Chapter 83: Plans in motion
"My child. I must give it to my child." She said frantically, as he tried to remove the talisman.
"There is no need. We have more," Elara then gently placed another talisman on the sleeping child.
Just as before, the infant’s fretful whimpering subsided into a more peaceful, even breath.
For fifteen minutes, a fragile peace settled in the small, dim room. The young couple held hands, watching their child sleep without pain for the first time in days.
"That will be it for now,"
Riku gently indicated it was time, and the young man’s face crumpled.
"Please, Master Healer," he begged Riku, his voice thick with emotion, "can’t we keep it longer? Or... or buy it? We don’t have much, but we have a few silver pieces saved... our wedding rings... take it all! Just let us have this!" He was already fumbling in his worn tunic.
Riku placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Friend, I cannot. These talismans are few, and many suffer. This is why we only ask for a small token, so we may continue to offer this to others."
He retrieved the talismans.
"However, this should be enough. Look. Isn’t your family much better now?"
The man turned to his wife and children. Riku was right. Though the marks were still there, the mother and child did not appear to be suffering as much.