Captive Rose Read Online Free PDF Page B

in a pestle under her father's watchful eye: equal parts
of crushed plaintain seed, tamarind, and star
thistle. She knew well that when combined, these ingredients would do much to
arrest the crusader's fever. She carefully stiffed in small amounts of water
until the mixture formed a thin paste, then she poured her father's suggested
dosage into a cup of cool drinking water and added a spoonful of almond oil and
honey to mask the bitter taste.
    "I will hold his head, Leila. Administer only a
third of a drachm ," Sinjar cautioned her as she knelt by the cot.
    Leila's breath caught as she grasped the crusader's
chin and lifted the cup to his mouth.
    His skin was very warm and pliant beneath prickly dark
whiskers which chafed her fingers, and she could sense from the hard line of
his jaw that he was most likely a very stubborn man. As she gave him the proper
dose, some of the liquid dribbled from his mouth but most he involuntarily
swallowed. She wiped the corners with her head scarf, her fingers brushing his
lips, and shivered at their unexpected softness.
    "Good. That is enough for now," Sinjar said with satisfaction. "I will give him more
medicine throughout the night which should calm his fever. He has lost a lot of
blood. That is the most serious strike against him. By dawn, we should know if
he will live or die."
    Leila met her father's dark eyes, not surprised by his
blunt statement. She knew as well as he that the physician's art was imperfect
and fraught with many uncertainties. They had done all they could for their
patient. Only time would decide the final outcome, yet something told her this
man would survive. He was too strong not to.
    "Shall I stay with you, Father?"
    "No," Sinjar replied, shaking his head. "If he survives past this night, your
assistance will be needed in the days to come when I am called away on other
duties. I want you to go home and rest." He motioned to two of the Mameluke soldiers. "They will escort you, my daughter."
    Leila handed him the cup and rose to her feet, suddenly
very tired. She turned to go, but her father's hand upon her arm stopped her.
    "I am very proud of you," Sinjar said simply.
    "Thank you, Father."
    "Your apprenticeship will soon be over. When I see
such skill as you demonstrated tonight, I have no doubt you will be most worthy
of our profession. Jamal is blessed to have you for his betrothed, and it
pleases me that you accepted the marriage I arranged for you. Between us, the
practice of Al-Aziz will be very great indeed."
    Leila smiled despite her weariness. His praise never failed
to send her spirits soaring, as her goal of becoming a full-fledged physician
moved ever closer to reality. It was her most cherished dream.
    "I owe my humble worth to the greatness of my
teacher," she responded sincerely. "Good night, Father."
    With a last glance at the crusader, Leila lifted her
face veil and fastened it to her headband as she walked from the cell, her legs
feeling slightly wooden. Her efforts of the past hour had taxed her more than
usual, or perhaps she was tired simply because she had been up since dawn. She
was glad the walk home was not a long one.
    "This way, revered daughter of Al-Aziz," said
one of the soldiers, leading the way while the other man walked a few paces
behind her.
    Leila clutched her kufiyya around her shoulders and silently obliged him. She kept her eyes riveted on the
soldier's broad back as she followed him from the prison, not wanting to view
any more wretched prisoners. Truly, she had seen and heard her fill of misery
for one night.
    It was enough that she could not chase the haunting
image of the crusader's eyes, a blue as deep and vivid as the Mediterranean
Sea, from her mind.

     

     

 
    Chapter 2

     
    "What has happened?" Sinjar demanded, rushing toward the grim-faced captain of the prison guard with Leila
in tow. "Your message said to come in haste, nothing more. When I left my
patient only a few hours ago to seek some rest at my home, he