Chapter 54: His Wound Worsened
Indeed, the two gashes on Darius’ arms had festered. Lara clenched her fists. That damned healer. When she left, Darius’ wounds had been looking good.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. There was no time for anger.
"Abel, go get some moringa leaves. Add just a little water and pound them to extract the juice," she instructed.
Abel nodded and hurried out.
"Give me boiled water, a spoon, a mug, and some vinegar," she said next.
Cyrus dashed out of the room, returning moments later with everything she’d asked for.
Barett carried in the basin. Though Lara did not ask for it, he knew it would become handy.
Soon after, Abel returned carrying their only two porcelain bowls—one filled with dark green liquid, the other holding pounded leaves turned into a thick salve.
Lara reached into her backpack, pulling out a bag of cotton. She’d bought two sacks just yesterday from a peddler at the market, watching as he carefully removed the seeds from freshly harvested cotton flowers. From him, she learned that farmers had begun growing cotton alongside rice and wheat, making it more accessible.
She had prepared the cotton herself, exposing it to the sun from midday until late afternoon before sterilizing it the only way she could—by placing it in a clay pot over the fire. It was part of her emergency supplies, though she also had another purpose for it. With no modern conveniences, she planned to use the cotton and carefully cut fabric scraps as makeshift menstrual pads.
Turning her attention back to Darius, Lara mixed equal parts water and vinegar in the mug. She dipped a piece of cotton into the solution and gently wiped around the inflamed wound. The infection had set in deep. Pus had already formed, and the bandage stuck stubbornly to the raw skin. Removing it would be painful, but she had no choice.