The Seanchan Spy

[Eidolon]

 

Eithne and Malaika, Brown Ajah

It had taken a pouch of gold coins to convince the Wise Woman to be up at this late hour, and another half a crown for it to be enough for her to travel to the inn the Aes Sedai were staying in. She was a gruff woman, though perhaps that was simply because she had been roused from the comfort of her bed, and despite her less than hospitable bed-side manner performed her duties with precision and care.

“Healall,” she murmured. “No, perhaps too late for that… A poultice to ward against infection, though. And lionheart for the pain.” The woman frowned, rummaging around the contents of her satchel. Malaika’s outstretched hand - cleaned, now, of the dried brown blood from finger-tip to elbow - tingled in the cool air, and moreso when the Wise Woman began to administer her aides.

“This is what happens when foreigners mess with Ebou Dari blades,” she chastised. The foul smell of her ointments were enough to wrinkle Malaika’s nose, but she refrained from complaining. After bandaging her hand in soft white linen, the Wise Woman glanced over her shoulder to where Anura stood casually against the window, her silken accessories fluttering in the slight wind coming from between the slats.

“Don’t just stand there like a piece of furniture. Make yourself useful and boil the kettle.”

The Gaidar’s slender brow rose, and Eithne Sedai chuckled.

“Oh, Zella, dear, you really do not change! Here, allow me.”

The water was heated and the Wise Woman, Zella, went about preparing a mix of herbs and dried leaves.  The result was a mixture of insipid yellow-green water, stream roiling about the surface. Zella presented it to her in a mug.

“Foxtail and marisin to help you sleep, and with no grogginess in the morning,” she said. “Drink it all up, the quicker the better.  Don’t think about the taste now.”

Malaika drew the cup to her mouth, the drink bitter on her lips and pungent to her nose even before she dare take a sip.  Disgusting. She tipped back her head and let the whole lot slide down her throat with a wince, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand when done. The dried leaves fell back, a soggy heap at the bottom of the cup, and the aftertaste was marred by feathery bits in her mouth. A thoroughly foul concoction, but she was hopeful that it would do the trick; a peaceful night’s sleep, or what remained of it, was a welcome prospect indeed.

“You have our thanks, Zella, especially considering the lateness of the hour.”  Eithne rose from her stool, a weary smile on her lips.

Zella grinned back wryly. “You Aes Sedai are always a nuisance, aye, but you know you can call on me any time, Eithne”  She jangled her purse. “If a bit o’ the gold stuff doesn’t ever go amiss.” 

The woman packed up her things, yawning a little into the back of her hand as she did so, and Anura saw her from the room. Malaika gave her thanks also, tucking her feet up on the bed when the Wise Woman was gone. There was a heaviness in her head, deep and luxuriously intoxicating, and already no thought seemed to be able to swim through that haze. Even Chakai’s face, a bizarre mix of old and young, had no sway over her mind. The tea was doing its work. Light but I am weary.

“We shall take our leave now, sister.  I trust you shall get a good night’s sleep and be rested for the morn. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Of course, sister.” Malaika nodded her head and the motion seemed to want to carry it down to the soft goose-feather pillow. Eithne smiled, but Malaika did not even see the woman and her gaidar leave, or hear the door close quietly behind them. Neither did she have the energy to undress, and barely enough to kick off her shoes before she was drifting and in to a dreamless sleep.