Earning the Patients

[Lixue]

Summer 1st, 512 AV; midday; Nature's Nurture "Shhh," Lixue cooed. Gently, she bounced in place, feet barely leaving the ground. The baby held in her arms, head supported by the crook of her elbow, stared up at Lixue with trusting blue eyes. Wispy brown hair tickled her arm and tiny feet pushed in a futile attempt to free himself. A thumb being sucked on between wet lips was unexpectedly removed with a loud pop. The baby whimpered, wiggling in Lixue's hold. When this did not free him, tears welled up and poured over. A startlingly loud wail pierced the air. Panic rushed through Lixue. What had she done? Had she accidentally touched his bandages? A hurried look revealed no, she did not cause the wound to burst. The young boy, less than six months of age, was named Mark. His maternal parent, Shiana, had brought him to Nature's Nurture after an unfortunate incident with an angry Spirian Red Squirrel. The mother had been feeding the squirrels and the son was near. While she was not looking, Mark grabbed one of the fluffy tails. The recipient was not happy and let it be known, with teeth. A chubby arm was practically shredded. Lixue had done her best with the wound, given the circumstances. "Hey now," Lixue murmured, awkwardly jiggling the child in an attempt to calm him. How could one infant make so much noise? The situation became worse when the other three babies in the room joined in to create a painful chorus. "Oh, jeez… Oh, man.. The nurses are going to have my head for this…" Cupping the back of Mark's head, Lixue moved him to rest comfortably against her shoulder. Mark brought the uninjured arm up to slip his thumb back into his mouth. Making her way to one of the basinets, Lixue leaned down to lift the infant out of the crib. The Jamoura child, nearly three months old, latched onto Lixue with amazingly strong limbs. Sliding her hand under the baby's back, Lixue quickly hoisted her from the basinet. The Jamoura's legs wrapped around Lixue's petite waist. Still whimpering, she grabbed a handful of Lixue's hair and started gnawing on it. Was this how mothers felt? Overwhelmed, frustrated, and joyful all at the same time? Lixue was not certain, but she relished the warm feeling spreading in her stomach. To be a mother would be… wonderful. Ly and her had been trying for nearly a month, but… no success. Though she did not want to worry, Lixue contemplated seeing a doctor. Who else would know if she was fertile or not? And if she wasn't… Not a thought to have in her mind. Stemming from this apprehension, Lixue had been spending more time with children of all ages. What if she missed out on having her own, after all? Would she be left with only those who were brought to the ward? A sharp scream brought Lixue back from her mental anxieties. The third child in the room, a Chaktawe infant, was still crying. How was Lixue going to hold a third one? The two current ones were quiet, but she feared them erupting into tears again if she tried to set them down. Mark seemed to be asleep, judging from the growing pool of drool on her shirt. The girl Jamoura was still unsuccessfully trying to eat Lixue's hair. With both hands full, Lixue nearly cried out in relief when the door opened. Finally! Someone to save her! The nurse jumped in shock at seeing the state Lixue was in before popping her head back out. "She's in here!" Entering the loud room, the nurse tsked. "This is the third time this week, Doctor Lixue. What are you doing in here? And do not tell me you were just checking up on a patient. You already used that excuse. Next time, at least tell someone. You are sometimes in demand, you know. There was a visitor asking about you." Bustling over to the crib, the nurse picked up the crying infant. Only a few moments later, another nurse and an unknown individual crowded into the room. What a way to make an impression. Drool pooling on her shoulder from a sleeping infant, another latched onto her and trying to eat her hair, and yet another crying in the arms of someone else.

[Veldrys]

As Veldrys stood on the platform and gazed at what seemed like a small village, high up in the trees, he couldn’t help but wonder if his ancestors had once looked at something similar. They had lived in a jungle as well, centuries ago, before the Valterrian had taken everything from them, including their future. Of course their floating city had been in Falyndar, not in Taldera, but still, there were similarities. Part of him expected pale skinned people with red and violet eyes to greet him, but of course that was just wishful thinking.

The Symenestra would never live in the trees again. Their homeland had been stolen by the Myrians, and even the gentle Jamoura would most likely not welcome hundreds of people who were most famous for stealing women these days. Besides, most of his people probably wouldn’t want to leave their cave anyway, even if they were given the chance. They had grown too accustomed to the underground. There would only be him who yearned for a time that was long gone and a future that would most likely never happen.

He approached the central building slowly. Having been born deep underground, he knew very little of Caiyha. He had only ever prayed to Viratas and to Rak’keli, sometimes, but he cared about nature and all living things nevertheless. To those that worshipped the god of blood all life was precious.

For a while, after his flight from Denval and the loss of his child, work, money, had been the last things on his mind, but he needed a means to support himself, himself and Lucette.

Besides, he needed to heal. He couldn’t imagine doing anything else, and it would distract him as well. Even if he couldn’t help his own people, he could help others, and that tended to improve his mood a little, at least some of the time.

„Is Doctor Lixue here?“ he asked the nurse that he encountered in the hallway. He’d heard that he’d have to talk to her about working here. „She’s over there. I’ll take you to her“, the woman informed him, furrowing her brow briefly at his unusual appearance.

Somebody that didn’t look particularly closely might take him for a human, but his hair was pure silver, his eyes were like amethysts, and his skin was pale white. He was more slender than most human men, and his hands ended in black claws that his ancestors had once used to climb the trees of their jungle home.

A red chain, the mark of Viratas was on his arm.

He froze for a moment as he heard the noise from behind the door, the unmistakeable sound of children crying. He would never be a father. He couldn’t risk Lucette’s life a second time. There would be nothing left of him after he died, nothing but a vague memory of a pale skinned healer that had chosen to live his life in a place where he didn’t belong.

He shook his head, trying to push those melacholic thoughts away, and stepped into the room.

„Doctor Lixue?“ he asked. His eyes widened at the sight of the woman who was – mostly unsuccessfully - dealing with a trio of children that belonged to completely different races.

„I’m Veldrys, and I’ve come to offer my help …“ He extended his arms, offering to take the Jamoura child who was trying to eat her hair from her as two children simply seemed to be too much for her. The furry little creature at least wouldn’t remind him of the baby he had lost. „I’m a healer, from Denval …“

[Lixue]

"Yes, I am Doctor Lixue." A tug on her hair. "Nice to meet you. I do apologize for the circumstances." The Jamoura child did not want to go with Veldrys, apparently. Her feet tightened almost painfully around Lixue's waist, earning a well-hidden wince. Chubby fingers clenched with a handful of hair. With a hint of shyness, she peeked through the strands, staring at the strange man. Lixue shifted her hold on the Jamoura's rump, playing part in a dangerous balancing act. "Come on, Navish, let's go see Veldrys!" Even with the encouraging tone, the child only clung tighter. Lixue would have continued to fight with the infant, but she did not want to risk the health of Mark by accidentally dropping him. A soft sigh was released. "Would you mind taking Mark? Navish is being difficult." As the Jamoura infant truly did not need Lixue to support her weight, Lixue was able to use both hands when moving Mark. Fingers cupped the back of his hairy head, keeping it from putting too much pressure on his neck. The other held his bottom and back. Thankfully, the healer from Denval was close and it was not necessary to risk waking the baby. The boy remained asleep, a line of drool sliding down his pale chin. "Watch out for his arm. He decided to get a little too friendly with one of the squirrels here and the squirrel did not like it. The skin was ripped away from the flesh, leaving only useless strands behind. The wound was too wide to stitch, so I disinfected it and placed an egg white on the flesh. For safety purposes, a bandage was loosely tied. Did not want the boy rubbing off the egg white in his sleep, after all. We are currently watching for infection to arise so that we may promptly stop it." For a moment, Lixue wondered if the healer was going to ask about the egg white use. Moss colored eyes ran over Veldrys, scrutinizing. So very skinny was the human man. Did he eat properly? Maybe it was not another matter, she decided, taking in the pale appearance. Any lighter of a skin tone and Lixue was sure she could have seen his veins! The things that would have tipped her off to him not being human were not noticed. The claw like fingernails were unseen and Lixue's eyes only flittered over the red chain. "When was the last time you were checked over by a doctor?" The question hung in the air. Nose scrunched and eyebrows together, Lixue curled her arms around the Jamoura who had stopped trying to eat her hair and was now searching her scalp for bugs. "You do no-" A cough from the corner. Breaking off mid-sentence, Lixue sharply turned her head to make eye contact with the nurse. The Chaktawe infant lay in her arms, gazing around the room with ebony eyes. The nurse herself was trying to muffle her coughing. "Are you ill?" A hesitant nod. "I see. You entered a room full of injured children knowing full well you yourself were not at the best of health, is that correct?" Another nod, this one more apprehensive. "I have worked with you for nearly a season. You are aware of my policies and rules, yet you still chose to put the children at risk. The other nurse," a quick glance around showed she had apparently left, "is not ill and could have taken your place. In fact, you could have asked me specifically to be placed on another work station. Go find one of the other doctors for medicine. On your way, fetch someone who knows the meal plans. The children are to eat around this time, yes?" A purely rhetorical question left the nurse agreeing silently. "Do not hang around the patients. Until your illness resides, you will be on wash duty. Even two days from now, on your day off. Next time, tell me when you are not well. Go now, do not dally." The nurse had made a face at the term "wash duty". Apparently it was not an enjoyable task. Those assigned to the station were to hand-wash every used bandage, rag, and dish in Nature's Nurture. Not a hard job, but a tedious one. The blood and puss stains were to be invisible by the time it could be considered "clean". Replacing the Chaktawe baby in the basinet, the nurse hurriedly left the room. The Jamoura child was readjusted on Lixue's hip. Lixue's voice was no longer a blunt, forward tone as she spoke to the healer, "You have come to offer your help? In what sense?"

[Veldrys]

„There is no need to apologize“, he said and smiled lightly. „I know how busy things can be at a place like this.“ He remembered his time at the Purging in Kalinor. There had always been something to do, somebody that needed his attention. Sometimes he had been so busy that there had been no time to eat or drink. His patients had beend different though. There had been fewer children – children had always been rare – and no Jamoura at all.

The little creature clinging to Lixue fascinated him – he could very well imagine that the Symenestra had shared their forest with such people before the Valterrian had destroyed everything. He was a little disappointed when he – or she? – he still had some trouble telling the gender of Jamoura – didn’t want to be held by him, but it was understandable, in a way. If he were a furry little Jamoura, he wouldn’t want to be with a strange, pale man either.

He nodded as she informed him about the child’s injury, but as she told him how she had treated it, he furrowed his brow. „Egg white? I haven’t heard of using egg whites to treat wounds yet. I would have cleaned the wound and then used a poultice with different herbs.“ His voice trailed off as he noticed the way that the doctor was looking at him. He was not used to such looks anymore. In Denval he had become just another man, a valued member of their community. With Lucette he was just another man, despite everything that had happened.

As she asked him when he had last been checked by a doctor, his eyes widened. He had expected a racist rant, had expected her to maybe even be scared because he was a Symenestra and she a human woman, but this? He just stood there for a moment, looking utterly surprised and confused, and then he answered, „I am a doctor. If there was something wrong with me, I’d know. This is what I usually look like.“

He wanted to say more, but the cough interrupted their conversation. He turned around and looked at the nurse as well. He didn’t say anything, didn’t comment on the fact that she was around the children when she was ill, but simply waited until she was gone. It wasn’t his place to criticize what was happening here.

He turned back to Lixue. „As I said I’m a healer, a doctor“, he replied. „I’m familiar with most ailments, and I can carry out operations as well. As you may have heard, Denval was destroyed last season, and my …“ He paused a moment, not sure what she was supposed to call Lucette. She was his lover, but it sounded too trivial. They were close, but not bonded, and even though they had shared a lot, they didn’t bear Cheva’s mark. She was not his wife. „… mate and I have been looking for a new home ever since. I was wondering if I could work here. You …“ He briefly let his gaze sweep across the room. „… seem to be in need of help.“

[Lixue]

A nod. "Yes, I have found eggs to be very useful in healing, only minor of course. They can help with swelling, bruises, pain, scarring, burns, and scabs. There are only four different methods for such use. With bruises, it is only necessary to boil the egg, place it in a thin cloth and break it. Apply to the bruise or bump. It will reduce pain and swelling. For scarring, break the egg into a container. On the inside of the shell, there is a thin white layer. Take the layer and place over the injury. It will stick and dry, creating a bandage. The layer should be replaced when it begins to curl up at the corners. For burns, the egg white is necessary. The white part should be separated from the yoke and whipped. Add a touch of oil and spoiled apple juice. Place on the burn and it will help promote quick healing and soothing relief." A pause as Lixue reached out to tug on the bandage covering Mark's arm. Easily, it came loose. The boy's arm looked painful. Underneath the egg white bandage, pieces of skin littered the area. Some were long and jagged, as if torn, and others still stuck to the flesh. The meat of the arm was hideous and cringe-worthy. Some areas wer deeper than others and some were shallow. Lixue did not even flinch. "If you notice, the area surrounding the wound is pure white, including on top. This is because we separated the egg white from the yolk and peeled away the inner layer on the shell. The 'skin' of the egg was placed over the cut," here she motioned to a section that was clear. "We then covered the layer with egg whites, thin of course." Lixue pointed to the middle of the injury, where it was near impossible to see the mutilated flesh, "some areas were in need of more given the depth of the injury." The make-shift bandage was not yet peeling, but dry to the touch. "In doing so, we are helping speed up the process of healing, stopped any bleeding and kept a scab from forming. As I would expect you to know, a scab could keep the infection inside. This method, however, will simply cause the 'bandage' to become soggy and peel at the first sign of infection." Holding up the original cloth bandage, Lixue held it out of reach of Navish. "Do you mind retying this?" Thankfully, a table had been pulled into the children's room, in case of situations such as this. "Be careful and keep it loose. We do not want it to rub on the egg whites." While she waited, Lixue listened to Navish's breathing. The Jamoura girl had inhaled too much smoke, causing her to become ill and coughing. While the coughing was gone, the team still held the girl at Nature's Nurture for observation. When she had first come in, Navish's breathing was ragged and rough, sounding forced. Now, it was nearly perfect and rhythmic. Mentally, Lixue made a note to have the child released from the ward within the next couple of days. A gentle smile, if not a tad reprimanding, was tossed at Veldrys after he glanced around the room. "Do not judge Nature's Nurture's need of help based on one room. Especially a room where the situation was created only accidentally. If you noticed, the staff members were fast to respond and efficient." Lixue did not mention the nurse's display of illness. "If you wish to work here, Veldrys, I will expect nothing less. The hours are long and tedious, filled with situations ranging from dangerous to mediocre. The patients are not always grateful or are overly so. You will be expected, given your qualifications, to travel to away-from-camp for impromptu circumstances. For tasks such as these, it will be necessary to improvise many a-times; there will only be enough supplies as your backpack may hold. "If you are ill, it is expected of you to tell me. If you are in need of a day off, I will expect you to tell me. I will be watching over your career, dealing with any," a hint of sarcasm slipped in, "unexpected situations." Shifting the child on her hip, Lixue continued in her no-nonsense tone, "You will have the choice of choosing an assistant or having one assigned to you. Once you have proven your worth, of at least two weeks probationary period, several different options will be opened to you. One, you will be able to choose if you wish to excel in a certain section of Nature's Nurture or be an all around doctor. Two, you may take on more than one assistant. In fact, as many as you deem necessary. Three, you may train others to become doctors. During the probationary period, you will be overseen by myself. Afterwards, there will be meetings between the two of us to see your progress starting at two weeks and moving farther in between the longer you are with us. This is to make sure you are not going to accidentally kill one of our patients. If required, you will be trained on how to deal with Jamoura or different races. "If you choose you still wish to work here, a sleeveless black shirt will be given. This is to keep our personal clothes clean and keep any blood from showing. The patients are the first priority and they prefer to not see the red liquid of another. If needed, you may give the shirt to one of the assistants on wash duty. Also, if you are to disobey my policies or make a mistake without thinking, you risk being assigned wash duty." Navish, the toddler Jamoura, leaned comfortably against Lixue. "The staff is a mixture of different races and Jamoura. You will be expected to work hand in hand with these individuals. If on call, take only what is essential. More often than not, especially given your size, you will be carried by one of the Jamoura in order to save time." "Do you still wish to be employed at Nature's Nurture?"

[Veldrys]

At first the Symenestra frowned slightly as Lixue told him of the different uses of eggs in healing. It sounded a little like charlatanery to him – he doubted that Hellebore would have allowed his doctors to put eggs on wounds – but then again Lixue would likely think the same if she knew what he did sometimes. He doubted that she would be very happy if he went around drinking her patients‘ blood and using his gnosis to read their memories and come up with the best possible treatment. And thus he smiled slightly, nodded and remarked, „I would love to study this treatment in more detail, maybe even try it myself. It sounds like it might be a good alternative, especially if you don’t have easy access to certain herbs.“

He watched as she removed the bandage from Mark’s arm. The wound looked bad to say the least, but just like Lixue the Symenestra didn’t flinch. He was always calm around the patients. „I see“, he murmurred as she explained what she had done. „I know about scabs. This here is amazing. It’s actually better than some of the treatments we’ve used where I come from.“ He wondered if he would ever have been able to convince Hellebore who tended to be suspicious of things that came from the surface sometimes to use eggs. On second thought using eggs to treat wounds didn’t seem to be such a bad idea.

„Not at all“, he replied as she held the bandage up and bent over the child, murmurring a few gentle words to put it at ease. He kept the bandage loose, as she had told him to. „Forgive me. I was indeed a bit hasty in my judgement. I did of course notice how fast the staff members reacted to the situation.“ He paused for a moment before he told her, „I’m used to long and tedious hours and dangerous situations. I told you that I come from Denval. I was there when it was destroyed, during the djed storm. Our part of Kalea was hit hardest. As for ungrateful patients …“

He doubted that there were any patients that were more ungrateful than the surrogates he’d treated at the Purging, but it was better if Lixue didn’t know about Kalinor and the things he had been involved there. He wasn’t proud of them. „… I can deal with those as well. I’m used to travelling with few supplied. I went across half of Mizahar, through areas that had been devastated by the djed storm. Trust me, Doctor Lixue, when I say that I can deal with almost anything.“

The only thing he had ever found hard to deal with had been Lucette’s miscarriage – even if it had probably been for the better. Had she carried the child to term and given birth, it would have killed her.

„And I will try not to kill any patients. Of course there may be some situations where the patient will die no matter what I do.“ Doctor Lixue, he concluded as he continued to listen to her, was a woman who liked rules and didn’t leave anything to chance. In some ways she reminded him of Hellebore. He had been just as strict. A meeting between them would have been interesting to watch – but then again, he doubted that Hellebore would have been able to resist the temptation to eventually use her as a surrogate. Lixue was young and relatively healthy. You didn’t let such potential go to waste in Kalinor.

He sighed and concentrated on what she was saying again. „I’m fine with a probationary period as well. I’d think less of you if you didn’t test me before you hired me for good.“ He couldn’t help but consider the people here slightly weak for preferring not to see each other’s blood. He doubted most Symenestra had a problem with blood. He’d worn black – or red – clothes at the Purging as well, but mostly because it looked better and made a better impression and not because his patients were so sensitive.

„I have no problem with working with people of different races either as long as they don’t have a problem working with me. I still wish to be employed at Nature’s Nurture.“

[Lixue]

Important InformationLixue's hiring ability has been revoked. Cinna will continue from here on. Though Lixue had heard of Denval and the horrible aftermath of the Djed Storm, she had been too busy focused on helping her own devastated city. Avanthal had melted. Half of one hold was completely wiped out with an unexpected flood. Besides just that, the Vantha eyes had become stuck in one mood. The chaos was immense and Lixue sought to help in any way she could. When word reached her ears of the Spires, Lixue rushed to their aid with her new husband, Ly. Little information had reached her ears of other cities, besides the Spires and Avanthal. Given this, Lixue did not know of which conditions Veldrys had labored. Silently, Lixue listened to the pale man speak. His words were measured, if not accented, and held confidence, something Lixue looked for in all of her prospective doctors. If a person did not believe they could heal, did not know they had the possibility, then the person would be nothing more than an assistant. If that. Veldrys did not seem human. Not because of his arms, Lixue couldn't see those as they were wrapped around Mark, but because of his… Lixue truly couldn't name what gave her feeling. Just the sense that this was no normal person. In the same sense, Lixue had respect for the man. He held himself high. Spoke of losing a patient as though he had been surrounded by death and accepted it for what it was. The last thing Lixue needed was a doctor who would lose their head in a situation involving the dying. Veldrys had no objects to her demands and explained why. This was something Lixue relished in. If a person could not give valid reasons for their actions or beliefs, then she herself believed them to be a confused individual. Someone who was dangerous around patients. After all, a doctor often had to explain their actions to worried patients. Nodding to let him know she had accepted his last statement, Lixue was staring inquisitively at Veldrys again. Not like he was a puzzle, but as though she was trying to know him and his mind telepathically. Know what he could handle and what he could not. Know his past and his future. With the burden of the Jamoura child, Lixue was leaning more heavily on her cane. Position was changed every few moments until Navish grew restless and clambered to the ground. Her body not having gained heavy weight yet, Navish preferred to walk on two feet. Slowly, as was all of her race, the Jamoura child made her way to Veldrys. Looking up at the man, she claimed in a still raspy voice, "Friend." Arms and legs wrapped around Veldrys's leg and Navish sat comfortably on his foot. Her head leaned against his knee. A light chuckle escaped Lixue's lips. "It seems she has warmed up to you." A pause as Lixue considered Navish. "I do hope you do not mind a sixty pound weight on your foot. Each time you enter this room now, if she is able, she will most likely do the same thing." The girl repeated her actions of picking through Lixue's hair every time the head doctor entered the room. Remembering how Navish's voice had rasped so, Lixue made another mental note to send the child home with honey for a tender throat. Thankfully, Lixue did not have to hold the extra weight any longer. Though leaning heavily on her cane, Lixue did not move as much. Neither did she wince, even if her knee was throbbing something awful. Perhaps if he had been paying extraordinarily close, Veldrys might have noticed how Lixue's skin lost a shade. "You said you were from Denval. How long had you been there? If I seek out someone who you had treated or worked with," a difficult task, "what would they say about you? How long have you been practicing medicine? What type of work environment are you used to? What type of utensils or tools do you require on a daily basis? If we do not have those here in the Spires, how well do you adapt? What vital skills do you believe you can add to Nature's Nurture? Do you yourself check-up on patients after you have finished with them, to see how they are recovering, or do you send an assistant? What type of medicine do you believe you are more suitable for? Are there any weaknesses to your job performance I should be aware of?" The questions were those Veldrys might not have had to answer before. The most prominent question Lixue asked was, "Why would others have an issue working with you, or with you in general?" Before Veldrys could respond to any question, another person entered the room. She was a Konti, known as S'Vanka and one of the owners of the Nature's Nurture. Lixue greeted her formally, with respect. It appeared that S'Vanka had heard everything Lixue had said and was informed of the situation. "Lixue, someone is requesting you in another room. I will take it from here," S'Vanka smiled and nodded her head off to one direction. "What is he being hired for?" "A doctor." The Konti nodded and Lixue left the room after telling Veldrys, "I apologize for the inconvenience. If you will excuse me. I hope to see you around, Veldrys."

[Cinna]

S'Vanka watched with a fond smile as the dark haired woman hurried off to her next task, always busy with a patient. She worked hard for the clinic, and S'Vanka wished that there were more of her types to go around, her dedication endless. The Konti shook her head as her thoughts seemed to wonder and turned her attention back to the man that Lixue had been speaking too. The first thing that was noticeable was the pale skin, enough that she could see the faint lines of his veins as she appraised him. She also noticed the long nails, pointed at the tips, that gave him the appearance of claws....a rather odd thing for a healer to have. S'Vanka narrowed her eyes at him before clearing her expression, gesturing for him to come forward. "Walk with me Veldrys,"she said softly, turning and walking out of the nursery and into the hallway, the delicate man trailing after her. S'Vanka had never physically encountered a Symenestra, but had learned enough to know what to look for should she ever encounter one. It was interesting to find one here of all places, and wishing to be a doctor as well. From what she knew of their lore, Symenestra needed blood to live, and she hoped that this particular one did not wish to find employment here just so he could find an easy meal. "Let me introduce myself Veldrys, I am S'Vanka, one of the owners here at Nature's Nurture. I am pleased that you wish find employment here, and from what I overheard, you are fairly knowledgeable of your craft,"she began, folding her hands behind her back as they continued slowly down the hallway. "Lixue asked some very important questions, ones that I am intrigued to hear the answers to. But there is one question that is most pressing,"she said softly, stopping and turning to look at Veldrys fully. "Are you going to be able to control yourself here?" Perhaps the questions was slightly rude, and she knew that, but she had to think of the safety of the patients that were here at the clinic. That would always be her first priority. "I do not know you, nor do I have any way to judge your character at this moment, but you must understand my position. The safety of the patients here will always come before tact."

[Veldrys]

As the little Jamoura made her way to him and wrapped herself around his leg, the Symenestra’s eyes widened. He hadn’t been that close to one of her kind before. In a way Jamoura reminded him of Kelvic, human and animal at once, although their intelligence was greater and they were less driven by instincts. He wondered what Lucette thought of them.

„Friend“, he agreed and bent down to stroke the child’s head. Navish was quite heavy, but at least at the moment he didn’t mind having his foot crushed by sixty pounds of pure Jamoura. „I hope she continues to do this“, he remarked as he looked at Lixue again. „It’s a sign that she trusts me.“

„As for how long I was in Denval, a little less than two years if I remember correctly, but I’ve of course been practicing medicine much longer than that. I started as an apprentice when I was twelve. I’m almost twenty-three now. I’m not sure what people would say about me – they’ve never told me their exact opinion of me – but there’ve never been any complaints, so I must have done my job well.“

He paused for a moment as he considered the other questions she had asked and tried to readjust the weight of the little Jamoura on his foot.

„Before I came to Denval I worked at … you could say it was a hospital. In Denval I helped out at the clinic, but I often visited people in their homes as well. I can work with whatever tools you have here. After the destruction of my home I’ve learned to adapt. I prefer to check up on my patients myself as an assistant may not be aware of everything. As for what vital skills I could add …“ He shrugged his shoulders.

„I don’t know. I don’t claim to be extraordinary. I could however show you a few things I’ve learned where I come from. As for what I’m more suitable for, I’ve treated illnesses, I’ve performed simple operations and even assisted in childbirth.“

„I’m however not as good at things that rely heavily on physical strength. If I have to treat a Jamoura that weighs a few hundred pounds I may need help. As for why others would have an issue with me …“

He tried to come up with a way to tell Lixue without scaring her as another woman entered the room. He recognized her at once as a Konti. Hellebore, his superior at the Purging, had had a pet Konti. She’d come to Kalinor to help the suffering surrogates, and she’d sometimes had visions.

He wondered what this Konti saw in him.

He tensed for a moment.

„There is no need to apologize, Doctor Lixue“, he told her and gently tried to make Navish let go of his foot. „I’m sure we’ll meet again later.“

With that he turned to face the Konti, smiling lightly. He didn’t want to let her know how worried he really was. „I’m pleased to meet you, S’Vanka. I’ve heard many good things of your race’s abilities. I once knew a Konti myself.“

As they walked he began to repeat the answers he’d given Lixue, and then he abruptly froze. „Control myself?“ he repeated softly and arched an eyebrow. „What do you mean, S’Vanka? Please tell me what you have heard so that I can answer your question better.“

„And rest assured that I have no intention of harming anybody. I swear that by Viratas and by Rak’keli.“

[Cinna]

S'Vanka could feel the waves of tension and the slight fear flowing from the young man, able to judge his character more by his emotions than what he was actually saying to her. He had more than enough experience to be employed there with them, and he seemed to be able to take care of himself as well from what she had overheard and what he was telling her now, so that earned him a place here just from experience alone. But she was skeptical, what if he fell in to temptation and took more blood then he should have or an "accident" occurred? She felt awful for even thinking about that, but she knew that the loss of a patient would feel much worse. His swear cause her to arch an eyebrow, his voice soft as if he was calm. The tension still rolling from his body told her otherwise, and she felt terrible once again for even bringing it up, but she held her ground. "Swearing on the goddess....not something to be done lightly,"she said softly, staring at him and cocking her head to the side slightly. "You and I both know what it takes for you to survive, and I will not utter it here out of respect for you. You seem genuine in your character, and again I have no other way of knowing you except for what I was able to overhear and what you have told me. But,"she said, her voice dropping lower and for his ears alone,"I have to know that you will keep your eating habits strictly away from here." S'Vanka blushed slightly and shifted her feet, a little bit embarrassed with herself. She had basically just asked him to not eat the patients, which could be highly offensive and she knew that, which was why she wasn't going to go into the specifics of what he ate. "I do not mean any offense, even though I'm probably not doing a very good job of being polite,"she said, her blush growing slightly more pronounced. ""My point is that you are more than welcome to work here, because your experience is enough for you to be employed as a doctor. I just have to know that I can trust you."