Patryns consider beneath them. [There followed irrelevant material concerning the wizardess and her failed love affair.] Any illness or injury that strikes down a Patryn is seen to have broken the circle established between body and mind. In healing practices among the Patryns, the most important factor is to reestablish the circle. This may be done by the wounded or s sick person himself or it may be done by another Patryn. A
Sartan who understood the concept might possibly be able to perform the same function, but it is highly doubtful 1: if the Patryn would permit it and 2: if even a Sartan would be inclined to exhibit such mercy and compassion for an enemy who would a turn around and slaughter him without compunction.
The mensch wizardess had not had much use for either Patryns or Sartan. Alfred, on originally reading the text, was somewhat indignant at the woman’s tone, feeling sure his people were being unfairly maligned. Now, he wasn’t so certain.
Mercy and compassion … to an enemy who would show you none himself. He had read the words lightly, glibly, without thinking about them. Now he didn’t have time to think about the question, but it occurred to him that somewhere in that sentence was the answer.
The circle of Haplo’s being was broken, shattered. Poison, Alfred guessed, noting the black substance on the lips, the swollen tongue, the evidence around him that the man had suffered terrible sickness.
“I must mend the circle, then I can mend the man.”
Alfred took hold of Haplo’s rune-tattooed hands—the Patryn’s left hand held in the Sartan’s right, the Sartan’s right hand holding the Patryn’s left. The circle was formed. Alfred closed his eyes, shutting out every sound around him, banishing the knowledge that more guards were coming, that they were still in deadly peril. Softly, he began to sing the runes.
Warmth surged through him, blood pulsed strongly in his body, life welled up inside him. The runes carried the life from his heart and head to his left arm and his left hand and he sensed it passing through his hand to Haplo’s hand. The chill skin of the dying man grew warm to the touch. He heard, or thought he heard, the man’s breathing grow stronger.
Patryns have the ability to block Sartan spells, to obviate their power. Alfred was truly afraid, at first, that Haplo might do just that.
But he was either too weak to tear apart the weaving of the runes Alfred spun around him, or the urge to survive was too strong.
Haplo was growing better, but, suddenly, Alfred himself was gripped with pain. The poison entered his system, flowing from the Patryn to the Sartan, stabbing at his insides with knives of flame. Alfred gasped and moaned and doubled over, nausea twisting bowels and stomach, seeming likely to tear him apart.
An enemy who would turn around and slaughter him without compunction,
A horrifying suspicion came over Alfred. Haplo was killing him! The Patryn cared nothing about his own life, he would die and use this opportunity to take his enemy with him.
The suspicion vanished in an instant. Haplo’s hands, growing warmer and stronger, clasped the Sartan’s more tightly, giving what life and strength he had to give back to Alfred. The circle between the two was truly forged, truly complete.
And Alfred knew, with a feeling of overwhelming sadness, that Haplo would never forgive him.
“Stop! No! What are you doing?” Someone was yelling in panic.
Alfred came back to his surroundings, to their peril, with a jolt. Haplo sat upright and, although he was pale and shivering, he was breathing normally, his eyes were clear, their gaze fixed on Alfred with grim enmity.
Haplo broke the circle, jerking his hands from Alfred’s grip.
“Are … are you all right?” Alfred asked, peering at Haplo anxiously.
“Leave me alone!” Haplo snarled. He attempted to stand, fell back.
Alfred stretched forth a solicitous hand, Haplo shoved him away roughly.
“I said leave me alone!”
Gritting his teeth, he leaned against the stone bed and pulled himself up off the floor. He was about to attempt to stand, when he glanced out the cell, over Alfred’s shoulder. The Patryn’s eyes narrowed, his body tensed.