The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (novels in english .TXT) 📗

She told me that, but bothof you are wrong. Mothers and fathers are not born of blood. Youare my father as much as the man that you were made from—as much asthey are my mothers. She sent me themental image of herself, holding Penny’s hand, followed by theimage of the Stone Lady.

Then do as I say, as hewould have said, ‘Take care of your mother and your brothers andsister.’ I told her. My heart was heavy,and I was grateful that Gareth’s flight had almost taken us beyondthe range of my ability to communicate.

Faintly, I heard her lastthought, I love you.

The dead cannot cry, but tears are theleast of the pains one can feel.

Chapter 14

Elise Thornbear stood quietly in thestreet in the dockside district of Albamarl. She wore an old greywool dress, patched and worn with age. It was unremarkable, otherthan for its cleanliness. She had had it freshly laundered beforeborrowing it from one of her servants. In her hand she carried asmall basket.

Her hair was caught up in a tight bun,and without jewelry or any other adornments, she could have beenalmost anyone—anyone other than a noblewoman. Since returning tolive in Albamarl, she had re-visited many parts of the city, fornostalgic reasons mostly, but she had never found a reason to go tothe dockside area. Even during her youth, working as one of the‘Ladies of the Evening’, she had never had reason to frequent it.The few women who plied the world’s oldest profession here were notchurch sanctioned.

His condition aside, it’shard to believe Mordecai would be attacking prostitutes in thispart of town, she consideredsilently. There are better places in townto find willing women, or whores—or prey, if that’s what we are tohim now.

The door in front of her wasunpainted, grey and weathered by sun and rain. It was typical ofthe houses in the area. She knocked softly on it and waitedpatiently until one of the occupants came to the answerit.

“Who’s there?” a small voice askedthrough the old wood.

Elise had anticipated this situation.She knew that the woman she was looking for would be highlysuspicious of anyone unexpected. Strangers didn’t knock on doors inthis part of town unless they were trying to collect money. It wasone of the reasons she had dressed as plainly aspossible.

“I’m looking for a Mister Cobb. I wastold he lived close to here, but I’m not familiar with the area,”she answered, giving the name of the neighbor whom she had justspoken with while looking for Myrtle’s house.

There was a brief pause before thechild’s voice responded, “He doesn’t live here. He’s nextdoor.”

“Oh thank you!” Elise said gratefully.“I do appreciate your help. Do you think you could point it out tome? I’d rather not have to knock on any more strangers’doors.”

Megan hesitated, but the woman outsideseemed harmless enough, at least by her voice. After a moment, sheopened the door enough to point at the house on the right hand oftheirs. “He lives over there,” she said cautiously. “He isn’t introuble is he? He’s a nice man.” In fact, he frequently allowedMegan to use his hearth to heat water for herself and her mother,since they couldn’t afford wood.

“What? Oh no! Hardly that, dear, Icame to bring him some food and medicine. One of his friends askedme to come round. He’s taken sick, and of course no one can affordwhat the physicians charge,” Elise lied easily. “I’m a midwife, butI also collect herbs, and these days I tend more to the sick than Ido young mothers.”

“Oh,” said the young girl with a lookof consternation. Thoughts were tumbling about in her mind, but itwas unclear whether her unspoken thoughts or her caution wouldchoose her next words.

Elise didn’t wait to find out. “Thankyou for your help, Miss. Can I offer you some bread? I have morethan Mr. Cobb needs, and it was kind of you to help me.” She pulledat the cloth covering her basket to reveal a large roundloaf.

That simple act overcame Megan’ssuspicion. “We could sure use it, ma’am. Momma’s been very sicklately, and we haven’t had much.” She left unspoken the hope thatperhaps the kindly woman might be able to do more.

Lady Thornbear’s brow creased in anexpression of worry, “Would you like me to take a look at her?Perhaps I could help.”

“We don’t have anything to pay you,”answered Megan, but her eyes were hopeful.

Elise studied the small girl for asecond. “I won’t ask you to, but perhaps someday if I need help youcould return the favor.”

“That seems fair,” answered Meganseriously. She stepped back to let the older woman into the homeshe shared with her mother.

The interior of the small house wasdimly lit, but after she had examined, it Elise decided that toomuch illumination might only make the dismal nature of their homemore apparent. A woman, Myrtle presumably, lay upon a small bedalong one wall. There were few furnishings and the small ricketytable and cold hearth did little to relieve theemptiness.

Megan’s mother seemed tobe fast asleep, but when Elise checked her forehead she found it tobe far too warm. Laying her head against the woman’s chest, shelistened to her heartbeat. She didn’t like what she heard.She’s fevered, and her heart is beating tooquickly.

“How long has she been likethis?”

“Several days…”

Elise frowned, “Has she been able toeat or drink much?”

“I’ve given her water, but she doesn’tdrink much. We ran out of bread yesterday, and Nikko took ourmoney,” answered the girl.

“Nikko?”

“Momma pays him to keep the watch frombothering us,” replied the girl.

I sincerely doubt he hasanything to do with the watch, thoughtElise, but she merely nodded in response. “Can you fetch some hotwater for me? I see you have a kettle there.”

After a short time the girl returnedwith a steaming kettle. Opening her bag, Elise removed a smallsachet and set it into the water to steep. “This should help herfever, and if she drinks enough it will steady her heart as well,”she told the girl. “Your mother needs more fluid inside her. Comehere. Listen to her chest,” she added, motioning for Megan tolisten to her