((Okay. I'm back. Sorry for the absense, but there was a sickness in the family I had to take care of. I have hardly been on PPT at all. I *finally* finished all the back reading. You guys are such good writers, you don't make it easy for someone to catch up.
lol I have so many RPs to catch up on. *sigh*))
She dabbed the girl's sweating forehead with a cloth and held her warm hand. This was the tenth case this week. The strange sickness seemed to be spreading without any warning signs. The woman leaned back in her chair next to the bed and rubbed her eyes. She had hardly gotten any sleep for the past week, but people needed tending to. A soft knock was heard at the door.
"Rystol? Are you still here?"
"Yes, Mariam. I just wanted to make sure Glora was stable before I moved on to check on the others." Rystol rested her head against the back of the chair and sighed.
"How is she doing?" the older woman asked. She walked over and laid a plump hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Well, her fever is finally breaking. That's about all I can say. This sickness is very strange. It is different from anything else I have seen, so I can not really say what is good or bad."
The portly woman looked down at Rystol concerned. "You really should get some rest. You have been working nonstop to take care of everyone. We really appreciate it, but you will wear yourself out if you do not take a break. What good will you be to us then?" Mariam smiled gently.
Rystol thought about the summons she had received. It was tempting to follow, but she did not want to leave these people. They had been very kind to her and her family when they had escaped from Elil. She rested her head in her hands, not knowing what to do and filled with exhaustion.
"Listen, Rystol. You are very important to us. Right now there looks to be not much more you can do. I am sure that we can take care of those ailing. I know you have been summoned. We all know. That is something you have to follow . . ." Mariam looked at the young girl laying on the bed. "For the good of everyone," she finished in a whisper. She grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her from the chair.
Rystol attempted to pull back, but she did not have the will or strength. She finally gave in to the older woman. "I guess you are right. I just want to help everyone, but I'm so tired." She rubbed her eyes and let Mariam direct her out of the room.
The stout woman closed the door gently behind them. Rystol leaned against the wall as Mariam spoke quietly. "We have had a meeting and decided that you need to follow your summons as soon as possible. Therefore, we have packed your things that you might need and some supplies. You will take the chestnut steed, Willowfast, to travel to the bridge. Everything is ready."
Rystol smiled when Willowfast's name was mentioned. She was her favorite horse. They had spent many days gallopping throught the forest with not a care to much else. "I guess you are right. I have put this off to long already. Please, lead me to my mount so I can depart soon." Rystol was sad to have to leave these generous people in the state they were in, but she really didn't see any other choice. There wasn't anything else she could do at this point that anyone else couldn't. Whatever this strange sickness was, it was currently out of her hands.
At the center of the village, Willowfast stood, surrounded by many villagers, packed and ready to go. A handsome man helped Rystol hop up on the mare's back. "Thank you, Brom. I wish I did not have to leave."
"But you must. You know I will be waiting here for the day when you return." They tenderly embraced hands. Women the crowd laughed softly as they watched the moment and little children rushed up to say their goodbyes.
The villagers stood back and sent words of encouragement as Rystol turned Willowfast towards the path. She looked back once to see them waving her off and smiled, a small tear escaping her eye, then Willowfast reared on her hind legs and sped off towards the bridge to Nondra.
* * * * *
Rystol was very tired. The pacing of the horse gently rocked her to sleep and she rested against the horse's neck. Suddenly, the mare stopped and Rystol slowly woke from her slumber. The journey seemed very quick, even though it had probably taken hours.
Rystol unmounted and removed her travel bags. She gently carressed the horse's muzzle. "Willowfast, dear friend, I will miss you tremendously," she said and tears welled up in her eyes. The chestnut mare nuzzled her cheek and then pushed her towards the bridge. "I will return as soon as I can," the woman said and waved as she took the first step.
The bridge was extremely long. It was made from large boulders and held together with dirt and moss. It was really beautiful with the river running underneath. The moon shone brightly and cast a gentle glow on her surroundings. Rystol, still very fatigued, shouldered her bags and started her long journey across the bridge to the legendary Nondra.