"I don't wonder. You'd better let me have a look at those leech-bites. It's not likely you've taken any harm, but it's best to be sure." He smiled. "I'm a sort of doctor, you see; the only sort there is here, anyway."
"I know. Bayub-Otal-Anda-Nokomis-told me."
"I'll get the girl to come in."
"What for, U-Nasada? I don't mind if you don't."
Suddenly she felt absurdly light-hearted. It was all so unexpected. With this man she could be her natural self. Not only was he not seeking anything from her; he would not, she felt sure, criticize or judge her-not even in his own mind-whatever she might say. In a word, she trusted him. She felt more at ease than at any time for days past- than at any time, indeed, since she had last been with
Occula. It was a reassuring feeling, a feeling of release; and being Maia, she acted on it with characteristic, impulsive gaiety.
"It's kind-it's very kind of you to have come," she went on. "Oh, this is so wet, I can't pull it off. D'you mind helping me?" She laughed. She couldn't help thinking it was funny that he should have supposed that she might want another girl to be present. It did not occur to her that perhaps he himself might have preferred it.
If so, he made no more of it, but helped her off with the damp, clinging dress and shift as smoothly as even Terebinthia could have done.
"You feel quite easy and natural with nothing on, do you?"
"Oh, that's what U-Lenkrit asked me on the river bank." She found herself pouring out to him the story of the Olmen crossing, for it still rankled.
"So that was all the thanks I got," she ended.
"Well," he said,
"Lost dignity, U-Nasada? That seems a funny old way of looking at it."
"Well, maybe," he answered, smiling at her in the most relaxed way as she sat naked before him. "Anyway, I'd better have a look at the bites. How many were there, do you know?"
"Well, three for certain-the ankle here, and the back of the knee, and this thigh. But might be one or two more for all I know."
"None between your legs-I mean, in the private parts? Only that can be serious, especially if it goes unnoticed: we'd better make sure. You don't mind that, either? My hands, I mean?"
Lying down on the bed, she answered, "I shan't bite, U-Nasada."
"Bite? Like the akrebah, you mean?"
"No; like the Sacred Queen's dog." And while he examined her she told him the story of Fornis's unhesitant handling of the guard-hound which could have bitten either of her hands through.
"Well," he said at length, "I'm as good as certain you've got nothing to worry about, though it might be as well to make sure tomorrow. My eyes are every bit as old as I am, you see, and though doctors often have to work by
lamplight, it's not ideal. You're not to go putting those wet clothes back on: you're to get into bed now, Maia of Serrelind. That was my other reason for coming-to make sure you get a good night's sleep. Will you take a sleeping-draft if I make one? It's not very strong."
"Yes, I'll do whatever you say, U-Nasada." She drew up the ragged coverlet and put a cushion under her head.
"Comfortable?"
"I never noticed this morning-I was that tired-but it's a deal more comfortable than I reckoned. What's in this mattress, then?"
"Dried sedge and rushes are what they mostly use here. A few feathers, perhaps. Better than straw, I've always found."
He pulled up his sleeve, disclosing round his forearm a broad leather strap with six or seven small pockets, each of which contained a stoppered, bronze phial. Seeing Maia stare, he unbuckled it and handed it to her.
"Never seen anything like that before?"
"No, I never." Maia was fascinated by the novelty of the contrivance and the neatness of its workmanship.
"I made it myself. It comes in useful."
"You ought to make some more. You could sell them in Bekla: get rich."
He laughed. "Perhaps I will one day. Tell me about Bekla. Is that where you learned not to be ashamed of showing people that you're beautiful?"
She told him how she had been enslaved; about Occula, Lalloc, Terebinthia and the High Counselor. She found herself longing to tell him the truth about Kembri and her flight from Bekla, and with a little encouragement might even have done so. He listened silently, however, sitting hunched on the three-legged stool and scarcely moving except now and then to trim the smoking lamp.
"And are you tired of all your adventures?" he asked at length. "You're young to have had so many."
"Oh, U-Nasada, it's the
"You're not in danger now."
"No: but I wish I knew what was going to happen."
"I think I can help you there: we'll talk tomorrow evening. It's too late now-time to sleep."
Searching, he found a clay cup, into which he poured
the contents of one of the phials, mixing it with water from the covered jar by the bed.
