treatment?” Paige interjected. Noah could hear the skepticism already creeping into her voice.
The man gave Paige a cursory glance, then turned back to Skye. “We must purge her of the corrupted blood,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“A substantial bloodletting to rid her of the evil humors,” the second healer added. “Followed by purgatives to cleanse the remaining poison from her system.”
