A medical emergency

[fadingworld]

A deep navy cloak hides his features and the more ornate tunic the courtesan usually wears to greet his clients. Mal hunches his shoulders and slides through the crowds hoping to avoid notice. He keeps his head down until he reaches the home of the doctor and wraps smartly on the door. "Open up," he calls in a voice that expects to be listened to.

How much time did he have? He could not have a client bleeding out. Not this one. Not one who had come to him for help, to be treated privately.

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[mandragoraspiritus]

The door is opened at the request by an older man and a scent of herbs wafts out into the air. Graying hair, pale skin and dressed in clothed that while being of a good quality and cut were also well worn he made for a somewhat gray-looking figure. Except for a pair of very dark eyes, dark enough to appear outright black. They have a mild expression to them, though, and focused.

"Yes?"

[fadingworld]

Mal pushes the arm of his sleeve back to reveal the finely inked vines stretching up the inside of his arm, declaring his profession and the roses the house - The Rose Thorn.

"I was told you were discreet. If you could grab your kit and follow me, you will be well paid."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The man steps back into his house, his clinic, gesturing for the cloaked man - the courtesan - to follow him in. "What seems to be the problem?" He asks, slinging the strap of a satchel diagonally across his body, wandering around the room to put some few more things into it. "And who needs the help, if I may ask?"

[fadingworld]

Mal keeps his hood drawn up, naming a prominent Duke. "There was an assassination attempt. He came to me." He leans back against the wall.

His laugh is low and musical. "It is not within my usual daily duties but I am not upset by the sight of blood."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"What was the nature of the assassination attempt? Poison?" He needs to know this to know what sort of equipment to bring.

"Why you? Would not such a prominent person have his own physicians at his beck and call?" No matter the circumstance, it is how it is now, and this humble barber-surgeon will come and help. But he would like to know just what those circumstances are.

[fadingworld]

"He thinks it was poison, he said he felt a dart." Mal isn't going to give the Duke's secrets away. Nor his fears. "He was out when it happened and the Rose Thorn was closest. Besides it would arouse more curiosity if his physician was seen coming into his lodgings."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The barber-surgeon hums to himself at that, slipping some more vials of liquid and packets of powders into his satchel, this that could help counter what he suspects most likely that an assassin would use.

"Come along, then," he tells the young man, heading out and then down the street after having locked his door, not bothering to wait for the man to show the way. He already knows the way. As they walk it becomes clear that the scent of herbs hadn't come from the clinic but rather from the surgeon himself.

[fadingworld]

It's a pleasant smell, a contrast to the perfumes that Mal typically wears when he is working. A street away from the Rose Thorn he taps the man's arm and leads the way down an alley. "A back way in," he explains. "Unless you wish to come through the front doors posing as a client."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I have gone through those door before, as the barber-surgeon that I am. But, I suppose when dealing with the rich and mighty that it isn't an option. Discretion before all else." He heaves a sigh, folding his hands round the strap of his satchel. "Very well, then, lead the way to my patient.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"In need of some tea, I think." Truth be told the man is in rather poor shape, but he remains somewhat conscious so that shouldn't be said out loud.

From his satchel he pulls out two packets made of paper, one containing a mix or dried herbs and one smaller with a colorless powder, which he hands over to the younger man. "Put this to steep for five minutes, please. Now, is that a tub over there, behind the partition? Good. Please see to it that it is quickly filled with cold water, quick as you can."

[fadingworld]

Mal moves without complaint, steeping the tea. Staying near the Duke, he occasionally puts his hand on the arm. It's not that he's got any real love for his client but should showing some sort of caring wound be expected.

When the first lot of ice is brought he lifts it with surprising strength and takes it to the bath. Somehow, he makes it look graceful and weightless. Three more successive trips are made, chilling the water.

"Check it," he calls to the doctor. "More ice will follow in 15 minutes."

[mandragoraspiritus]

While the courtesan has tended to the ice bath, the surgeon has been monitoring the duke as well as have made him swallow a series of tincures. This really will be fighting poison with poison. He can already feel the duke's temperature rapidly rise as a result.

"There is no time." He moves to scoop the duke up in his arms, carrying the much studier man as if he weighed nothing. Being set in the ice cold bath causes the duke to rally, fighting in protest. Yet the wiry looking doctor has no problem holding him down, even if water does splash everywhere before he gets the man to settle.

"Bring the tea, please."

[fadingworld]

Mal brings the tea over and settles a hand on the Duke's shoulder. There is a honeyed tone to his voice. "I know this a little more drastic than your usual bath but you had to go and get yourself in trouble. I was," and there is a little catch to his voice, "worried."

The easy flattery has some affect, making it easier for Mal to get him to swallow the tea. He glances up at the Doctor and down at the Duke.

"I promise the next time you are here for a bath it will be much more enjoyable."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The doctor glances over and wonders if there is any real affection behind this gentleness. If not, the courtesan is a skilled actor. But then, that is a part of his profession, is it not?

In any case, this gentle touch and comfort ought to have an easier time keeping the patient calm and in the icy bath than the doctor's own clinical approach and so he given the younger man an approving nod.

"The fever will rage for a short time," he tells him quietly. "We will need to keep him cool while it burns the poison out of his system."

[fadingworld]

"I will sing to him," Mal says softly. "Signal me if you need me to stop. There will be more water to add to the bath should we need it."

Mal settles kneeling at the edge of the bath, his fingers trail the cold water as he picks an old ballad of lovers who defy the gods to be together. There is some quality to his voice that wraps around the Duke. In Mal's mind it is a soothing mist, easing tension from the Duke's mind, making him more relaxed and open to suggestion.

[mandragoraspiritus]

It is good that the duke is kept relaxed so the doctor doesn't call for a pause. After a while he brings the tea over, when it has cooled enough to be swallowed and he deems the duke in a state to be able to get it down. It is a bitter brew but even so the duke does swallow.

He's kept in that icy bath for a long time, even after he's been wracked with chills and hsi lips turn pale blue. But after that time, after the doctor has checked him over and has deemed the worst danger to be over, he reaches in to lift the man out of the water again, holding him up to strip him off his clothes before carrying him back to the bed to bundle him up in soft sheets and warm blankets.

"He must rest now," he then tells the courtesan. "He will sleep near like the dead for near a day and night, and should not be moved during that time. Or longer, if possible."

[fadingworld]

Mal reaches for a cool glass of water himself as he brings the song to an end. The pale blue lips had disturbed him and it is a relief to have the Duke in the bed.

"I will arrange it to be so," he promises, pushing his hair back from his face. "In fact," he touches the back of his hand to his forehead. "I might be coming down with something and will need to be left strictly alone for the next three days."

His eyes dance as he loosens his collar. "I can be quite convincing."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Days turned to weeks turned to months, passing much in the ways of learning for Mal and Regis. Not without some bumps and complications, but with more progress than not.

One fine autumn day they left the city for the countryside on Regis' prompting. Late spring and early summer was often best for gathering herbs. but there were other things that needed autumn to come about. Certain berries and fruits, mushrooms. Regis planned for them to be out a couple of nights and luckily he knew of a hunter's cabin that stood empty in the general area he wished to gather in.

"Come, it is't far now," e calls back to Mal as he leads the way across a clearing, both of them carrying packs of what supplies they themselves will need, as well as baskets and bags to store their harvest in. "The cabin is just inside the line of trees ahead."

[fadingworld]

"Not far for you," Mal calls back good naturedly, as he readjusts the pack and picks up the pace. The months had certainly toughened him and made him more capable of fending for himself. However, hiking with supplies was another matter, he was more than a little red in the face. Far from complaining, the more exhausted he felt, the more determined he became.

"Does the cabin belong to someone you know?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"No, every time I have come by it it has stood empty so I have started to make use of. Though I do make a point of leaving it in the same state I find it, replacing any firewood I use and so on." It seems only fair to him to do that, and to perhaps make any some small repairs that needs doing.

[fadingworld]

"I wonder if others do the same," Mal's imagination is fired thinking of those who flit in and out of the cabin like ghosts.


"Does this mean I will learn how to split firewood?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Perhaps. Unless roaming the woods end up wearing you out." He grins back over his shoulder.

"I have seen signs of other people being at the cabin so I suppose it isn't unlikely that others treat it as a temporary camp of sorts, the way I do."

[fadingworld]

Mal gives a clear ringing laugh. "I am sure I could go many more miles without this pack and perhaps more padding around my feet!

He looks eagerly around as they reach the tree line. "There is something a little romantic about thinking we will be alone for a fair distance."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The cabin isn't much; just a single, small room with a fireplace in the middle and a simple hole in the ceiling to let out the smoke. Crude benches and tables stands pushes to the walls. Between the far wall and the fireplace stands a single, narrow bed. There are no windows but the days are still warm enough that they can leave the door open to let the light in.

"It rather is, isn't it?" Regis agrees with a smile as he sets his pack down on a table.

[fadingworld]

Mal plonks his back down besides Regis' and rolls his shoulders. Oh that was a relief! He slides an arm around Regis' waist. "This is charming." Mal has had enough of luxuries and drapes. This was cosy.

His eyes dance. "It is a good thing neither of us is too fat to share the bed."