Was my behaviour towards Walma inappropriate? When I saw her, I ought to have apologised for the way I had acted. I dried myself thoroughly with a towel and put on the clean clothes that had been given to me.

  I was left alone in the room. As I did not know which room Arwa was in, I had to look for her myself. Although it was a country cottage, the house was large; however, being built of adobe, it was in need of repair. In winter, an adobe cottage could cause a great many problems.

  As I walked along the corridor, I entered the room from which warmth was emanating, assuming it must be the sick girl’s chamber. At last, I found Arwa. The room was tidy, with very little furniture.

  My eyes searched for Walma, yet she was not there. Arwa, Ruseppa—Walma’s stepmother—and the little girl, who was clearly ill, were in the room. The child lay in bed.

  “Alek, are you all right, my child? Are you feeling well?” Arwa asked, sitting on the stool beside the little girl.

  “Thank you, Arwa, I feel perfectly well,” I replied.

  Ruseppa, who stood anxiously beside the child, cast me a pointed look. It was clear she was not pleased with me.

  “The clothes you’re wearing belong to my husband. Don’t imagine they’re yours. I’ve lent them to you out of goodwill. When you’re finished with them, give them to Walma. By the way, where is Walma? The sister of our sick princess is nowhere to be seen. That girl’s head is in the clouds. She’ll be the death of me,” the woman grumbled.

  “I don’t know where Walma is. And madam, thank you for lending me your husband’s clothes. I shall never forget your generosity,” I said. The woman looked momentarily startled, then pursed her lips.

  “Those who know my generosity know it well—I’m sure you won’t forget it,” she replied.

  Arwa looked at the woman as though she could scarcely believe what she was hearing and gave a distinctly forced cough.

  “I’m glad you’re well, my child. Come, let us examine the sick girl’s condition,” said Arwa. I went over to her; she was feeling the girl’s temperature with her hands. The little girl slept innocently—or at least, I hoped she did.

  “My child, as you can see, the girl’s condition is very serious; her fever is extremely high. I’ve placed a damp cloth on her hands, wrists, and forehead to bring it down. Now we must prepare a special remedy to reduce her fever. Do you know which herbs we should use?” Arwa asked, gesturing to the basket beside her stool.

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  “I know which herbs may be beneficial. With your permission, may I take out the basket and prepare the remedy?” I said. Upon hearing this, the woman frowned at me.

  “Mother Arwa, I called you to heal my only daughter—not your apprentice who cannot even walk properly. How am I to trust my daughter’s life to a potion prepared by him?” she said in a disparaging tone, glancing at the bed where her daughter lay.

  Paying little heed to her words, I began rummaging through the basket of medicinal ingredients.

  “Ruseppa, my apprentice may not have made a good impression on you, but I have complete faith in his knowledge. If necessary, I shall assist him in preparing the remedy and ensure there are no mistakes,” Arwa said.

  Though the woman was far from satisfied, there was little she could do. In truth, she was fortunate to have found a healer willing to tend to her child. In these times, people did not live long due to the lack of proper medical care.

  From the basket I took thyme, turmeric, and dried Jida leaves. Arwa’s expression turned approving when she saw the ingredients I had chosen.

  “Well done, my boy—you’ve done exactly as I taught you,” she said.

  While showing the ingredients to Arwa, and with Siri’s assistance, I identified an effective component when combined with what I had selected: rosehip, a plant resembling the seed of a red wild rose and rich in vitamin C.

  “What do you intend to do with rosehip, my child? Surely you are not thinking what I think you are?” Arwa asked.

  “Yes, Arwa. I intend to add it to the remedy—indeed, to use it as the principal ingredient. I am certain it will be highly effective in reducing the fever,” I replied.

  “My child, though I do not understand why you are so certain, you must obtain the mother’s consent before we attempt this. Even if the ingredients you have shown are not poisonous individually, we do not know whether they may become harmful when combined,” Arwa said, resting her hand on her chin.

  With the knowledge from my former world and Siri’s guidance, I had tested combinations of these plants one by one. Rosehip dissolved easily in water.

  Through my experiments, I had discovered that it was rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C was also effective in lowering fever. I had no idea how to explain this to Arwa; even if I did, she would not understand.

  “I assure you, I cannot allow my daughter to take unknown concoctions. If anything were to happen to her, my husband would beat me to death,” the woman said. Each time she mentioned her husband, she seemed visibly uneasy.

  “Ruseppa, Alek has never disappointed me. I trust him completely. I believe his new remedy will prove effective. Before the gods—especially the god Tarhun-Tata—I give you my word that we shall not allow harm to come to your daughter,” Arwa said.

  Ruseppa tried to disregard Arwa’s words, yet she could not afford to lose her daughter before her very eyes. It made me realise how difficult it was to make decisions when one was desperate.

  The woman said no more; she merely nodded in reluctant consent.

  Unable to hold back her tears, she collapsed beside her daughter’s bed, clutching it.

  “O mighty gods, hear my voice—do not deprive me of my first daughter, Essa. My almighty gods, who banish all afflictions! Heal my child—you who grant healing, you who are all-powerful. There is no healer but you,” she cried, burying her head in the bed and weeping silently.

  “Alek, now that you have her consent, you must begin preparing the remedy at once. Do not worry—I shall assist you wherever you need it,” Arwa said with a sigh.