“Twenty are sick, twelve are feeling ill, and the rest say they’re well,” the boy reported.
Mirar nodded.
The woman pointed at a small hole in the floor. Next to it was a bucket and a coil of rope. “We bring it up from the creek below.”
He thought of the winding path of the creek and the smell of feces.
“Where do you put your bodily wastes?”
She pointed downward again. “It washes away.”
“Not quickly enough,” he said.
Her shoulders lifted. “It used to, but a slide upslope diverted some of the water away.”
“That should be cleared, or you should move the village,” he said. “Tyve, fetch me some water from far above the village. Don’t use the same vessel as any that has been in the stream.”
The boy nodded and flew away. Mirar sensed annoyance from the woman. He met her gaze.
“Better to be sure,” he said.
She lowered her eyes and nodded. Turning away, Mirar moved to Veece’s side and began his work.
The crowd surrounding the two priests consisted mostly of children. From the minds of the few adults present, Auraya read that the pair were a great source of entertainment for the youngsters in the Open, but the adults also listened attentively, conscious that what these landwalkers were teaching would influence their people’s future.
Sitting behind the priests were four Siyee, all listening attentively. They noted not only the stories and lessons, but the way in which they were told. The oldest was a woman of thirty-five, the youngest a boy of fifteen. All had hopes and ambitions of becoming priests or priestesses.
Auraya felt a surge of pride. If they learned well and passed the tests, their dreams would come true. They would be the first Siyee priests and priestesses.
The priest who was speaking - Priest Magen - finished his tale and made the sign of the circle. He glanced at Auraya, then told the audience that their lesson was over. Disappointment flowed from the children, but as they rose and began to discuss with their guardians what they might do next the feeling dissipated.
Auraya walked forward to greet the priests. They made the formal two-handed sign of the circle as they greeted her - something the trainee priests and priestesses noted with curiosity.
“A bigger crowd today,” she noted.
Danien nodded. “Yes. A few new children from a visiting tribe, I believe.”
“Come inside,” Magen urged. “Have you eaten yet? A woman just sent us several roasted girri as thanks for treating her broken ankle.”
“I haven’t,” Auraya replied. “Is there enough?”
Magen grinned. “More than enough. The Siyee are nothing less than generous.”
The priest beckoned to the trainees then led them all inside the large bower that had been provided for the landwalkers. They sat on wooden seats in the center of the room and passed around the food.
“You’ve learned the Siyee language quickly,” Auraya observed.
Danien nodded. “When you know a few languages it gets easier to pick up new ones. The Siyee tongue is not that hard once you see the similarities between it and landwalker tongues.”
“We were assisted by a young man here - Tryss,” Magen told her.
“Ah, Tryss,” Auraya said, nodding. “Clever boy.”
“Your advice about taboos, customs and manners was helpful, too,” Danien added. “I was thinking of —”
“Auraya of the White?”
All turned to the doorway. Speaker Sirri stood in the opening, radiating concern. A young Siyee male stood beside her. He had brought bad news, Auraya read. A sickness...
“Speaker Sirri,” Magen said, rising. “Welcome. Will you and your companion join us?”
The Speaker hesitated, then stepped inside. “Yes. Thank you. This is Reet of the North River tribe.” The young man nodded as each of the occupants was introduced.
“Come and sit down,” Magen said, rising to usher them to seats.
Sirri did not smile as she sat down. “Reet has come to the Open seeking help,” she told them. “His people have sickened with an illness they have never heard of. Our healers have not seen such a malady either, so we have come to ask you if you know it.”
“Can you describe it, Reet?” Auraya asked.
She concentrated on the young man’s mind as he told of the illness that had come upon his family and relatives, and felt a chill as she recognized the symptoms.
“I know it,” she interrupted. The boy stared at her hopefully. She turned to regard Magen. “It is Hearteater.”
“The White Death,” Magen said, his expression turning grim. “It appears among landwalkers from time to time.”
Sirri looked at Auraya. “Do you have a cure?”
“Yes and no,” Auraya replied. “There are treatments that ease the symptoms, but they do not kill the disease. The patient’s body must do that. Magical healing can help boost a patient’s strength, but it cannot kill a disease without the risk of harming the body.”
“Babies and young children are in the greatest danger as well as the elderly and weak,” Magen added. “Healthy adults spend a few days in a fever, then slowly recover.”
“But they’re not,” Reet interrupted. “My second cousin died the day before yesterday. She was twenty- two!”
The room fell silent as all exchanged looks of dismay. Danien turned to Auraya. “Could Hearteater have grown more potent?”
“Perhaps. If that is so, we must be extra careful to make sure it doesn’t spread,” she warned. “Has anyone from the village other than you left it? Have outsiders visited since the illness began?”
Reet stared at her. “Other than me? Two families left after it started. One went to the North Forest tribe. The others came here. We’d had no visitors, when I left.”
She looked at Sirri. “You need to find this family and isolate them from others, and find out who they’ve met since they arrived and isolate those Siyee too.”
Sirri grimaced. “They may not like that. What of the North River and North Forest tribes?”
“Send someone to the North Forest tribe to see if anyone is sick. As for the North River tribe...” Auraya considered. It would be better to treat them in their village, but could she leave the Open? What if the Pentadrians attacked? Any report of an attack would come to the Open first. She looked at Danien and Magen. They could contact her through their rings. “I will go to them,” she said. “Danien and Magen will be my link to you. Anything you want me to know, tell them. They will communicate it to me.”
Sirri nodded. “I will. When will you leave?”
“As soon as I can. You may need me to help you explain to the families the reason they must isolate themselves. I would like to gather some medicines. You have some that will help.”
Sirri rose. “Tell me what you want and I’ll send someone for them. You had best come with me now. The sooner we isolate these families the better. What of Reet?”
Auraya turned to regard the boy.
“You, too, may carry the disease,” Auraya said gently.
“It is spread by touch,” Magen said. “And by the breath. Who have you spoken to since you arrived,
