Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“No! Don’t touch it,” he commanded as he quickly ripped a piece of cloth from his training robe.
“But it’s just a flowe—”
“Could be, but I don’t want to take any chances.” He carefully used the cloth to grab it, then placed it in his pocket before taking Jun from her mother.
“Please help her!” the mother cried, knowing the king's son and her future king was her best hope.
“I will,” he solemnly promised with a nod.
“She needs a doctor,” Eira announced the obvious, and then was shocked when Ryu shook his head.
“No, she needs Itako,” was all she heard as he took off running at a sprint.
Both Eira and the mother tried their bests to keep up with Ryu but lost him early on, as they heavily panted, out of breath. That was when Eira asked, confused, “Do you know who Itako is?”
The sobbing mother managed to speak. “She is a seeress.”
She remembered the name now; it finally clicked in Eira’s head that was who Ryu had sought to keep her from having nightmares. The vial he gave her to keep her asleep and dreamless had come from Itako.
But why would Ryu go to her? Eira knew better than to dare to voice her frustrations and doubt out loud to the mother, but she couldn’t help her thoughts. And that’s going to save Jun how?
As she followed the mother to the small house, she didn’t know why, but she took the mother’s hand in hers. “Maybe it’s best if we wait out here.” Inside couldn’t be big enough for all of them, and it would be hard for Itako to think clearly with the child’s mother crying and staring over their shoulder. “I know Ryu will do anything he can to save her.”
Finally, the mother agreed with a whimpered sob.
Ryu entered the tiny home with a battle-ready Itako.
“Lay the child here.”
Doing as ordered, he lay the small limp body down on the table in a rush, screaming, “How did you know? You could have fucking stopped thi—”
“I can only see what I am allowed to see, Ryu. I knew a child would be hurt, but I didn’t know who or what did it,” she said steadfast, trying to calm him and get to business while not the least bit offended. “Now, quickly, tell me what you know.”
Instantly, Ryu calmed, knowing not only had he come to the right place, but that Itako hadn’t just done nothing to intervene and save Jun’s life. There was a healer on the island, a great one, but Ryu’s gut had been telling him to see Itako, letting him know he needed to seek a different kind of help.
Carefully pulling out the thing in his pocket, he delicately unwrapped it for Itako, revealing the flower, only to see it was changing. “That’s strange.”
“What?” she asked.
“It was bloodred before, and full of life,” Ryu explained the difference as best as he could. “Now, it’s black and quickly dying.”
Carefully, Itako took it in her hands and examined it. She began mumbling to herself, which seemed to be a fully one-sided conversation, as there was no one else there …
Right? he thought, looking around.
Leaving Itako to whatever the hell she was doing, Ryu went up to the little girl and picked up her tiny hand that was turning cold.
Did I make the right decision? he questioned himself for what seemed like over a million times in a single second.
“Itako, she’s dying,” he warned gravely with tears beginning to brim his eyes, trying to get her to hurry. Still, the old bat continued talking to herself.
Letting his head fall down over Jun’s body, he did the only thing he thought was left and began to pray, to anyone or anything that would listen. He hoped some of his ancestral magic in him could help though he knew full well that wasn’t how it worked, or his mother would still be alive. Nevertheless, he tried as he prayed over the girl’s body.
When he felt Itako’s presence move closer, he raised his head to shout at her but halted when he watched her pour a liquid into the lifeless mouth.
“What’s that?” he asked through harsh tears, but it only took a few moments for him to get his answer when Jun started to warm in his hands as she was brought back to life.
The girl was weak at first and could only be heard saying, “Mommy …”
Eira’s heart sang when she saw a relieved Ryu waving them inside. The mother, who was now joined by Jun’s father, ran inside, but Eira felt a bit nervous once she entered. Deciding to hold back, she stayed in the corner to watch.
She was grateful to see the sweet girl awake, and relief flooded her to her core. When she saw a teary-eyed Ryu, she felt for him. She only knew Jun for a few brief moments, but the child had entered Eira’s own heart. She couldn’t imagine how poor Jun’s mother felt.