Shalkan sniggered. Unfortunately, Vestakia didn't seem to notice, or didn't realize he was trying to lighten her mood.
Kellen followed the directions meticulously. The contents of the black bottle smelled strongly of herbs, like fresh-cut hay, and the liquid was the bright green of spring leaves, as thick as berry-syrup. The cup was a small one, obviously not meant for ordinary use. It was made of Elven silver, a silver as bright and soft as pure gold. Kellen handled it carefully.
The wineskin contained nothing more exotic than white brandy. It was clear as water, and turned pale green as it mixed with the herbal draught.
'Here,' Kellen said, holding out the cup to Vestakia.
'Oh. I don't want—'
'Please. Shalkan says it will help.'
'Drink it quickly,' the unicorn advised. 'Really quickly.'
Uncertainly, she took the silver cup, and gulped its contents down as fast as she could. A stricken expression crossed her face, and she exploded into a paroxysm of coughing as soon as she'd swallowed.
'It doesn't taste very good,' Shalkan finished mildly. 'Unless you happen to be a horse or some other grass- eater. Now you, Kellen.'
'What does it do?' Kellen asked, suspicious now that he'd seen its effect on Vestakia.
'Among other things, it closes down the magical senses, though not for very long. You'll need the breathing space. You may not think you can sense the Barrier from here, but you can. Drink it.'
Vestakia stopped coughing and sputtering. 'That was horrible!' she said. 'But… I feel better now. Thank you.' She took a deep breath that turned into a sigh of relief.
Kellen looked at the cup and the bottle and winced. But Shalkan had never given him bad advice yet, and if his mounting despair was due to sensing the Barrier—well, he needed the help. Much worse, and he'd start weeping over trifles. Or he'd sit down in the middle of the path and refuse to go on. Quickly, he mixed his own dose, and drank.
The brandy seared his mouth and throat with choking fire, and did nothing to mask the incredible gagging bitterness of the herbal liquor. Even braced for it, Kellen choked and sputtered nearly as much as Vestakia had, swallowing over and over to try to get the taste out of his mouth. But once the burning and bitterness subsided, he did feel better. Some of the despair lifted. Now, he was merely depressed.
And who wouldn't be, around here?
Kellen investigated the bag further, discovering it was the first-aid kit.
He pulled out the jar of allheal salve and a roll of bandages.
'You were limping earlier. Which ankle is it? If I use some of this on it and strap it up tightly, you should be able to walk.' I hope, he added to himself. 'I wish I could Heal you, but I… don't dare,' he finished, feeling ashamed.
'You couldn't do it right now, anyway,' Shalkan said helpfully. 'Not after drinking that.'
'It's because it would call Them, isn't it?' Vestakia said, shuddering. 'Never mind. I'd rather bleed to death horribly than do anything to summon one of Them, and this close…' She shivered again, wrapping her cloak tightly around herself.
'Even without magic, I should take a look at it,' Kellen said. 'Some allheal will do a lot to make the bruising heal faster.' Assuming that matters, and we aren't all dead before morning.
Vestakia seemed to see the sense of that.
'This one,' she said, thrusting out her right foot. 'I twisted it when I fell. He'd never have caught me otherwise,' she added proudly.
Kellen removed his gauntlets and eased the boot off. Vestakia was wearing much the same thing the farmers working the fields in Merryvale had been—long tunic, wide calf-length trousers, and heavy boots of rough leather lined in sheepskin. It was the boot that had kept the sprain from being any worse: her ankle was a little swollen, and warm to the touch, but it didn't seem too painful when Kellen prodded it experimentally, asking her how it felt. With the color of her skin, he wasn't sure whether he'd be able to tell if it was bruised or not, otherwise.
'I'm afraid this will hurt a little,' he said, as he began to work the salve into her skin. 'But it will feel better afterward.'
