Ghost's Dilemma Read online

  When Gerry opened his eyes again, the sun was close to high. Sweat trickled over his skin, his tongue thick in his mouth. The head ache was still there, taking second place to the way his stomach churned. He could feel the burn of bile at the back of his throat, and his tongue darted out in a vain attempt to moisten his cracked lips.

  Gerry managed to sit up and push himself out of the bed. He swayed as he stood. He was light-headed, and his vision was blurry, but he took a few stumbling steps forward. Momentum carried him past the door and into the main room. One hand against the wall to steady his progress, Gerry navigated his way to the front door.

  Sunlight assaulted Gerry, and he felt the head ache blast him with full force as he squinted against the brilliant light. The bucket from the well took forever to fill, and Gerry was trembling with exhaustion by the time he was done. He could smell the cool water, though, and his tongue seemed to swell even more. He carried the bucket into the house so he could dip up a cupful of the liquid. Gerry drank cup after cup, greedy for the moisture, until his stomach rebelled. He stumbled out into the yard again, heading for the wash house, but he only got halfway before he fell to his knees. His stomach lurched, and blood poured from his mouth and nose onto the ground beneath him, splashing across the pavers.

  Gerry stood on shaky legs and made his way back to the house. He knew all too well what the blood meant. He crawled into the bed and pulled the quilt over him. His skin hurt as the soft fabric slid over it, and tears of exhaustion dampened his lashes. If the gods were kind, he would not pass before Ghost returned, so Gerry could have a chance to say goodbye to his precious Ghost.

  ***

  "Ghost?" Natali's mental voice sounded odd, and Ghost sat up a little straighter.

  "Lady smile on you, sister," he said. "I'm on my way back, and I think I have a cure. How are the villagers? How many more have died?" As much as he wanted to ask about Gerry, he needed to be a witch first and an anxious mate second.

  "Seeker be thanked." Natali's relief was palpable. "You found the Witch, then?"

  Ghost nodded before he remembered Natali couldn't see him. "Yes, I did, and we should be back before dark tomorrow night. How bad is the epidemic?"

  "I won't lie. Not good. We lost the young dam and her babe, and I have a hand more who I don't think will last until then. I've eased the way for some, but I'm running low on the tincture." Natali's mental voice was weary. "I would have asked Gerry to see if you had any in your home, but he hasn't come to the infirmary today. Perhaps he's hunting. If so, he'll be here soon, and I can ask then."

  "I have some in my cabinet, in the drawer and not with the rest of the jars." Ghost sighed, disappointed to have missed Gerry. "When you see Gerry, tell him I'll be home tomorrow night, and I miss him. Tell him I love him."

  "Of course, my brother." Natali's witchmark faded in the scrying mirror. "Father keep you, Ghost. We'll see you tomorrow night."

  Ghost broke the contact and looked over at the Witch. She sat at the small desk with her own mirror, deep in conversation with Zereda. As the Witch related their findings aloud, Ghost found himself listening to fill in the last missing pieces.

  "Who'd have thought Sri would have stumbled on a centrifuge? And to use such a powerful relic to do what? Humiliate me and destroy Ghost because she couldn't stand the thought of a male witch?" The Witch paused, and Ghost found himself wishing he could hear Zereda's response. Zereda had been a staunch friend since he had taken his vows, and Ghost trusted her like a true sister. He had not been invited to the conversation, however. He would have to content himself with listening to the Witch.

  "Hunter take her, she would have killed Egill if she'd known he could read, never mind he's a seer. She paralyzed his vocal cords. If I can't reverse it, he'll never be able to utter a word. But he can communicate quite well in writing, which is sufficient for our needs right now. Sri and Tarah will be punished as soon as I can arrange for a hearing before the witchsisters." The Witch paused.

  "They designed the illness very carefully, Zereda. As you suspected, they started with your little biting insect and the disease it carries. The initial phage was meant to mutate, to evolve into a more virulent form which would attack all the villagers, not solely the elderly and the very young. None of the usual remedies would work, either. Their technique is as brilliant as it is abhorrent. They made sure to have a vaccine, though, in addition to their cure. They weren't about to risk themselves when they showed up to 'rescue' the village."

  The Witch continued. "Egill memorized the antidote and wrote it out for me. Even the cure was designed to be difficult. One of the component herbs grows only in the Northlands, and the antidote's only half as effective without it. Tarah added this touch when she was up there researching how to use the centrifuge to isolate the desired viruses. I have cuttings of that herb now, and I should be able to grow some. A potent febrifuge, far better than anything we have. Yes, vastly better than willow bark."

  Ghost sighed and reached for the book of small stories Njall had given him. He caressed the red leather cover before opening the book. Ghost had not had a book of his own since the ones he had hidden in the ruins, in his little hiding place. He would have to keep these out of sight of the godsmen. Although as a witch, he did have certain privileges. Depending on whether or not the godsmen could read, he could pass the books off as healers' lore. The thought made him smile, and he dove into the first story.

  ***

  With Egill and the Witch for company, the carriage trip passed quickly for Ghost. He decanted an ample supply of the antidote into cylinders for the Seeker's kiss. He wanted to be ready to begin as soon as they reached the village. Egill helped, deft at the task, until they both grew tired.

  Egill stripped off his tunic in preparation for sleeping, and Ghost grieved for Egill as he took in the scars striping Egill's back, a catalogue of Sri's abuse. Egill curled up on the bench bed with Ghost, and Ghost found himself hoping Gerry would agree to take Egill as a dependent. The boy was fast finding a place in Ghost's heart, and Ghost would find it hard to see Egill go elsewhere.

  Ghost spent the morning in a one-sided conversation, telling Egill about the village and some of the more notable characters who lived there. Ghost tried not to talk about Gerry too much, but the conversation managed to wind around to Ghost's mate so often, Egill gave a silent laugh when Gerry's name cropped up yet again. The Witch couldn't hear Egill, but his amusement made her smile.

  Egill still had trouble believing the Heartlands didn't countenance slavery. Ghost watched his eyes light up each time Ghost reassured him, and Ghost's heart ached all over again for what Egill had endured in his short life. Ghost promised the gods Egill would be happy as long as Ghost had any say.

  They reached the terminal outside the ruins by high sun, and they were all relieved when they emerged into the late autumn daylight. Ghost was determined to set off for the village at once, unwilling to wait any longer than he had to before he would see Gerry again. He had put together a bundle for Natali -- the Seeker's kiss and a goodly assortment of cylinders his gift to her. Ghost included a book of herbal lore as well, and the Witch chuckled.

  "Natali will be urging you to wander, if you're going to gift her so well when you return." The Witch's smile was warm, though, and Ghost relaxed and returned the grin.

  "She deserves every bit. I left her and Gerry with this mess and ran off, and even if we have a cure, they were the ones who had to deal with the sick and the dying. Not an easy task for anyone to cope with," Ghost said. "You should take a Seeker's kiss too. I don't remember you having one."

  "I don't and I will," the Witch said, amused. "But hold on to the rest. They could prove useful in the future. Someday, you'll have an apprentice of your own, and you'll be able to give them what they need to begin as a witch."

  Ghost couldn't help looking over at Egill, who was gazing around in undisguised delight. He lowered his voice. "Do you think there's a chance for his voice to return?"

  "T
he ancients could do a great deal, and if we look hard enough, we may find a way. I'm going to see what I can locate. I also intend to make sure I get my hands on the centrifuge and whatever else Sri and Tarah were using." The Witch looked at Egill as he scuffed through a pile of autumn leaves, for once acting like the child he was. "If there's a cure, I'll find it. In the meantime, he's bright and he manages to get his point across even without words. You could find worse as an apprentice."

  Ghost shook his head. "I'm not sure he wants to be a witch, after Sri. I'd teach him what I know, though, gladly. Even if he doesn't want to be a witch, he's a seer. And I do want Gerry to take him in as a dependent. I'd love to have him as part of our family."

  "Then don't close doors," the Witch advised. "Talk to your Gerry, and if he agrees, see how things go. Egill may surprise you by wanting to learn from you."

  Ghost thought about what he could say to Gerry as they walked back to the village. He and the Witch took turns giving Egill a description of the highlights and pitfalls of the region. Egill looked askance at the ruins, and Ghost was not sure if he was relieved or disappointed when Egill didn't seem eager to explore them. Then again, with all Egill had been through, Ghost was not really surprised at his caution.

  ***

  At dusk, they found Natali waiting for them at the door of the infirmary. She waved as they approached, her eyes widening just a little when she saw Egill. Relief made her smile a little too bright to be believable, and dark circles shaded her eyes. Ghost looked around for Gerry, his heart sinking when he didn't spot his mate.

  "We hurried, my sister. We've got the cure, and I'm ready to start treating our patients." Ghost patted the leather pouch slung over his shoulder. "We'll start with the worst cases. I have a Seeker's kiss for you and some cylinders of the antidote already prepared for it."

  The Witch had loaded her Seeker's kiss with a cylinder of the antidote, and she nodded to Natali. "The faster we get this into them, the better. If they're too far gone, even this might not help, but we'll try. The Lady knows they all deserve a chance."

  Inside the infirmary, Mai and Merrah looked up at Ghost with a welcoming smile. "We knew you'd be back," Mai said, and she hugged Ghost with shy enthusiasm. Her eyes widened at the sight of the Witch and Egill. "Oh, you have company!"

  "We'll save the introductions for later." The Witch gestured to Merrah. "Good to see you again. The girl grew up well, I see."

  Merrah led the Witch to the room with the dams and their babes. "She did indeed, and I thank the Lady every day. But you should start here, Witch. The dams are starting to catch the disease from the babes."

  ***

  Ghost and Natali administered the cure to the patients in the larger room while the Witch treated the dams and babes with Merrah's help. Sri and Tarah had done their work well as far as the cure. Ghost could see the tension and pain leaving each patient as he pressed the Seeker's kiss to their skin. The crying of the babes subsided as the Witch worked in the next room. Ghost found one man, unconscious and cool to the touch. Ghost needed to See to make sure the man was still alive. He gave the man the cure, but he held out little hope for recovery.

  "I wanted the Seeker's rest for him, but I was all out," Natali whispered, her voice full of sorrow. "There are more like him. I counted two hands' worth just before you arrived."

  Conn arrived with Mother to give Natali some relief. Mai and Merrah left to return to their home, promising to be back in the morning. Much to Ghost's surprise, Sari arrived, looking far better than when Ghost had first met her. Gerry, however, had not been by the infirmary all day, and no one had seen him since he had left for home the day before. Now that the panic had subsided and the first round of cures had been administered, Ghost was finally free to seek him out.

  The Witch didn't argue with Ghost. "Egill and I will stay here for a time to watch over everyone. You go home to Gerry." The concern in her eyes sent a chill through him. "If you need me, send for me. I will come. But before you go, let me give you the vaccine." She pressed her Seeker's kiss to Ghost's arm. "Natali and I have had it as well. Now, go find your Gerry."

  Ghost nodded as he rubbed his arm, not willing to trust himself to speak at the moment. It was unlike Gerry to have forgotten to send word he wouldn't be helping. Ghost had never known his mate to be so thoughtless, and Gerry's absence sent his mind wandering to all sorts of terrible places. What if Gerry had gone hunting and was injured again? Without someone spotting, a sind hole could be hidden under the autumn leaf fall. This was how they had met, after all. The whelps would be grown enough now so the dam would not attack automatically, but sind were opportunistic hunters, and they would stalk a human if they thought he was weak enough. Or there might have been a renegade ranger, one who saw Gerry as an easy mark. Ghost's thoughts came full circle and back to his vision again, the vision without Gerry in it. All he could recall was the snow and the child bleeding.

  The Witch interrupted Ghost's thoughts, patting his shoulder to get his attention. "Go, little one. You can walk and fret at the same time."

  "I'm sure he's fine, and I'm just being an idiot," Ghost muttered. "I'll see you in the morning."

  Chapter 17

  Ghost gave in to his urge to run through the market and to the slate path leading to his house. The house was eerily quiet. No smoke came from the chimney, and the windows were dark. Ghost's stomach clenched with fear as he rushed through the door.

  The smell of sickness overwhelmed him, and he struggled not to panic. "Gerry?" he called. His voice sounded too loud in the quiet house. The hearth was dark and cold. Ghost could wait to light a lamp; the moon's light was more than enough.

  The bedroom door was open. Ghost stepped in, and the smell of sickness worsened. "Oh, Seeker," Ghost whispered, seeing a shape under the quilt. "Gerry? Love, it's me. I'm home."

  Gerry offered no response, and Ghost tugged the quilt down. Gerry was ashen, his cheeks rough with stubble, and his lips were dry and cracked. Dark shadows surrounded his eyes, and the sheets and his pillow were stained with blood.

  "Father, protect us," Ghost breathed as he fumbled in his pouch for his Seeker's kiss. "Oh, love, everything's going to be all right. I'm here. I found the Witch and she had the cure. The antidote is going to work. I promise. I'm not going to lose you."

  Ghost's hand was steady as he pressed the Seeker's kiss against Gerry's stomach. He waited for the hiss to stop before he lifted the relic away. "I'm going to light the fire now. I'll be right back, love." He pulled the quilt up over Gerry and hurried back out to the main room.

  The wood basket was nearly empty. Gerry was diligent about keeping wood in the house. He must have been sick for some time, Ghost realized. Ghost kindled the kitchen hearth first and lit the smaller hearth in the main room to warm the back of the house. He went out to the yard to fill the bucket from the well, and he wound up sluicing the path where Gerry had vomited blood with the first bucketful. By the time he came back in, the house was already warmer, and Ghost lit some candles so he could see to work.

  "Broth. A weak broth, and of course there won't be fresh bread," Ghost muttered as he checked the larder. "He's probably been eating at the infirmary. Which would make sense."

  Running back to the infirmary was out of the question. Ghost was not leaving Gerry, but he thought of another way. He pictured Egill in his mind and whispered aloud, "Egill? Can you hear me?"

  I hear you. Ghost was grateful for the soft-voiced response, and he took a shaky breath.

  "My Gerry is sick. I gave him the antidote, but he needs some nourishment. My house is across the market and toward the trees. It has a green door, precisely the color of my witchmark." Ghost waited for Egill to answer.

  I can do this. I can find you now because I know your voice. Egill sounded confident, to Ghost's great relief.

  Ghost went back into the bedroom, taking a candle with him. The bedroom was warming fast, but Gerry was still shivering. Ghost pressed two fingers to the base of Gerry's neck. Gerry wa
s hot to the touch, and his heartbeat was too fast for Ghost's liking.

  "What's going on here?" Ghost asked, his voice not even a whisper. "Did the illness change? Is this part of the design?" He reached for his Seeker's kiss and adjusted it to give another half-dose of the antidote. If this was the second stage of the disease, Sri's notes called for the additional medicine as the remedy. Ghost sat on the edge of the bed and administered the Seeker's kiss again. Ghost's eyes were intent on Gerry, seeking any sign of recovery.

  "I'm not going to lose you, no matter what. I'll challenge the Seeker's dread mate himself if need be, but you are not going to die while I draw breath, love." Ghost's voice was hardly even a whisper, and his throat ached with tears he refused to shed. He stroked Gerry's stubbled jaw, his fingers tracing the strong lines over and over. Gerry's eyelids fluttered, but he didn't waken.

  "The cure will work, love," Ghost said, tucking the quilt around Gerry as he spoke. "You'll recover quickly, and we can get something warm in you. Egill's bringing it. You'll like him, love. He's not quite ten summers, but he's smart, and he's such a brave kid. He survived the West Reaches, and he smuggled out the antidote. And the best part? He's a Norther, like me. Really, I'm not kidding. Wait until you see him." The chatter was mostly for Ghost's benefit, to calm his nerves as he waited to see if Sri had lied.

  Ghost lifted his head when he heard the door open. "I'm in the bedroom, Egill. I'll be right out." He turned back to Gerry. "I'm going to go out to the main room for a moment. I'll be back before you know it, love. You rest, all right?" Gerry didn't respond, not even the flicker of an eyelid, and Ghost's stomach twisted with fear.

  Egill waited by the table. I came as fast as I could.

  "Thank you," Ghost said. "Did the Witch give you the vaccine yet? You should have a dose to prevent you catching this illness."