Herbs And Alchemy Ch 06

Something moved, startling Jayla awake. A hand on her arm, it was green.

Oh, right

.

Okak Tunoz Lug. Oak Jag Okak

. Tharo's arm tensed, pulling her close.

"What's

Tunoz

?" She whispered.

"You don't know safe? Safe. You will know safe."

"Hmmf." She sounded skeptical.

"Mmmm?"

"I'm surprised Orcs have a word for

safe

."

He buried his face in the side of her neck, "What's the point of being a warrior if not to keep your people safe?"

"Pillaging? Because you enjoy it? Because... afterlife?" She realized she didn't have a grasp on his religion; all considered that was a bit alarming. "I am not safe."

"You are safe from your ghosts when you are with me. You are safe from self pity and nightmares. You are safe from..." He stopped, swallowed, twitched. "You are safe from feeling useless when you are with me. Because I need you."

Tharo was a bit choked up and Jayla wanted to deflect, "If you didn't need me? If you found another healer, a better one, an orc woman that needed you with a tribe that accepted you? Would you

want

me?"

"Yes. You will always be a friend. You gave me compassion when no one else would. You were a companion when no one else was. Without knowing anything about me except my race, and that gave you every reason not to."

"I knew you were recommended by the courts. I knew you were a student and an alchemist. I knew you protected children."

"There are some pretty big bastards with recommendations from the courts. And who doesn't protect children?"

"How do you think that urchin grew up to be a pickpocket? Under someone's

protection

?!"

"Are you arguing with me about why I am friends with you

Oag

? Wait... no, you're defending your decision. Thereby defending ME. Again. You are a friend even if I did not want you to be." Tharo licked the side of her ear.

"Defending someone who's right or being mistreated doesn't make me their friend." She shifted to feel his body against her back, a quiet truce. Jayla hadn't had anyone that call her a

friend

. Ever.

"You touched me first."

"Being handsy with someone definitely doesn't make me their friend."

"So

Zen Naak

is reserved for enemies and strangers in your culture?" Now he was teasing her.

"

Zen Naak

? Close fighting? Is THAT your word for sex? I am DEFINITELY not safe."

"Physically, no. Neither am I. We need to go in the pool."

Jayla realized she was covered with bruises, bites, scratches, and her insides were raw. She turned to face him, even in the dim morning light she could see Tharo wasn't any better off, little crescent bite marks on his forearms, scratches everywhere, a few bruises, blood caked around his belly ring, and his shaft looked -and probably felt- sunburnt.

"Oh yes we do, Ow." She kissed one of the bites on his collarbone. They'd been at it for well over half the day, just straight up instinct-driven mating. There was a pause for drinks and swordplay -naked, which didn't last long before they were entangled again. Jayla grimaced, the bed linen badly needed washing as well and she realized she had to relieve herself. "I gotta... "

"Me too. You first."

She headed to the alcove then the pool. The corsera had gone out long ago, but the water wasn't too cold. She stood with the water just below her breasts, put her arms out, closed her eyes, said the words, summoning the power of the Goddess, ready to accept it into her. A slight stirring around her, but not the magic she was anticipating.

Shit

.

Tharo spoke from the side of the pool. "You're scared. Relax."

She put her arms out and said it again, focusing on keeping herself open at her head and feet with some attention to sore spots. She felt it

waiting

nearby. Like a dog for a command. She heard a low hum of commentary from her partner "...Needs both.", heard him pad to the edge of the pool and sensed him put his foot in.

The power blazed into her, the backs of her eyelids lit up with orange light. She choked and gasped as she was overwhelmed and filled with the Goddess' fire. She heard the orc wheeze and a splash as he stumbled.

She felt Tharo take her outstretched wrists, mirroring her posture. "Relax. SEE. Like water out of a vase, control."

Her vision lit up with his aura, small dark patches where he was hurt. She focused on them, gently, seeing them lighten. At the same time she felt the itching, crawling sensation as she healed.

He spoke the banishing words and she felt some of it fade but she was still full of orange fiery power. "Say the words." Tharo whispered.

She asked for the Goddess to take her power back, it dissolved from her veins. She waited a moment, panting, then dropped into the pool. Once she submerged she heard crackling like a loud fire around her. She drank as she sat underwater. The residual felt like it should hurt, it was a shock but it wasn't painful. It had mostly faded by the time she needed air. Tharo surfaced right after she did and took her into his arms.

"That was good. That was very good. A couple more times and we'll be saving lives. I'd also like to see you mess up once or twice so we know how to handle it."

He put his lips on her forehead, reaching for a cloth and the soap with one arm wrapped around her. Jayla stood still, curious to see what he would do. He began to wash her slowly, meticulously, like she was a recently finished statue, soaping, dipping and wringing out the cloth. He wiped her face, lips, the creases in her ears. It felt good, though disturbingly intimate. He picked up her arm, got between her fingers. She hummed approval.

"So what happens when I mess up?" She asked.

"When you dump too much into someone." He wrung out the cloth over her shoulder, scrubbed the side of her neck. "It burns. It burns away fat and unnecessary parts first, but you can kill someone. They just... burn away like embers in the night."

She staggered and put her hand around his. "I could have killed you."

"You could easily kill me." His yellow eyes were gentle.

Her heart pounded. She put his knuckles to her lips. "How could ... how could you trust me?"

"

ZahnLug

. You care more about me than you do having power."

"How do you know that?"

He snorted. "You keep getting yourself in trouble with the Schoolmaster at my expense."

She smiled, "Maybe I just like being a burr in his side."

He moved around to her back, one hand on her shoulder to steady her as he scrubbed. "And the rest of the town?"

"They should just burn me and get it over with. MAYBE Tharo, my sense of self-preservation is just lacking."

"I had considered that. Your sense of duty is not. You adore and protect your students. And you love me."

She froze. She hadn't been ready to admit that. She opened her mouth to argue, his hand covered it, pulling her head against his chest. He put his other hand with the cloth on her belly. "Shh. I will not use this knowledge to hurt you.

Aidez Cor Osh Leji

."

"Blood..."

"I swear on my blood and that of my children." He still held her, took a deep breath, "

Taan

Jayla."

Hear me.

"

Jaygi Aidez Naarg Okak

."

My blood and its magic is yours

. He took his hand off her mouth and continued to wash her, speaking as he worked his way down.

"Once in a lifetime there is a healer team. There was one other far to the south I knew of when I was a child. Two male orcs. Another of two women in my Mother's clan, long before I was born. The most famous was a

ZahnLug

pair, they burned away themselves and an entire army as a sacrifice to the Goddess, in doing so brought back five orcs, one from each clan, that everyone thought had died in battle. Those five went on to become magic users and chiefs, made a truce among the clans and sought peace with the humans. Raiik Stonehammer was one, the first of my line."

"Was there ever a mixed race team?" Jayla asked quietly, trying to hold still as he ran the cloth over her thighs.

"Northwest, a hundred and fifty years ago, an orc and an elf."

"What happened to them?"

"They gave up their power when peace was made with the elves, they went on to live clanless in the forest. Their offspring still roam the North woods, they are well respected as shamans and protectors of the land. One, a great-grandchild, was the one who gave me my ring."

"What did they look like?"

"Thin for an orc, skin the color of wheat three weeks from harvest. Her name was Maoor. She was quite old."

"Any human orc teams?"

"I do believe we are the first on the continent."

"There have been others?"

"Perhaps. Stories, whispers. When it is time for war, Luthia chooses a team."

"And when it is time for peace?"

"It is always time for peace." Tharo lifted her leg and scrubbed under her knee, the soap clouding the water. "Sit." He held up her foot, massaged and scrubbed it firmly so as not to tickle. "As with the elf and the orc, sometimes the healers give up their power to discourage anyone breaking the treaties."

"You say they were

ZahnLug

, not

Akai Heza

. Yet they had children?"

His eyes pinned her. "Where did you hear that term?"

She didn't want to get Bale in trouble. "Why does it matter?"

"Do you know what it means?"

"One house? Right arm band..."

He sighed. "

Akai Heza

means they have proven they are willing to fight for the other. Each in the pair must take on three opponents without weapons. If they fail to best them, the winner spends the night with one of them."

Jayla felt a little sick. "What if they don't want...?"

"Then they call off the union."

"What happens after the other is taken to bed?"

"The next day they either declare they still want to be

Akai Heza

and finish the fights or they call it off."

"Were your parents...?"

"They were

ZahnLug

." He scrubbed her other foot a little hard, he was upset.

"Tharo, what's wrong?"

He didn't look at her. "I do not think I could beat three opponents."

"I couldn't beat three orcs either. Wait, do they have to be orcs?"

"They have to want to bed the other. You think you could find three humans willing to..."

She raked her eyes over his torso and gave him a hot glare, "To sleep with you? Easily. To fight me for the chance? Less likely."

"It is moot, no one who knows what it is would interfere with a healer team."

"Why go to all the trouble to be

Akai Heza

?" Jayla's opinion of marriage was indifferent at best, but she had a visceral reaction to the thought of Tharo leaving her for someone else.

"The gods give the

Akai Heza

and their children a link so they can always find each other, even in the afterlife. They also acquire each others' power if they have any, and they live twice as long."

Tharo handed her the cloth and the soap, standing with his back to her. She began washing the expanse of orcish muscle presented her, trying to quiet her awakening libido.

Damnit

. She ran the cloth over his hip, admiring his backside.

"Can they be

ZahnLug

with anyone else?"

Oh Gods that ass. That is a fine ass

.

"Only with the consent of the other. Why are you biting me?"

"Ummm..."

"Woman." He turned to face her, taking the cloth from her hand. "We are supposed to be getting ready to go meet with your students, make sheaths, and I believe you have a training session with Bale this evening."

Oh shit, forgot about that

. "Don't we have time?"

Tharo turned around and took the cloth from her, glaring hotly. "Shelve it." He flicked his errant shaft, which appeared to have taken her side. Seeing her look of disappointment, he cupped her face and smiled, "Later, you insatiable demon." He submerged and went about scrubbing himself down.

They dried off separately and went about getting dressed.

Jayla had to wander to find all her clothes, then tossed the bedding into the pool and stirred it with the back end of a broom. "So healer teams... When did you know?"

He stopped what he was doing and gave her a pained look, "When you put your hand on my heart."

She remembered, changing the color of his aura, "How? Did you... how do you know what to do?"

"I could heal, but not like that. I felt a lot of power when I first summoned it, but I thought it was just us both in the water, I hadn't used this pool for magic before. I was planning to run the residual through you to heal myself a little easier, but I'd never felt that much, I thought it was the end of me for a moment. Do I know what I'm doing? Only because I've used others to help heal myself before, like a mirror, cycling power through another to increase its effectiveness. You'll find it's very hard to heal yourself alone. You were not a mirror, but a bonfire. I have to confess it's a lot of guesswork. Luckily I've been right so far. I'm sure I've had help." He pointed skyward.

"You could have killed ME!" She almost stumbled trying to put on her boot.

He snorted, "Not likely, Luthia doesn't tend to kill her chosen right away. Come on, hang the washing up in the kitchen and let me get us breakfast." He grabbed the bundle of blades and put them in his pack, strapping the sword to the outside.

They stopped at the baker's and split a small loaf of carrot bread. Tharo bought an entire batch of travel cakes, telling the baker he'd be back for more in the afternoon.

There was a gathering in the courtyard in front of the library the students and staff had been required to attend. While they didn't appear to be late, Jayla caught a few of the staff glaring at her.

Now what did I do

? She raised an eyebrow and challenged each one with a look.

Gillard maneuvered through the crowd, "Ah! There you are, I looked for you yesterday! You weren't at the apothecary, I was terribly worried."

"You know where I live." Tharo grumbled.

"No, miss Thorntrail. I stopped by in the morning and again at dusk." More people were staring.

"It was my day off." Jayla tried to get him to lower his voice and whispered, "What did you need?"

Thankfully he took the hint. "We need more goldroot." Gillard hissed.

"We leave for the border tomorrow, I don't have time."

Gillard's voice went up again "Why are they sending-" A very large, very green finger hovered in front of Gillard's mouth.

Jayla mentally scrambled to shut him up. "Tara has an important mission for us, I can't talk about it. Tharo, hand me that scroll." Jayla read the list again, "Do you know my student Maura? She's staying here in town, she can probably help you get more."

A loud cough and the Schoolmaster had everyone's attention. "Staff and students, border conflict is imminent. We will need all of your help in one capacity or another. I will continue my duties as Schoolmaster, but you now answer to Captain Weston. I hope this interruption is limited to less than a season, but we must anticipate the worst. If you have not been assigned and believe you can help in some capacity outside of your normal duties, please let myself or one of Captain Weston's people know."

Tara appeared next to Master Cooper in full plate armor, helmet under one arm. The suit was dull and dented, she wore a medal of office around her neck and had a sword and a bow at her back. "GREETINGS! I am captain Weston, as most of you know. If you have NOT been notified of an assignment or this is the first you've heard of this, assume you get to stay here, you lucky bastards. Keep an eye on the town, I want all the cisterns full, nothing catches fire, understand?"

All healers and herbalists who've been assigned, I need you to meet with Sargent Stonehammer over there, yes the orc. He has something for each of you."

"MISTER Stonehammer, Captain." Tharo corrected.

Tara made a dismissive gesture and went on to give orders to other townsfolk.

Tharo took his pack off and rummaged around in it, pulling out a smaller sack. He reached in and pulled out what looked like a spiral bracelet with orcish writing on it. "Neela!"

The girl approached, shaking a little, but she seemed eager. Tharo crouched down and reached his arm out to hand her the band so she didn't have to get too close. "This is a band of rank, recognized among the orcs that you are a healer and not a soldier. Wear it on your upper LEFT arm. Any orc that sees this will know to treat you with respect and leave you alone."

Neela took the ring and unexpectedly took his hand in both of hers, "Thank you Mister Stonehammer." She gushed. "I'm sorry if ... I'm getting better."

"I have every faith in you, kid." His close-lipped smile melted Jayla's heart. "LAN!" He boomed.

Once the students realized what was going on they eagerly lined up.

Jayla assigned each of them supplies to be in charge of and to load up the wagon behind the apothecary for the main camp, those going to the flanking locations were each assigned supplies to carry as well as their own gear.

"You staying here?" Corish asked, fingering a band that Tharo had given him. It was gold in color, not the shiny copper of the healers.

"No, I'm going to the main camp."

"Oh. You didn't get a band?" He was being extremely fidgety.

"Mind your business. Keep a good eye on the apothecary for me, no fair burning this one down."

"I probably won't need this, Mister Stonehammer said it was just for when I was in the mercenary camp and I'm not due to go until the second batch of the potion is finished. You can wear it."

"That's nice of you Corish, but that's for alchemists. Thank you. I shouldn't need one."

"Please be safe, Miss Thorntrail."

"You too, Master Corish." She gave him a quick hug.

Aww

.

Tharo was suddenly towering over the man, "Jorman Corish, after all you've assumed about us, you really think I wouldn't have made one for Miss Thorntrail?" Corish was notably less nervous talking to Tharo than Jayla. the Master Alchemist opened his mouth, then just shrugged.

Jayla whispered, "You forgot didn't you?"

Tharo nudged her, "I didn't forget, it wasn't DONE. We'll pick ours up tomorrow on the way there."

Jayla asked Maura to accompany her back to the apothecary. She collected everything they'd be taking and put it at the back door, ready to go on the wagon in the morning. She ran upstairs and packed quickly. She handed Maura the key to the apothecary. "I'll need you to load the wagon first thing in the morning, one of Tara's people will bring a horse and some more supplies, I'll be by to help. You can stay upstairs if you'd like. I'd feel better if there was someone to keep an eye on the place."

Maura was the oldest of her students, quiet, strong, but with a noticeable limp, the two day hike to the border would be torture on the woman. "Thank you, Miss Thorntrail. Gillard and Corish have keys, yes?"

"Yes, the upstairs bedroom locks from the inside though."

"All right. You're not staying here tonight?"

"No, it's all yours. I would understand if you needed to keep a 'patient' overnight for observation, the bed is small, but there are plenty of extra blankets." Jayla winked.

Maura blushed and smirked. "I'll keep it in mind."

Jayla gave her a quick hug, shouldered her pack and crossed town again to the arena. She found Faris and asked if there were any leather scraps around. He found some old leather armor she could use, she spent the next hour making sheaths for her new blades. Once that was done, she headed out to the practice field.

Tharo was already there with Gillard and Corish, they all had paper and charcoal for taking notes. Two boys of maybe 15 winters were with them, looking nervous. Bale Slingfire came up behind Jayla with a pair of practice swords, "They're going to test a potion." The orc woman told her.