Chapter7…Potion Master’s

     Tora smelled the sudden change in the air, it became sweet and soothing Tora felt her eyes drooping as she shuffled further along with two bleared people in her vision. Tora tried to shake her head to get rid of the ethereal feeling that was consuming her like peaceful fog.

“She has a very acute nose, Esla go further ahead and put out the incense.” A voice said.

     Tora was taken a different way and sat down on a down cushion; Tora tried her best to hide the sigh of sleep as she went to curl up. The voice had other plans for her, it talked softly to her goading her to stay awake, or a soft pinch of her nose if she started to doze off.

“I am Sela of the healing leaves, my sister Esla is the mender of the trunk, and together we are the Tree Healers. Now if you wish to recuperate quickly I suggest you eat your fill of this vegetable stew.” Sela said.

     Tora’s ears had perked up at the word “eat”, Tora’s nose twitched when she smelled the stew near her. The name, Tree Healers, registered some whener in the back of her mind. Tora rubbed her eyes and saw that she was sitting in front of a low table and in front of her was a large bowl of stew. Tora was ravenous; she had already down half the bowl when Sela spoke again.

“What is your name pup?” Sela asked curiously.

Tora put the bowl down reluctantly. “I am Tora.”

     Now that Tora took the time to actually look a Sela clearly, Tora could see that the woman was stout and coarse. Her hair was white and had a strange greenish tint; it was pulled up into a tight bun on top of her head. Her face was angular like a cat’s but it fit, her eyes were a deep shade of brown, and her hands were calloused and red.

“Tora…That is an odd name to have…” Sela said with a teasing smile.

“Sela isn’t every common as well.” Tora replied as she picked up her bowl again.

     Sela laughed, it was raspy but nice to hear. Sela stood with a smile still in place on her lips. She took Tora’s empty bowl and filled it, and with one last glance over her shoulder she left the room. Tora sat there eating the stew; she had to admit even though it didn’t have meat in it the sweet vegetable and broth filled her up. Tora saw the pot and had refilled her bowl two more times before she decided she could not eat anymore. Tora curled up on the cushion, she could still the pain of her body but that could all wait until she had slept.
     
     Audi and Judah stood before the commander, Audi had told him the reason she had released the guilty party. The commander was awe struck, but could it possibly be that she was or was not who they thought she was. Regardless she had still broken the laws of Kasaria and entered the Sacred Forest, but on the other hand had she not surely the Demimera would have surely wrecked havoc on the unsuspecting people of Kasaria. So inevitably due to her breaking the laws she had saved hundreds of lives. It was quite a conundrum that they were facing and Tora’s freedom hung in the balance.

Bayne sat behind his desk his hands laced in front of his mouth, he sighed. “Audi, Judah…I put my utter trust on you, if you think she is the daughter than…The only way that we can avoid the punishment of the law is for you to convince her to join us…she well be an asset to our pack.” He said with unfailing optimism.

Audi sighed with relief. “Is that all we have to do? Then that shall be easy.” She said confidently

“But, Audi she must come to us willingly, I will not have coerce her into joining. Just tell her of her plight and let her decide.” Commander Bayne said with emphasis.

Audi huffed crossing her arms. “We will make she comes of her own free will, and if she does she will be under our tutelage. That is all we ask of you commander.” Judah said.

Bayne smiled and nodded. “Of course, I would have recommended as much.”

     Tora was not sure how long she had been asleep, but it had helped a lot. She was awoken by Sela and Esla, Tora had to do a double take Sela and Esla were practically twins! Except Esla’s eyes were deep green and her hair was tinted brown.
      They lead her out of the room into and earthed out tunnel that lead into a high ceiling chamber. On the floor five earthen pools of polished, hard, brown rock were set, one in each corner and one in the middle. At the moment one of the pools was filled with sweet smelling water, and gentle wisps of steam curled off the surface. Tora was curious, even though she really did not like bathes, but at the moment she had no right to object to one.

“Well unless you intend to wash yourself with you clothes on get undressed.” Sela and Esla said as they attended to the water, putting herbs and oils into the water.

“Aren’t you going to leave? I can wash myself.” Tora said warily.

“Pup, you have nothing we haven’t seen before. And we have to be here to tell you when you must get out.” Esla said flatly.

     Tora tried to fight the embarrassment she felt as she slid off her black boot, she kept glancing up to see if the two women were examining her, but they weren’t. Finally, Tora left her clothes in a pile and wrapped her arms around herself. She sat near the edge of the bath staring at the oils as they mixed with the water. Esla and Sela came over to her. They weren’t looking at her; they were looking at her wounds. After a few tense moments they nodded.

“The wounds aren’t as severe as I thought; the healing water will work quickly on you.” Sela said.

“I shall discard of these ragged clothes and bring you something else.” Esla said gathering Tora’s clothes.

“Wai-…“ Tora started to protest, but Sela had nudged her with enough force make her fall into the bath.

     Tora came up second later sputtering and spitting out water, she cursed inwardly glaring at Sela from the middle of the pool. Sela smiled sweetly and innocently at her from the edge.

“Clean yourself, and let the water work on you.” She said as she sat down and crossed her legs, like she was meditating.

     Tora did not glare long, the warm water cleansing her skin felt ineffably good after all that has happened to her. Tora gently rubbed her hands along her arms and legs, all the afflictions of her body burned dully, but not bad. Tora rinses her hair more than once making sure to get all the grim off her scalp. After she had cleaned herself there was not much else to do, so Tora waded in the water and closed her eyes. Her back still hurt from being flung into the tree, her side burned from where the serpent tail bit her.
     Those pains and all the pains she had suffered were ebbing away until they were completely gone. ‘This is amazing…It’s as though I have entered a healing spring…’ Tora thought as the water swished gently around her. Tora’s eyes snapped open, and  she stood in the middle of the pool, she looked down at where the serpent bit her, the wound was gone. Tora was dumbfounded.

“Come now time to get out.” Esla said with a smug smile.

“Who are you two?” Tora said louder than intended.

“Like I said before we are simply sisters for a knack for healing.” Sela said innocently opening her eyes, they twinkled mischievously.

     Tora recalled what Sela and Esla had called them selves, Tree Healers, finally it clicked in my mind. When I been to the small village of Falis, the people there were a stir with great charisma always whispering about tree healer this, and tree healer that. Now Tora knew, and slowly she smiled graciously at the two.

“Thank you…” Tora whispered.