The road is muddy, a sloppy, sinking, thick mud in some places. They walk along the side in the grass where they can but in some places it cannot be helped. Vadim’s boots are covered in mud and Coral’s dress would be as well if she hadn’t been smart about it and tied it up. Their pace is as quick as can be expected in the condition-both of them eager to return home. That night will always be burned into Vadim’s memories, as well as Coral’s, but she is in a rush to discuss the discovery with the doctor and Vadim is hopeful to see what this new day will bring for them, though part of him dreads it as well.
As they round the bend that would lead them to the stables on the edge of town, Vadim takes her hand, pulling her to the side of the road. Coral comes willingly, a smile on her face as he draws her close, leaning back against a tree. Looking into her eyes he leans down to press his lips to hers, savoring the way she melts into him. When she breaks the kiss, the words slip from his mouth before he realizes it, “Coral, I love you.”
Though there should have been a positive response to his words, the adoration in her eyes fades into a deep worry, almost a fear but when she presses her lips back against him once more, his worries are washed away.
Vadim leads her down a less traveled trail, more grass than dirt, that runs parallel though the woods next to the town. As it opens up, the bustling noise of people at work roll over them, the ramp to the castle before them. Coral unties her dress, holding it up as they walk across the muddy street and up the stone ramp. Once through the large wooden doors she takes the basket from him.
He smiles gently at her, his hand reaching up to brush her cheek; with a small smile she turns to head towards the lower level. As Vadim walks up the ramp, the sounds of soft hooves hitting the carpet echo down the corridor. Coral stops, glancing back up to see Quell standing at the top of the ramp, looking down at his Vadim. Her heart immediately sinks and she feels, for the first time, regret for her actions.
“You are too late for supper, brother,” Quell says jokingly, though his voice is as flat as ice.
“We were forced to take refuge in Severton, Quell,” Vadim replies, stopping in front of his brother, “Lady Coral went directly to the surgery to unpack her herbs.”
Quell draws in a deep breath; his face doesn’t change, but Coral can sense the despair in his stance, the way his voice cracks slightly when he replies, “I see.” When he turns to leave, he sees her standing at the base of the ramp.
She wants to run to him, but he drops his head, turns and leaves. It rips her heart out. Feeling like she can’t breathe, she forces herself forward, down the ramp to the dark hallway and through the wooden doors into the surgery.
The doctor is standing at a tall table sorting through stacks of papers; he has almost the entire room picked up and has even rediscovered a human sized desk and chair for his new counterpart. Coral does her best to not let her feelings show, placing the basket and her bag on the table, unpacking the herbs for the doctor.
“You were gone quite a long time, Lady Coral, were you able to find the spearmint?” He asks, hanging up the bundles of herbs to dry.
She pulls some spearmint from the basket, unwrapping the wet cloth around the base, “Aye, I did, but all the way past Severton. If you have some water we can get it to root, then we can cultivate it around here and won’t have to go on a quest for more. I also found some peppermint-I think you’ll be intrigued by that as well.”
The doctor smells the peppermint, putting the sprigs into a cup of water, “Were you… able to try the elixir?”
Knowing there is no point in trying to hide it from the doctor, she comes right out with it, “Yes. I added the spearmint last night and… well, Prince Vadim made me tell him what the elixir was for. After discovering that I was going to try it alone, he insisted on… assisting.” She can feel her cheeks burn red. She idly picks at some flowers on the table.
“Did it work as the book said?” Pelium asks curiously, not wanting to press for details but too excited to contain himself.
She exhales, looking up at the doctor, “Ah… yes. Thankfully, my maidenhood is still intact, though I’m not sure how either of us managed restraint. The original mixture elicits an almost savage need to mate, and from the way it felt it is possible that there would be little discerning thought as to whom that mate would be; I believe your fears were correct, in the wrong hands it could be catastrophic.”
The excitement fades from his face, his fears confirmed, “Oh dear. That is… dangerous.” He hangs a few more bundles, before turning, “Did you say, original mixture? You altered it?”
Coral pulls the vial from her bag and hands it to the doctor; he opens it, drawing in a deep breath, his face confounded, “Oh, that is, well, very pleasant. Kind of mysterious as well.
“I added some peppermint to increase cooling aspect, as it felt almost burning hot the first time and lavender in hopes that it would cut through the severeness of the desire, to add some clarity. It worked better with the additions, though I have thoughts to further refine it, but… well those will have to wait until…” she lets her voice trail off.
“I am most intrigued to hear how well this works with a centaur male,” he says idly, glancing to Coral, “not that I mean… perhaps we can get someone to try it for us?”
She thinks on it, “I will ask my handmaid, she is mated to a centaur.”
“That sounds like a splendid idea! Perhaps you can chat with her after lunch? I will be gone this afternoon, it is my son’s birth day celebration so my wife wants me to assist her with preparing our home. You are welcome to attend, if you wish?” He smiles warmly.
She returns the smile, “Thank you, doctor, but I must head to town to see the baker. I gathered some extra spearmint for her as a surprise.”
Coral welcomes the distraction of emptying her medicine case and combining her herbs with the cabinet full of them. Not needing the vast quantity carried around anymore, she divides the medicines choosing to keep smaller vials of each in the case, which allows her to also add some from the cabinet that she was missing, as well as several other tools and bandages so that it is prepared should she need to take it elsewhere. For some of the herbs that the doctor isn’t familiar with, she takes care to explain it to him, offering the suggested uses and some unconventional ones as well. When she reaches the bottom, she finds a small box that Piers had thrown in there; it contains seeds for almost all of the plants she brought with her. Pelium actually laughs with glee at the idea of cultivating the herbs in the castle, explaining to her that there is a room made of glass in the upper east wing of the castle, in which doctors of the past used to do the same thing. It is mostly over grown now, with a few haphazard flowers thrown in for good measure. They decide the best time to accomplish this would be the following spring, as the Atonement happened at the beginning of fall it would soon be winter which would make starting the plants even harder.
He pulls the herb book down from the shelf, “I think it would be most beneficial for you to go through this. I’ve penned in the common names for the plants I know, but I’m afraid that there are many I do not. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some that we use today that are not in the book, perhaps you could add them?”
Taking the book and clutching it to her chest, she says, “It would be an honor. I will do my best.”
He smiles, slipping his jacket back on, “I really do enjoy working alongside you, Lady Coral. I shall see you tomorrow.”
Coral, with her almost empty bag, the book and a quill, follows him out of the surgery. She discovers that Reid is waiting for her. The doctor nods at the centaur, continuing onward. She looks up at his familiar face, wondering if he is there to fetch her, “Is something the matter, Reid?”
“Nay,” he says, walking slowly next to her, “I’m on escort duty today.”
“Oh, I see,” Coral says, tucking the book and quill into her bag, the cloth wrapped bundle of spearmint cradled in her hands. When they walk up the ramp near the entrance, Vadim heads towards them almost as if he was waiting.
“Good day, Lady Coral, do you have plans for lunch?” His easy smile rests on his luscious lips, eyes almost twinkling with the secret of their shared night together.
“I actually am headed back into town for a bit,” she says. Hesitantly, she adds, “I saw Quell with you earlier. He seemed… upset.”
Vadim glances at Reid; the centaur takes a hint and walks several steps away to give them some privacy. “He knows. About what transpired between us,” he speaks quietly. “He could… smell you. On me.”
Coral’s heart sinks. She feels herself stuck, needing to make an impossible decision.
“Shall I escort you to town?” Vadim’s voice asks gently.
She looks up at him, seeing the hope in his eyes, “No, thank you Prince. I need… I need some time to think.
“Very well, my lady,” he says, boldly leaning forward to kiss her softly on the cheek. Giving her one last, lingering look, he turns and heads up the ramp.