After setting down the crimson-tipped wood spike, she reached into a stone bowl full of water and withdrew a small clump of dripping moss. It had buds of blue and violet and smelled sweet and comforting. All his life, he had studied the woodland plants of the valley and its depths. He had never seen moss like that before.
“This is Everoot,” she said and squeezed the dripping moss over the cup like a sponge. Then she dabbed the Everoot against his wound. Magic came alive inside of him, singing in his ears like a sweet maiden’s song. He watched, amazed, as the cut on his arm closed and healed. The magic rushed through him and he felt it spark another hunger in his stomach. He wanted to taste it. It looked edible…a plant like that could do what no healer could do. Dizziness washed over him, making him glad he was sitting.
“See? I told you I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Exeres blinked as sweat dripped down his cheek. He watched her slide the robe up her arm, exposing soft pale skin.
“Are you a Shae?” he asked her and then wondered why he had let the words slip out. Though her skin was pale like one, the Shae only had certain colors for hair and eyes. Her hair was blacker than a raven’s. Unless she dyed…
“You are a healer,” she said, handing him the wood shard. “Make an incision where I showed you.” Raising her arm, she held it over the goblet and waited.
Blood is forbidden...
“Why must we do this?”
“Make the cut, Exeres.”
He took the wood spike and twirled it between his finger and thumb. A wave of nausea nearly made him black out. He could feel the Earth magic writhing inside her body, protecting her. The magic would not let him hurt her. Not that a splinter would be able do much harm to anyone.
“Make the cut.”
After taking a shuddering breath, Exeres gripped her arm. Her skin was soft, warm.
“Right where those two veins join. Good,” she said as the shard pricked the soft flesh of her arm. Making a small cut down, he started with surprise when a clear fluid oozed from beneath the skin and pattered into the cup. He looked into her eyes again and felt the world lurch.
“You are not a Shae. What are you?” When he pulled the spike away, the cut closed in on itself and disappeared without any of the moss. “Your body heals itself?”
“You want to know what I am?” She reached up and stroked through the hair over his ear. She took a small clump of strands and yanked them out with a quick pinch and jerk.
Exeres stiffened with pain.
“That hurt? Don’t be such a child, Exeres.” She stared at the silver hair and dropped the small tuft into the goblet. The clear and ruby pools of life fluid twisted around the hairs. Miestri twirled a thin lock of her own hair and plucked it out. Winding the curl around her fingers, she added it to the goblet.
“Stir it with the wood shard,” she said while opening a small leather pouch at her waist. Exeres stirred it with the fragment, watching as the hair dissolved. The liquid shimmered like quicksilver. Then he smelled a bitter odor that was not magic.
“Is that mandrake?” Exeres asked, alarmed.
Miestri nodded and plopped a portion of root into the goblet. “Keep stirring.”
It smelled sweet, even with the mandrake—a soothing aroma that made him thirsty and hungry at the same time. She studied him, evaluating him in some unknown measure. She smiled and lifted the goblet to Exeres’ lips.
“Drink. This will take away the dreams.”
“I am forbidden to drink blood.” He shook his head but his mouth watered.
“Drink.” She held the cup under his nose.
The smell of the liquid made his thoughts cloudy. He wanted to taste it, to feel it on his tongue. The cool rim of the goblet pressed against his mouth.
“No. I...I can’t...” He touched the stem of the goblet.
“Drink it, Exeres.”
She tipped it. The warm liquid wet his lips and his tongue. It tasted coppery and sweet with a hint of pungent root. He swallowed uncontrollably and she tipped it more. The potion ran over his tongue, and he almost gagged on it as it dribbled down his chin.
“Swallow.”
It burned inside his mouth, warm and sweet, and tickled down his throat. He tried to breath, but there was only fire inside him. He coughed, spewing flecks of it from his mouth. The taste lingered over his tongue. He shuddered as it awoke something inside of him.
Miestri lifted the goblet and drained the rest of it herself. She smiled, her lips wet and red as she set the goblet down on the carpet.
Feelings started to bubble inside of him. They snapped and hissed like cedar logs tossed on a birthing fire. He looked at her and saw himself. He blinked again and saw her sitting in front of him. Pain spurted and burned in his blind eye.
“What...what have I done?” he gasped, clamping a hand over his eye. Emotions stirred within him as well, mounting and building like an incredible tide.
“I am only trying to protect you, Exeres,” she said with a mocking lightness in her voice. “I have so much for you to do. You don’t realize yet what a great privilege it is to serve me.”
Her hand fastened behind his neck, her breath sweet with the smell of the potion.