Read Online Dark and Bright by Anna Markland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anna Markland
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Rhydderch wrapped him in more blankets.
***
The rescue had taken most of the day and it was twilight when the party rode slowly into the village of Llanfarran, a few miles from the gorge. Rhun had sent a rider ahead to warn of their need for a bonesetter. Curious villagers came out to greet them and recognized Rhun and Rhydderch immediately. The men-at-arms had taken turns bearing the still sleeping Baudoin on their shoulders. Rhys had ridden behind Rhun. They were tied together again and Rhun kept his hands firmly set over his brother’s. Rhydderch had ridden alongside, holding Rhys on the horse. Fortunately, the potion had knocked Rhys out.
He was taken down and carried to the bonesetter’s cottage. To the surprise of Rhun and Rhydderch, the healer was a young woman. Each could tell the other was wondering what such a beautiful silver-haired maiden with rosy cheeks, ice blue eyes and a slender figure was doing hidden away in this remote village. She wore an unusual gown, light and flimsy, yet opaque, with sleeves which came only to the elbows.
“Lay him here,” she indicated the raised pallet in the centre of the small cottage. Her voice washed over the twins like a warm summer breeze, and they complied eagerly, laying the still slumbering Rhys down carefully. Rhun became aroused at the glimpse of bare female arms as he watched the bonesetter examine Rhys. He looked over at Rhydderch. He had the same problem! They quickly looked away from each other. Rhun explained to the young woman what had happened, and what was in the potion he’d given Rhys.
“You’re Rhun and Rhydderch ap Rhodri, aren’t you?” she asked. “Your mother was Rhonwen, the great healer, and your sister is the Prioress? I see where you learned your skills. You’ve done well for your brother. I am Glain verch Llewelyn ap Aldwyn. I too have a skill to set bones that are broken.”
Rhun thought Glain was the embodiment of her name—a jewel.
“It will be an honour to help your brother. Carry in the other man and place him by the hearth. You have suffered much this day. Go to the cottage next door. They’ll take care of you.”
Rhun pointed to the still figure by the hearth. “We want to stay with our brothers until we’re sure they’re going to be well. We’re very worried about Baudoin.”
He suspected the Norman name would surprise her. “He’s your brother also?” she asked.
“He’s married to our sister. He’s the Earl of Ellesmere,” Rhydderch replied.
Glain’s eyes betrayed a momentary surprise, but she recovered quickly and turned her attention to setting the broken leg with great skill. Rhys stirred as she worked. She spooned a small amount of a potion between his lips. Rhun asked what it contained.
“Just a pinch of mandragora to help him sleep again and to dull the pain.”
She sealed the broken skin with egg whites and covered it with a clean cloth, then mixed up a chalky white powder with water, dipped strips of cloth in it and bound the mangled leg.
“Help me raise him up and I’ll rebind his ribs,” she commanded softly. “He’s a strong man to have survived this, but I see your family abounds in strong men. After all you’re the sons of Rhodri ap Owain.”
The twins experienced a simultaneous erection and, coughing nervously, shifted their weight and position to conceal their renewed arousal.
Glain smeared a poultice on the broken ribs.
“What’s it composed of?” Rhun asked.
“It’s a mixture of radish, bishopwort, garlic, wormwood, helenium, cropleek and hollowleek.”
“How do you prepare it? Mother used to boil them,” Rhydderch added.
Glain nodded. “I pound them up and boil them with celandine and red nettle. All must then be put in a brass pot until it turns dark red, as you see. Then it’s good for aching bones. It will help him heal.”
She smiled broadly. “It’s good to see men interested in matters of healing.”
Rhun’s heart raced. Rhydderch scowled at him.
She
***
The rescue had taken most of the day and it was twilight when the party rode slowly into the village of Llanfarran, a few miles from the gorge. Rhun had sent a rider ahead to warn of their need for a bonesetter. Curious villagers came out to greet them and recognized Rhun and Rhydderch immediately. The men-at-arms had taken turns bearing the still sleeping Baudoin on their shoulders. Rhys had ridden behind Rhun. They were tied together again and Rhun kept his hands firmly set over his brother’s. Rhydderch had ridden alongside, holding Rhys on the horse. Fortunately, the potion had knocked Rhys out.
He was taken down and carried to the bonesetter’s cottage. To the surprise of Rhun and Rhydderch, the healer was a young woman. Each could tell the other was wondering what such a beautiful silver-haired maiden with rosy cheeks, ice blue eyes and a slender figure was doing hidden away in this remote village. She wore an unusual gown, light and flimsy, yet opaque, with sleeves which came only to the elbows.
“Lay him here,” she indicated the raised pallet in the centre of the small cottage. Her voice washed over the twins like a warm summer breeze, and they complied eagerly, laying the still slumbering Rhys down carefully. Rhun became aroused at the glimpse of bare female arms as he watched the bonesetter examine Rhys. He looked over at Rhydderch. He had the same problem! They quickly looked away from each other. Rhun explained to the young woman what had happened, and what was in the potion he’d given Rhys.
“You’re Rhun and Rhydderch ap Rhodri, aren’t you?” she asked. “Your mother was Rhonwen, the great healer, and your sister is the Prioress? I see where you learned your skills. You’ve done well for your brother. I am Glain verch Llewelyn ap Aldwyn. I too have a skill to set bones that are broken.”
Rhun thought Glain was the embodiment of her name—a jewel.
“It will be an honour to help your brother. Carry in the other man and place him by the hearth. You have suffered much this day. Go to the cottage next door. They’ll take care of you.”
Rhun pointed to the still figure by the hearth. “We want to stay with our brothers until we’re sure they’re going to be well. We’re very worried about Baudoin.”
He suspected the Norman name would surprise her. “He’s your brother also?” she asked.
“He’s married to our sister. He’s the Earl of Ellesmere,” Rhydderch replied.
Glain’s eyes betrayed a momentary surprise, but she recovered quickly and turned her attention to setting the broken leg with great skill. Rhys stirred as she worked. She spooned a small amount of a potion between his lips. Rhun asked what it contained.
“Just a pinch of mandragora to help him sleep again and to dull the pain.”
She sealed the broken skin with egg whites and covered it with a clean cloth, then mixed up a chalky white powder with water, dipped strips of cloth in it and bound the mangled leg.
“Help me raise him up and I’ll rebind his ribs,” she commanded softly. “He’s a strong man to have survived this, but I see your family abounds in strong men. After all you’re the sons of Rhodri ap Owain.”
The twins experienced a simultaneous erection and, coughing nervously, shifted their weight and position to conceal their renewed arousal.
Glain smeared a poultice on the broken ribs.
“What’s it composed of?” Rhun asked.
“It’s a mixture of radish, bishopwort, garlic, wormwood, helenium, cropleek and hollowleek.”
“How do you prepare it? Mother used to boil them,” Rhydderch added.
Glain nodded. “I pound them up and boil them with celandine and red nettle. All must then be put in a brass pot until it turns dark red, as you see. Then it’s good for aching bones. It will help him heal.”
She smiled broadly. “It’s good to see men interested in matters of healing.”
Rhun’s heart raced. Rhydderch scowled at him.
She
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