PAIGE
Istayed with the unconscious victims of the sorcerous tree while Jovak ran out in search of another orc search party. Even if they do wake up, which seems unlikely, most of the victims won’t be able to walk without attention from the shamans.
I’m mildly worried that some predator will happen along, and I’ll have to defend the victims, but Jovak isn’t gone for long. I sighed with relief when I saw him coming down the hill, leading Rolar and his band of warriors.
Then it’s time to work as I help build litters out of the scraps we find at the old farmstead. I help bear one of the litters from the back end, which isn’t as hard as it sounds considering the emaciated state of the victims.
There’s a bit of discussion on the way back as to whether or not the threat presented by the tree is at an end or not. It’s possible that the Roundup didn’t kill the tree but only weakened it. In any event, we can just avoid that grove from now on, if nothing else.
Jovak sent a runner on ahead of our procession of litters to tell the Shattered Rock tribe to prepare for an influx of new patients. I’m expecting Otunga and her shamans to greet us at the gates.
What I’m not expecting is the huge crowd of onlookers, mostly orcs but some humans too. They give a loud, raucous cheer when we come into view at the bend in the road.
When we pass through the gates, Jovak is all business talking to Otunga, ignoring the orcs chanting his name. I think they’re about to build him a statue. What a contrast to the greeting he received when he brought me here … how long ago? It feels like forever, but I think it’s only been a week.
I parted ways with the procession so I could go to the school and let Laney know I had made it back safely. To my surprise, she meets me on the way to the schoolhouse.
“Paige!”
Laney ran to me and hugged me tightly. I put my hand on her back and hold her, but I’m a little bit annoyed with her right now.
“Laney, did you sneak away from your teachers to find me?”
She looked up at me with a mix of guilt and stubborn pride.
“Yeah, but I’m not like the other kids. I was practically born on the run. What am I going to learn in the school that I don’t already know?”
“Lots of things,” I say with a sigh. “Let’s get you back before they freak out too much … and you’re going to apologize to them, Laney.”
“Oh poo,” she said, sticking her tongue out.
I dropped her off at school and then checked on Jovak at the temple. The new patients are being cared for as best the shamans are able. Otunga is worried that some of them won’t make it even with the best of care, but at least their last days won’t be spent suffering at the hands … er, vines, of the tree.
Eventually, Jovak returned home with me, and we made love by the fireplace before Laney returned from school. What follows is a strange dance of denial between the two of us.
For the next few weeks, life returned to what passed for normal. Laney and I live with Jovak, we take our meals with him, and I sleep in his bed every night. We might as well be real mates except for the fact that we both know we’re not.
I can tell that it’s driving Jovak crazy. I want to say something, but I’m still scared. Maybe I’m afraid if I give voice to what I’m feeling, to what we’re feeling, it will become real, and I’ll have to deal with it. Or maybe I’m afraid my feelings aren’t as strong as they should be. Certainly, Jovak has done everything possible to earn my love, and maybe he even deserves it.
I guess I’m waiting for him to say something or do something. Maybe I want him to claim me for real. All I know is if we don’t get this figured out soon, we’re both going to go insane.
One morning, I woke and ran right to the privy, where I vomited my guts out. I figured I had eaten something bad or maybe picked up a germ from the schoolhouse.
But I throw up the next morning. And the next, and the next. One night, I tried to stay up until dawn to see if that would keep me from being sick. Nope, it does not. I still end up sick to my stomach.
Trying not to eat and leaving my stomach empty only gives me the dry heaves, which is somehow worse than actually vomiting. The sickness on schedule every morning in conjunction with certain biological functions being off schedule convinces me of the truth, but I’m terrified to tell Jovak about that too.
One morning, he comes into the privy and puts his hands on his hips.
“Paige, enough is enough. I’m taking you to the shamans.”
“No,” I say weakly, trying to fend him off. “They have their hands full with real patients right now.”
“The tree’s victims grow stronger every day, those that survived. You are equally important and deserve to be well. Come.”
“Wait, Jovak,” I say with a sigh. “I don’t need to go to the shamans because I’m not sick.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “You seem sick.”