Adles opened his eyes and blinked up at the unfamiliar ceiling. He started to sit up only to feel a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Easy. Let me help you up,” a man in brown robes said, supporting him and moving the pillows behind Adles. “You have been through a lot and are probably hungry, so I had them send up some soup.” The man lifted a wooden try and placed it on Adles’ lap.

“What ...,” Adles started only to be cut off by the man.

“Your friend is resting in the other room. Yes, he is alive. No, you cannot see him,” the man said in quick succession adjusting the tray table in front of Adles. He met Adles’ eyes and smiled. “I thought those would be your first questions. I will try to answer your questions, but you need to eat. Healing takes a lot out of you, and you need your strength. As I learned years ago the Goddesses healing can keep a soul on the path, but they have to walk it themselves.” Then with a wink he added, “And soup is usually better warm.”

Adles stomach grumbled loudly as he smelled the soup.

“See, you body knows it too,” he said sitting on the stool beside Adles’ bed. “First, I am Brother Francis. I am a healer, and came here with the highlanders, and new miners. I expected to help a bit around the camp, or maybe one of the highlanders. I did not expect to be handed two badly injured young men who decided to solve the issue on their own.”

He gave Adles a long look, causing Adles to make a point of turning his attention toward the soup.

Brother Francis made a noncommittal noise, but continued. “I was told you and the other lad were found in the mine behind a strange door made of rock. They heard you yell, and brought the two of you straight here.”

“You were leaning on one of the highlanders, refusing to be carried and demanding someone help you friend. Seeing he was unconscious I raced over to help him only to find there was nothing I could do for him. I told you he is fine. But, if my talking is distracting you, I can wait for you to finish,” he said and waited for Adles to continue eating.

“Despite all the blood, he does not have any injuries besides a few scratches. Like you I did not know that and tried to help. The second I touched him though,” he paused to look at his hands for a moment before clearing his throat and continuing. “The skills of my path disappeared. It was as if I was not a healer at all. I did to know what else to do, so I ordered a highlanders to strip him down, so I could get a better look at his injuries. While they were doing that, I went to you.”

“Despite being standing, you were in a sad state. As soon as I touched you and started healing you, you passed out. You have remained unconscious for the better part of a day. Once I had you stable I went to the other lad, but as I said I only found a few scratched on him. There are some strange discolorations on a few spots on his hands, but nothing to worry about.”

“He was not waking up, and I felt some poisons in you, so I gave him some medicine that should help. I have been keeping an eye on him, but mostly I have been letting him rest. He does not seem to be in any immediate danger, but I am worried that he is not waking up. I also do not know why my skills do not work on him. I am hoping that you may be able to help me, help him. Do you have any idea why my skills would not be working?”

The thought of Orn’s face covered in black gore near a broken spider filled his mind. If I tell him what I saw, would it help? Could he help Orn if... that happened? If I told Brother Francis, would he even agree to treat Orn? No, Orn could not actually of eaten them, could he? Would that cause the Brother’s healing to not work?

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“I can see you are as confused as I am. Why not start from the beginning? Tell me about your trip here, and we will work up to what happened in the caves.” the brother prompted gently.

Adles sat the spoon in the now empty bowl, and started to tell the healer about the trip. He told the other man about being attacked, and walking up in the cocoon. He explained how he found Orn, and left out any mention of Orn’s face or Adles’ fears. He stopped when he reached the point the highlanders found him.

“You had a good idea with the bag. If he carries a lot of powerful medicines on him, he may need them. I will see if they found the bag. I promise I will send someone if I learn anything, so focus on resting. That way I only have one person to worry about,” the healer patted Adles’ shoulder walked out of the room.

…

Adles did not remember falling asleep, but he awoke to the sound of a door opening. Brother Francis entered carrying another tray. Adles sat up adjusting the pillows behind him, before the healer could help him.

“I see you are feeling better, but please do not try to rush your recovery,” the brother said placing the try in front of Adles again.

“How is Orn?” Adles asked watching the healer’s face closely.

“I brought you some solid food since you seem to be recovering well,” Brother Francis said not reacting at all to Adles’ question. “Do you recall the rule from this morning?”

Adles stared at the man, until he pointed at the plate. Adles instantly understood and snatched up the carrot from the plate. He shoved most of it in mouth and took a large bite out of it.

“You do not have to use your hands. There are utensils on the tray,” the brother said with a sigh. “I checked in with the highlanders after we spoke. They had just returned from the mines and found the bag you mentioned.”

“You were right to not give try to use something from the bag. It is rare to see so many potent medicines out side of an alchemist’s shop. The wrong one would have killed him. I gave him the largest dose of goblin’s bane I felt I safely could. He responded well. He is still unconscious, but his color is improving. He looks like he is asleep rather than a breathing corpse. He has started to stir recently and I expect he will be awake soon.”

“Thank you,” Adles said feeling relief wash over him.

“There is nothing to thank me for. Healing is my path and my passion,” he smiled at Adles. “you are welcome all the same though. Now that I told you about my other patient, I need to see how you are doing.”

Brother Francis placed his hand on Adles head, and closed his eyes. Adles felt a tingling sensation of a moment and the brother opened his eyes.

“It looks like you are recovering well,” the healer smiled and tussled Adles’ hair. “A few more days and you will be completely back to normal. You Adles really are something else.”

Then he stood and headed for the door. “I see you are ready for guests, so I will send them in.”

Adles paused as Brother Francis reached the door. Guests? Wait, I never told him my name.

The healer left the door open as he stepped through, then turning to the left he announced, “he is well enough for visitors.”

Adles heart dropped into his stomach, as his mother and father walked in.