A Balance Broken (Dragonsoul Saga) (41 page)

Another horn blasted up the defile, followed by a lower, rhythmic beat. The tromping of hundreds of heavily armored footsteps rang for quite some time before the horn blasted once more. Jaerd noticed many of the garrison soldiers gathered on the walls and towers. Nervous stares among them gave way to cheers shouted down toward the marching dwarves.

“Sink me in the Waters,” he whispered. “Looks like Northtower kept his promise after all.”

By the time the battalion of dwarf soldiers arrived outside the gate, a delegation of officers had ridden down from the bastion, including Lord Marshal Magdon. Even Earl Brandon Farseer had left the seclusion of his tower, riding down with two of his sable-cloaked armsmen.

Three dwarves marched out from the main force, stopping at the very front of the gate. Maester Darve Northtower bowed in greeting to the gathered commanders. “My Lords, in honor of our ancient alliance, Berik II, King of the Rock and Iron Hills, sends five hundred warriors to aid in the defense of Highspur.” He waved at the blond maiden next to him, now dressed in the fine leathers of a ranger. “Tilli Dragonslayer has also brought a hundred hunters with stout bows.”

Lord Marshal Magdon swung down from his saddle, as did Earl Brandon. When both men tottered, Jaerd rushed in to offer an arm to the Lord Marshal. Farseer’s retainers aided him.

“Greetings, Maester Northtower.” The Lord Marshal released Jaerd’s arm to offer a short bow. “All men in Gannon know that the promises of Dwarves are never broken. Your arrival is most fortuitous.”

Northtower nodded his head in response. “Marshal Magdon. We did not expect to find you here. Has the Earl Boris Mourne not come to Highspur?”

“He is in the field.” Earl Brandon’s gaze drifted to the north, a sour look on his features. “He insists on provoking our enemy.”

Darve bowed to the earl. A ruby set into the pommel of the broadsword on his back sparkled in the dying sunlight. “You must be Earl Brandon Farseer. It is an honor to meet the commander of Highspur, My Lord. My men and I are at your service.”

The earl nodded, some of the sourness slipping away from his expression. “Your valor is appreciated. However, it is the Lord Marshal Magdon in command here.” He waved at the gray bearded Bluecloak. “He shall assign your positions.” The earl swung his hand upward to point at his high tower. “I shall be watching for the Earl of Mourne’s return.”

Darve frowned. “Has the Earl Boris sent dispatches as to his location and the position of the enemy?”

Marshal Magdon nodded, combing his thin fingers through his beard. “His last dispatch came yesterday, reporting him within five leagues of Dragonsclaw Mountain. So far, he has encountered no enemies. However, he believes they wait for him at Dragonsclaw.”

The dwarf commander nodded. “When do you expect the next dispatch?”

A low rumble of thunder tumbled down from a purple storm stretching from the Lone Ocean out over the Northlands. The breeze picked up, swirling little dust eddies down the defile through which the dwarves had just marched. A looming darkness hung over the fortress, and Jaerd felt it begin to creep into his heart.

Earl Brandon shook his head with a morose grimace. “There will be no more dispatches.”

A long, mournful howl rang out from the fortress.

“So that the art of Healing may be taught and spread to every corner of my father’s kingdom.”

— King Arathan I – carved into the cornerstone of King’s Hall on the campus of the Doctor’s College of Daynon

M
addi pushed against the heavy, iron-studded door of King’s Hall. It swung open with far more ease than she expected of the monstrosity. Inside, the building smelled of old paper and pipe smoke. Classes had not been taught in King’s Hall for years, as far as Maddi knew, but on the top floor, the Lord Doctor Tymin Marten kept his private office as headmaster of the college.

Maddi trotted up the wide steps of age-polished cherry wood, sliding her hand along wrought-iron railings that curved around each flight and stoop. After the third floor, she noticed her breath quickening.
I have to spend more time keeping fit and less time studying.
She jogged up the last two flights, forcing her breath to remain steady. On the fifth landing she paused.

I do not want to walk into his office panting.
She drew in deep breaths to regain her wind, steadying herself quickly.

Brass trimmed the wide double doors of walnut with colored glass windows. Above the entrance hung a sign that read:
Lord Doctor Tymin Marten, Collegiate Headmaster, High Councilor of the Kingdom, Professor Medicinal
.

Maddi shook her head with a rueful smile.
Evidently the man likes his titles.

She pushed the doors open into a waiting room with windows overlooking the quadrangle. A prim woman with pretty eyes and a slim figure sat behind a small desk, scratching away upon a parchment with a quill pen. She lifted her eyebrows at Maddi’s entrance.

“Miss Conaleon, is it?” The woman placed the quill into its holder. “The Lord Doctor is not expecting you.”

Maddi straightened her blouse and adjusted the red scarf she had hastily tied around her neck. “It is important. If he is in, could you not at least ask?”

The woman glowered at Maddi, the tight bun in her hair pulling the skin of her face back. “Very well.” She rose and walked into Doctor Marten’s office. The woman was gone only a moment before returning and gesturing her in. “The Lord Doctor will see you now.”

The inner office was twice the size of the outer. Paneled in rich walnut, the room held shelves full of exquisite art and artifacts. Maddi’s eyes passed over objects worth enough money to supply a large Dernan family with a lifetime retirement. A wide mahogany desk rested in front of a semicircular fanlight overlooking the distant harbor. The Lord Doctor Marten sat behind the desk in a rich, brass-riveted leather chair. He watched Maddi over his steepled fingers.

“Miss Conaleon. How convenient that you have come here. I was just discussing you with Doctor Gramm.”

My Herbology teacher?
Shaking off her surprise, Maddi refocused on her reason for coming. “First, I must tell you what I have seen down in the slums along Jalanine Hill – down on Green Street, where the little girl you had me heal came from.”

Marten folded his fingers together, and his gaze narrowed. “What were you doing down in that part of the city? Students, especially young women, should be careful where they travel in Daynon.” He lowered his hands and leaned forward in his chair. “That area is particularly rough.”

“It’s no worse than some of the places where I grew up.” Maddi planted her feet, a little offended at the doctor’s attitude. “And that little girl
lives
down there. What’s more, it is infested with plague. I’m not certain which one yet, but it is the same sickness that Tanya had. Her mother died of the disease, and I sensed it in several others within their tenement.”

The doctor leaned back in his chair, brushing his strong chin with his finely manicured fingers. “Do you believe this disease will spread?”

Maddi cocked her head sideways, her voice filled with disdain. “What is it that disease does, Lord Doctor?”

Marten chuckled. “I suppose you have a point.” He lifted his hands in a futile gesture. “Fine. Fine. As Lord Doctor the health of this city is somewhat within my purview, although my resources are extremely limited. I will mention it in council and pass this news to the Mayor.”

The Lord Doctor pulled a paper from the side of his desk to the center. “However, let me get to the reason I intended on summoning you myself – something far more important than a few sick people in the worst corner of town.” He lifted the document toward Maddi. “This is your official commission as a teacher within the college. Doctor Gramm says that you exceed her in your knowledge of herbs and potions, and you should begin teaching an advanced class immediately. Apparently, she wants to take it.”

Maddi’s jaw dropped to her chest. Snapping it shut, she stood there, uncertain what to say.

The doctor smiled at her silence. “You are not yet a full doctor. You must complete your Anatomy and Viscera, as well as Diagnosis, and I still expect you to come to my class on Healing.” His grin widened. “However, you are excused from Epidemic History, so that you may teach your class in that hour.”

Her mind raced, thoughts of the slums long vanished from her thoughts.
I had thought Renna’a knowledge quaint, and that the doctors here would think the same. Perhaps that’s not the case.

The doctor gave her a doubtful expression. “You will accept, will you not?”

Maddi reached for the paper. “I’ve never taught before.”

Marten laughed. “Most haven’t when they get their first teaching job. You’ll do fine.” He gestured toward the door then picked up a pen to go back to work. “Your first class begins tomorrow. I suggest you prepare well. At least two doctors will be there, and several of our advanced students.” He looked up at her. “You might want to be ready for them, as I have no doubt they will be very…inquisitive as to why a new student is teaching a class.”

A few weeks later, her eyes drooping with exhaustion, Maddi entered her room. Tanya sat on her bed, munching away at an apple, while Ami looked up from a book on farm animal anatomy and smiled. Maddi laid her things on the narrow desk, before tousling Tanya’s hair and crashing down beside her. “I am exhausted,” she claimed, stretching out her arms. “Teaching a class is far more involved than taking one.”

Tanya wiped the apple juice on her chin with a sleeve. “I wish I could take your class, Maddi.”

Maddi smiled at the little girl. “Maybe someday.” She turned to Ami and rolled her eyes. “Do you have any idea how many people have asked me in the last two weeks whether I can make a love potion?”

Ami’s short laughed turned to a serious expression. “Can you?” She laughed again when the pillow hit her.

Lying back against the wall, Maddi watched Tanya finish the apple, leaving little more than the seeds and stem. The little girl smiled when she finished. She was quite cute, Maddi noticed, now that they had cleaned her up and she had a little more meat on her bones.
She is probably older than I first thought as well.

The girl looked up at Maddi. “I visited Momma’s ashes today.”

Maddi lifted an eyebrow. “You know it is far too dangerous for you to go down there any more.”

Tanya frowned, folding her arms. “I used to live there. It doesn’t scare me. Besides, I wanted to talk to Momma.” Leaning in closer to Maddi, Tanya whispered in a conspiratorial voice. “Did you know that Briscoe hasn’t done anything? Even more people are sick in the old building.” She mad an angry face. “I thought you were going to help everyone down there.”

Maddi clenched her fists, memories of the dirty tenement building replaying in her mind.

No one cares for these people. I could have been like them if it weren’t for Renna. Not everyone has someone to help them up when they fall. And it’s not always their fault when they do.
She took Tanya’s hand in her own, squeezing it tight. The girl responded with a squeeze of her own.

“I will do something, Tanya. I promise.”

A
fly buzzed in through one open window and out through another. Maddi stared at Darby, hoping her face did not display the frustration and shock she felt inside herself. “Mr. Darby, it is the moral duty of healers to do what they can when they find illness. Do you have no compassion within you?”

Darby shook his head. “If they couldn’t pay my price, then I would not heal them.”

Maddi shook her head in surrender. “Then I suppose you should work on improving your skill level, since you believe it worth so much money.” She passed her eyes over the class. Doctors Gramm and Darilla watched her with eagle eyes. They both respected her knowledge of herbology, but neither offered her the regard due a teacher at the college. “Did everyone study the ten herbs I introduced yesterday?” Nods passed around the room. “Good. Then let’s start with wormroot. What are its primary uses?

Before any hands went up, Darby sighed. “What is the practical use of all this? I am Talented. I’ll never use herbs to cure anyone in my life.”

“What about when there are so many sick around you that you spend your strength?” Maddi folded her arms and tapped her foot. “Sometimes a good potion or poultice will save a life just as easily as using your Talent – and it saves your strength, in case another challenge arises.”

Darby laughed and waved his hand as if to shoo Maddi away. “Where would I ever come across that much sickness? I plan on being private healer to a duke somewhere.”

Folding her arms, Maddi scowled at the young man. “What if plague broke out in his city? What if he ordered you to go among the people and cure them?”

The young man wrinkled his brow in confusion. “Why would he do that? I’d just stay in his castle and keep him and his family healthy while the plague burns itself out.”

Maddi stared at him. She looked at each student, noticing expressions that varied from clear agreement with Darby to distracted indifference. Maddi noticed that Doctor Gramm eyed her with intense interest. Doctor Darilla sat there with a slight smile, obviously in agreement with Darby’s sentiments. Anger rose in Maddi’s throat, along with a good batch of confusion.

Why am I so worked up about this? What do I care about those people down there? I don’t know if I’m more upset with these people not caring, or with myself for the fact that I care one whit about the people of this city.

Maddi furrowed her brow, her gaze stopping on Doctor Gramm. The older woman nodded barely, a look of encouragement in her eyes. Maddi turned to Darby, his smug, soft face fixed in a grin verging on a leer.

I’ll bet there hasn’t been a day in his life that he ever broke into a sweat. Those hands look like a ten year-old girl’s. Fiery hells, Tanya has seen more hardship in a week of her short life than he has seen in his twenty odd years.

She looked at Doctor Darilla, who stared in anticipation of Maddi’s next words. His fine, velvet robes splashed over the edge of his narrow chair. A chain of gold hung around his neck, and a garnet as big as a bean set in a healer’s hand dangled at the bottom. Even the man’s hat was sewn with thread of gold.

I am enraged because I would have been just like those living in the streets had Renna not taken me in. Those dying down there in filth could have been me. Tanya
would
have died down there if it weren’t for me.

Maddi turned toward the door of the classroom. “Everyone, come with me.” When no one moved, she spun around with a sharp glare. “The Lord Doctor ordered that I issue you doctors a grade for this class. If any of you want to pass, then you will come with me. Now!”

All the students snapped to their feet, grabbing their books and bags. Doctor Gramm rose with elegance, a soft smile on her face. Doctor Darilla frowned, remaining in his seat for a moment. At last he stood, brushing his fine robes with a cool stare.

Maddi stalked out the door, the class right behind her. She led them down the stairs and into the street.

Doctor Darilla eyed the passing crowd with distaste. “Where are we going?”

Ignoring his haughty tone, Maddi marched along the Avenue of Willows, down the Jalanine Hill. The students followed close to her, excited to be away from the campus and fascinated by where Maddi led them.