Page 98 of The Dark Mage
“They didn’t rape me,” Sorya said preemptively, her voice hoarse.“They beat me and drugged me.”
Ren’wyn handed her the waterskin, noting the way Sorya cradled her head.“Any idea what they gave you?I might be able to counteract it.”
Sorya shook her head weakly.
Ren’wyn called outside.“Esrin, start a fire and put water on toboil.”
Esrin poked his head back in, clearly ready to refuse, but her icy expression froze the words on his lips.Pale-faced, he exited and set to work, shuffling and muttering in the background.
Ren’wyn dug through her pack, selecting herbs for tea: lavender and chamomile for calm, willow bark for pain.Her hands paused over the herbs as she glanced at Lia, who remained curled up, trembling.Ren’wyn crawled closer and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Lia, I need to know,” she asked softly.Of all the things she had done here, this might be the one to break her.“Did the men rapeyou?”
Lia curled tighter, a sob escaping herlips.
Ren’wyn’s fists clenched.She hadn’t made the brigands suffer enough.They had taken Lia’s brother and violated her.Ren’wyn took a deep breath to control her sudden nausea, forcing herself to focus.
Standing on shaky legs, she stepped out of the tent.Esrin’s expression turned stony, but she cut him off before he could speak.
“They raped Lia, and I need cohosh for an emergency contraceptive,” she said, her voice unwavering.Esrin’s features tightened.
“Don’t go in the tent, and don’t touch Lia,” she continued.“Get the water boiling.I’ll be back soon—I saw the right habitat on our wayhere.”
Ren’wyn found the cohosh quickly, gathering extra in case Lia vomited the first dose.Returning to camp, she saw Fael tending the fire.Placing a swift kiss on his forehead, she strode into thetent.
The stench of fear and pain hit her like a wall.Lia whimpered and shrank back, her trembling worsening while Sorya startled before her body curled inward.
Ren’wyn swallowed a sob and steeled herself.She would care for them.She would help themheal.
After settling the women with quiet words of reassurance, Ren’wyn poured the boiling water—delivered by Fael—over the contraceptive mixture.Then she placed her herbs for tea into a pot with the remaining water.A sweet, healing scent drifted over the camp, at odds with the lingering stench of decay, mud, and blood.She filled two cups with tea and cooled the contraceptive mixture before pouring it into a small glassvial.
“Help me sit her up,” Ren’wyn said to Sorya.To Lia, she explained, “This is a contraceptive tonic meant to prevent pregnancy.It tastes awful, and many women experience intense stomach pain and nausea after drinking it.You might bleed, like during your period.Likely, the rest of today and most of tomorrow will be miserable with the nausea.”
Lia’s eyes cleared with understanding, and she swallowed the tonic in one gulp.She gagged but kept it down, then gratefully accepted the mug oftea.
After lunch, Ren’wyn coaxed the women to the stream.They watched as she drew a veil of darkness to shield them while they bathed.By the time they finished, Ren’wyn’s arms and will shook violently, and the shadows crept away.She handed Lia her second Luremalan outfit, which dwarfed the petite woman.For Sorya, who was too tall for Ren’wyn’s clothes, Esrin produced a clean shirt and pants.
Sorya allowed Ren’wyn to poultice the burns where the brigands had branded her thighs and to clean and dress her numerous cuts and bruises.Lia, however, refused any treatment, remaining silent and withdrawn.
Back at camp, Ren’wyn tossed the women’s old dresses into the fire, dashing her own tears from her cheeks.Lia curled up where she sat, and Sorya wrapped a fiercely protective arm around her, throwing a warning glance at both men.Both women looked exhausted, but Esrin and Fael had emptied and hitched their recovered cart to Patina and Fael’s horse, Munic, and were ready tomove.
“I’m sorry, but we have to go,” Fael said across the fire, his face tight with urgency and regret.
Ren’wyn agreed—they couldn’t stay in this horrible place.Sorya and Ren’wyn gently loaded Lia into the cart, covering her with Ren’wyn’s blanket.Fael took the first shift driving while Esrin rode a brigand horse, trailing the others.At the next town, they planned to sell the stolen horses to the nearest stable.
The next two days dragged by.Lia slept through most of them but woke screaming in terror at night.Esrin and Fael kept their distance, leaving Sorya and Ren’wyn to comfort her.The night wakings drained them all, but no one complained.They bore the burden for their friend in every way they could.
Sorya healed steadily, though the worst of her burns would leave scars.Ren’wyn took comfort in her strength as the older woman gritted her teeth through each application of salve.
On the third morning, they entered Lipo, where Leta found them within an hour.Her eyes brimmed with tears, relief giving way to grief when she saw the women’s state and noticed Alen’s absence.Pressing a fisted hand to her chest, Leta locked eyes with Fael, who mirrored the gesture.
“A gesture of solidarity and thanks,” he explained to Ren’wyn as they sat together in the cart.“Among the imperial guard.”
Finally reaching home, Ren’wyn helped Lia into her tent while Fael and Esrin broke the news to Irik.His shouts sent birds fleeing from the trees, but the others held him back from Lia, explaining that she needed space to work through her trauma.
Sorya, meanwhile, found solace in her sister’s embrace, the two disappearing into their tent with tear-streaked faces.
Ren’wyn watched it all with bone-deep weariness.The world felt heavy as her power and body struggled to heal.She wouldn’t admit how much caring for Lia and Sorya had taken from her; she would have given almost anything for them.Even more frustrating was the start of her period today, which would drag her into two days of relative incapacity.
