for some great excerpts. Mine is Meet a Healer from Incal
Blurb:
Return to the world where Midra and Midran rule. The god and goddess have two faces. Midra is Mistress of the Moon and also Mistress of the Dark Moon. Midran is Lord of lLght and Lord of shadows.
In Incal, the priests of Midran have formed three branches. The Voice of Midran in Incal rules over the mall. In the archived he has read of a tale predicting Three will come to return Midra to the rulership. He sends his acknowledged son to find the three and bring them to him.
Many years ago triplet girls were born in a remote mountain town. When they were five, their dying mother sent them to be fostered by three different women. Though they had wed to find each other, their developing talents caused them to forget until twenty ears later each one of them felt the need to find her sisters.
Would the Voice of Midran in Incal learn where they were?
In Incal, the priests of Midran have formed three branches. The Voice of Midran in Incal rules over the mall. In the archived he has read of a tale predicting Three will come to return Midra to the rulership. He sends his acknowledged son to find the three and bring them to him.
Many years ago triplet girls were born in a remote mountain town. When they were five, their dying mother sent them to be fostered by three different women. Though they had wed to find each other, their developing talents caused them to forget until twenty ears later each one of them felt the need to find her sisters.
Would the Voice of Midran in Incal learn where they were?
Excerpt:
Risa left her narrow cell in the midwives’ training center. She wore the green divided skirt and tunic favored by those of her calling. In her hand her midwife’s pouch dangled. Today she faced her final testing in the still room. When she completed the trial she would have finished her training and could seek a village to serve. Where would she go? South. The word appeared in her thoughts. How odd. She had no idea why there.
Her use of talents for healing not possessed by the other midwives and students kept her status unsettled. Skirting the edge of trouble had been her lot since the day her healing talents had gone beyond dispensing herbal teas and delivering babies. Midwives cared for women, girls and male children until they reached their fifth year. Several times she had treated boys who were older. Reprimands and threats had followed each incident. She closed her eyes. Once again she heard the Eldest’s angry voice.
“It matters not if he had the same fever as his sisters. You should have told the family to call an Herbalist. We are forbidden to treat males.”
She had only done with her talent had urged. How could she deny a cry for help? Recalling the pounding headache when she walked away from the urging to help brought tears to her eyes. Doing what she could for the ill brought relief.
Drawing a deep breath she entered the stillroom. “I’m here.”
The gray-haired woman shook her head. “Where else would you be? Are you ready to be tested? You passed yesterday’s tests with high grades.”
“I’m ready.” Risa tried to still her racing heart. If she passed today’s test she would be a midwife.
“Prepare the following. A birthing cup for a woman whose delivery is taking too long and has stalled. Next mix the herbs to stimulate the flow of a woman’s flow of milk. Also brew a tee to halt excessive bleeding. Finally mix the end of life elixir.”
Risa gulped a breath. Of the first three she felt confident she knew the herbs she must blend for each preparation. She had only prepared the last one once. She’d protested giving the woman the elixir. If she’d been permitted to cut into the woman’s abdomen she could have removed the growth. The technique was already used to remove a child from a womb. She’d done that three times and succeeded. Why not do the cutting when a life could be saved?
With care she prepared each of the blends. When she finished her hands shook. She looked at the floor. “They’re complete.”
The older woman nodded. “Time for dispensing. Bring the teas to the infirmary.”
Oh, excellent suspense, Janet! For whom is the end of life elixir intended?
ReplyDeleteInteresting excerpt. Leaves you wondering who the elixir is intended. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA terrible conflict for her - I suspect her calling, and not just her mixing skills, will be tested.
ReplyDeleteGreat read. Pulled me right into the story.
ReplyDelete