Blazing Earth by Terri Brisbin Page A

of examining the fractures that were taking too long to heal, she slid her hands along the length of his lower leg first.
    Fortunately, he was lying back and not watching, for her hands began to shimmer. Leaning forward to cover the strange sight, Thea let nothing disturb her thoughts as she rubbed the tight skin over the broken places.
    â€œAh, where was that during the cold winter nights?” Rigby said, laughing. “That eases the ache well.”
    Thea nodded and reached out to her basket, pretending to dip her hand in some unguent now that Rigby’s attention had turned. “I am gladdened that it helps. A new recipe.”
    She continued for some time, until all the places she touched felt warm and supple beneath her hands. Though she’d set his bones, she’d been able to do nothing about his knee or his foot. Those two areas had taken the most time to warm, so she did not rush it or think too much about the reasons she was doing this. Thea finished by spreading some unguent that she had made to keep his skin soft and wrapped some bandages around it.
    â€œYou may sit up, Rigby, but only with help.” She felt his wife hovering behind them, waiting for word of his condition. “I think the healing is going well.” He let out a sigh that was matched by that of his wife. “I know it has been slow and you want to be back on your feet.”Thea pushed to her own feet and placed the jar in her basket. Rigby’s wife, Eldreda, walked to her side.
    â€œMy thanks for your help, Thea,” the older woman said. “He could have died from such injuries, but your care saw him through.” The woman patted her shoulder and nodded to her husband. “He will do as you say.”
    Thea almost laughed aloud at the words and tone spoken by Eldreda. Very few people would disregard Thea’s instructions if she could use a voice like what Eldreda used on her husband. From his expression, he’d been thinking of doing something Thea had warned him not to do.
    It was hard for a man who knew only work and physical labor every day of his life to lie back and be at ease. And every day that someone else ran his mill meant a day closer to be unneeded. A dangerous state to find oneself in when a person’s value was measured by how much the lord needed your work or service. Though she was not tied to the land as others were, Thea knew that her place here, especially as a widow, was based on Lord Geoffrey’s preference.
    â€œI pray you will walk soon, Rigby,” she said. “But that depends on you continuing to follow my instructions and not doing too much too quickly.”
    â€œOh, aye, Elethea,” Rigby said as she and Eldreda helped him to sit on the pallet. “I am a man who knows when to listen to a woman’s words.”
    Eldreda burst out laughing at his declaration and Thea could not help but stare at these two. Another example to her that all marriages were not the sameand that some men could abide by their wives having a say.
    â€œI must go to check on Linne,” she said as she gathered her cloak and her basket on her arm.
    â€œA miracle, eh?” Eldreda whispered as she walked with Thea to the door. “Hilde said she’d not seen a woman survive the bleeding that Linne suffered.”
    â€œA miracle to be sure,” Thea added, unwilling to say more.
    â€œHere now, for your help, Thea,” Eldreda said, handing her a loaf of bread and a sack of flour.
    â€œMy thanks.” She turned back to the older woman. “Try to keep him from standing until I come back,” she explained. “Or send for me if there is a problem.”
    â€œI will.”
    Thea walked off then, to Linne’s cottage, even while feeling that what had just happened with Rigby overwhelmed her. She needed time to think on it. To try to understand how she could be healing with her touch. That suspicion shocked her to her core.
    Herbs cured illness and