Hadrian continued to mash up the valerian root in its watery base while Ethan talked, preparing the concoction that would keep him asleep at least through the night. Between the valerian and the birch, Ethan would be comfortably asleep for hours and hours, which would be the very best thing for his wound. Meanwhile, Hadrian would read while he watched over his Kelvic -- he paused in his mashing for a moment to look over at Ethan and realize, sheepishly, that he did think of him as his Kelvic even if they hadn't really spoken about the bond for which Kelvics were famous. If Ethan was utterly asleep, and asleep like a log, it would be easier to change the dressing. He was no expert, but he had watched Caelum patch him up for burns and other mishaps many a time.
Nodding to Ethan, he said, "You might very well be able to learn if people are lying. If there isn't some flare of energy that signifies a lie, at least you will notice the telltale signs with more practice. You should take opportunities to observe a person whenever you can, watch how their aura reacts as they interact with people or things. Observation will teach you the language of the energy."
Smiling at the jokes, he nodded. "I don't know a whole lot about herbs, really. I mean, as they pertain to healing. But I've learned to philter a potion or two, prepare magically charged water using mostly plant matter... It's a type of learning just like any other. But I've known healers, and white birch bark tea was always used to help with pain. Valerian will help you relax and sleep through the night. I'll be here with breakfast in the morning. You'll be good as new before long and... It'll be good for you to rest. You won't have to worry about anything in the wilds because I'll be looking out for you."
He grinned, and finally he poured the valerian water through the strainer and brought the cup over to Ethan.
"Drink this. The tea is one thing, but this will taste strange. Just drink it all in one go and banish the taste with some food or something. You need to relax with the auristics now. The herbs might make it easier to see, but not so easy to control."
Hadrian sat beside Ethan again, his hand under his head to help him up. Perhaps he was going overboard on the invalid routine, but he remembered such tenderness from his mother when he was small and sick and it didn't seem like Ethan had seen much of that sort of care. Not that Hadrian wanted to be his mother.
"You're going to be all right, Ethan, and you're really doing better with the auristics than I did given the amount of time you've spent learning. Rest now, all right? Everything will be easier in the morning." |