Chapter 8 : The Medical Man

Tom entered first, followed by Leo. Almost at once, a great fragrance caught them in surprise. The scent is very calming and makes everybody who inhaled it feel great peace inside his mind. For a while, the thought of war and revenge leave their minds for a while. This goes on for several second until a sound suddenly break the silence.

“Who are you? Why are you here?”

Tom and Leo are awaken from their trance. The man in front of him is a middle aged man. His hair is black, but at here and there are some patch of white hair. He wears a red robe, so Tom guessed he must also be one of the healers. “Sorry. I thought…, anyway I am Tom Burfoot and this guy beside me is Leo Baldric. We are here to look for aid for our wound. Are you the healer here?” Tom asked.

“Yes, I am. Lorenze Hazrael is my name. Now…”

“You are a Hazrael? Do you mean to say you are Hagol Hazrael kin?” Leo interrupted suddenly.

“As a matter of fact, yes. Although we are not very close, but he helped me once in search of some rare herb. Why?”

“Then did you see Hagol recently? I mean…this past three or four day?” Tom asked.

“No, what happened to him?” Lorenze asked back.

So Tom told him the story of Hagol, just as he has told Frivlus the story.

“It can’t be…, how can it be? But…of course he isn’t dead yet. Hagol that I knew won’t die so easily. He is very strong.” Lorenze said.

“That’s what we think too. But we haven’t seen him and feel rather worried.” Tom said.

“Don’t you worry. I knew he is still alive. But, now back to business. Let me see your wound.”

Lorenze examined Tom wound closely. “Hmm, some bruise and minor cut.” He pressed his finger onto several area of Tom body. “Does it hurt?”

“Not really” Tom said.

“That’s mean you are pretty all right. Just need to brush your wound with some wine and let your body do the work.” Lorenze rummage around the table. “Here is the wine. Wash your wound with it yourself. Now, it’s your turn Leo.”

He turned his attention to Leo and begins to unwrap the bandage. “My…my, your wound sure is deadlier. How could you survive? That wound could have killed a normal person!”

“Fortunately I am an extraordinary person. So, how will you cure this?” Leo said.

“I need to mix some herb to cover your wound. Bentane extract, alcool extract, and crushed kapuk leaf. Alas! I am out of kapuk leaves. That leaf is on high demand now because it can stop bleeding.”

“What does it looks like? The leaf, I mean.” Tom said.

“It is just like any other ordinary leaf, but when you crushed it, it became white in color.”

“Is this it?” Tom said, taking out some leaf that he has found in the farmhouse.

“By Crossus! You have found it! Here, let me have it. I will begin working at once.”

Tom handed the leaves to Lorenze, and Lorenze begin to crush the leaves in his hand. He then brewed some water in a small cauldron. He then put in the crushed leaves, and pours in two other liquid into the warm water. After that, he stirred the content. “You will have to wait for a while.” Lorenze said.

“That’s all right.” Leo said.

“Do you know what book is this?” Tom said, handing over a book that he has found in the farmhouse too.

Lorenze examined the book cover and flip some of the pages. “This is the book named “Herb as Medicine” one of the earliest available book about herbs, this kind of book is believed to be aged about seven hundred years already. I have a copy of this book once, but I have long lost it. It contains more than three hundred kind of herbs information. ”

“Then you may have that book. I am sure it will be much more useful for you.” Tom said.

“Really? I can have the book?” Lorenze asked.

“Yes. Actually that book is not mine too. The owner of this book has been killed by those Scrown soldiers.” Tom said.

“Oh…, is it ok then?”

“Well, I guess so. Anyway, what is this great smell that seems to revitalize us?” Tom asked.

“This is the smell of Yenerence, commonly referred as miles fragrance, because of its main characteristic to generate great fragrance that can revitalize body and mind when boiled.” Lorenze said.

“You sure know a lot, how do you do that?” Leo asked.

“Well, you think too highly of me. I am just an apprentice of books. Those who write the books, they are the real master of knowledge.” Lorenze said.

“You sure are pretty humble. Are you always eager for knowledge?” Tom asked..

“As a matter of fact, yes indeed. And the books are my best teacher. You can learn a lot from books. Yet once there are still many great sages who have all the great knowledge. That is indeed a golden era for those who is always desperate for new knowledge. At that time, often the great sages will sit down to discuss great matters. From that kind of discussions, books are created to record down their finding, including the one that you have just given to me. It is so sad that such an era had long passed.”

“How did such a great era is lost?” Tom asked.

“Because of war, just like this war we are facing. But it is rather an irony that it is knowledge too who has evolved war to a new level, and brings destruction to the advancement. The discovery of iron has brought many benefits to this world, but it also caused weapon to become much more dangerous than what it used to be. War sure is different when we still fight with stone and wood.” Lorenze said.

“The great era that you are talking, when is that? If it is indeed so great, why haven’t I heard a story about that? And do you mean to say that once there are wars fought with stone and wood? Sounds very strange to me.” Tom said.

“It may sounds pretty strange to you, but if you can go back in time and tell the people about sword made from iron, those people will think like you. At that time, there was no sword, or any other item made from iron. Everything is made from stone, wood and hay. There are even times when we still live in the cave and use only hand as the primary tool. I can tell you the story, but it will take days, and the herb is now ready.” Lorenze said, and move to the cauldron to scope up the herbs.

He now applied the herbs, which look like mud, only this one has more reddish color, onto Leo wounded area. After he applied it, he wrapped it with white clean bandage. “There, it is done. I guess you should go out and meet Captain Glock now. He…”

“I have one more question.” Tom interrupted. “This medical tent, is it the product of the golden era too?”

“No, it is Lord Locksley who has invented this system. He did it in order to increase the soldiers’ possibility to live on after he was wounded. Why?”

“Well, I am just curious because this system is pretty simple yet very useful.”

“Yes, indeed Lord Locksley is one of greatest lord in the region. He is brave, intelligent and kind to his subjects. Thales becomes more prosperous and stronger under his rule. Now, I think you should move along. Captain Glock should be waiting outside the tent by now.”

So Leo and Tom walked out of tent. But in his way, he thinks on his own city. The last sentence of Lorenze makes he compare Thales to Levogard. If Levogard had been ruled by one capable lord, just like Thales, will it still stand proud until now? Is having a lord that leads a city is really so important? And how are their elders doing? Did they survive the attack? These questions keep pondering him, that he do not see where he is heading and bumped into Frivlus.

“Ouch! Oh, I am sorry; I did not see where I was going because I am thinking of Levogard.” Tom explained.

“It’s ok, are you all right now?” Frivlus asked.

“Yes, we feel better already.” Leo and Tom said.

“Ok, then let’s move on. Lord Locksley is waiting. Follow me.” Frivlus said.

So they move on.