Healer Broiner first flayed open a vein on Kandral's arm and collected the blood in a special cup cleaned and sterilized especially for the procedure. Then he carefully mixed in the three ingredients stirring continually so the mixture melded into a smooth liquid.
Rolling Kandral onto his side, he poured the liquid into a syringe and connected the long pointed needle.
Using his fingers he counted down the nobbles of Kandral's spine to the seventh vertebra then measured a handbreadth to the right.
Angling the needle, he didn't hesitate but speared Kandral right into his heart and, pushing the plunger home, he delivered the mixture of drugs directly into Kandral's ventricle.
Rolling the Uzbad back onto his back, he rearranged the coverlet and stood back to assess his handiwork.
Taking his hand he carefully measured Kandral's pulse.
lub dub... dub... lub dub, lub dub, Lub Dub, Lub Dub, LUB DUB, LUB DUB, LUB DUB.
The healer smiled to himself. "Mahal be praised!" He mopped his brow and stepped back... Already Kandral's colour had returned and his breathing had steadied.
"Mistress Buhni... Mistress Buhni." he gently patted her cheek "Your husband has returned to us... Praise Mahal!"
Kandral opened his eyes... black patches blocked out a faint candle light.
"Thrandili... " Kandral whispered... "get ... Thrandili.... ", he continued as he closed his eyes again, utterly exhausted. Buhni rushed to his side, patting his hand. "She'll be here soon Kandral.. rest... rest now", she said.
===============
After a strong lunch, Hilfar slowly made his way to Frerin's court, picking his teeth as he descended the stairs. The market was buzzing with rumors. Hilfar mingled in the gossip "So it is true!?" Hilfar cursed. "Bah, I knew that girl would be trouble! Now the Uzbad is dead because of her". Some women started to counter argue that statement. Gossip turned into a heated discussion. Hilfar withdrew himself from it. "This is bad for business" Hilfar thought. “With no clear successor what will become of us and the DFTC? Surely not the Brokenspears. They’ve got blood on their hands!” Hilfar quickly made his way to Asfinnur.
==============
Thrandili carefully applied the ointment to her love's face as Byl bustled about making tea and putting cakes on a plate as any good host should do.
"Here now stop fussing with my lad and have some tea, little sister. He'll be fine, you know... Have a cake. I baked them fresh last Wednesday."
Thrandili thought her teeth would break as she politely tried to take a bite. Byl looked crestfallen as he realised the cakes were rock hard. "Wait sister, I have some biscuits in the cupboard." He ran to the kitchen scattered biscuits onto a plate and rushed back. Hospitality was a dwarf's duty after all.
Byli came out of his reverie. "So how come Thrandili is here, father? And what is all this claiming I heard as I woke up?"
"Tis the ceremony of zurlûmadr. Thrandili has claimed you as her husband using old lore not in common practice since I was a lad" Byl took down a great book from the shelf and flicked to the last page. "Here read that."
Byli took the book and he and Thrandili together read the paragraph.
“zurlûmadr ~ ‘claim of the womb’ ~
Any maid or widow can utter the words of zurlûmadr by proclaiming thrice to Mahal that the Dwarf is hers.
All those in earshot will reply with the words
"Mahal taklitizi nana’, Mahal tanradizi nana’, Mahal biratatahi aya ‘ala bass. Sagnigiya ni akhal ya khuzdzi."
("Mahal hears you sister, Mahal cares for you sister,
Mahal smiles on this bond. Go in peace with your Dwarf.")
None may forswear her choice unless the dwarf in question already has a wife or is betrothed.
The Dwarf in question can decline but is honour bound to offer protection to the lady until her circumstances are secure.”
Byli looked up at his love, a catch in his throat. "You claimed me? Oh Thrandili!"
Byl coughed and turned away and brought out his handkerchief as the two kissed. "Bah! dust in my eye." he mopped his eyes and composed himself.
"Now young lady... Claiming or not you have a sick father to go and visit, and for goodness sake say nothing of this until he is better. Any more shock might kill him! Be off with you lass!"
Thrandili rose suddenly remembering her poor father and Buhni. "Oh I must run!"
"Thrandi... Take this and read it when you have time."
Byli held out a small scroll, rather battered and smudged.
She stuffed it in her apron pocket and ran for the door, waving as she left.
For the third time that day folk tutted at the sight of the Uzbad's daughter running as if orcs were chasing her through the streets of Ulfhirth.
=============
Kandral slowly opened his eyes again. The room was still dim, but it did not take long before he could make out his wife Buhni, at the side of his bed to his left, the soft candlelight surrounding her. For a moment the Lord scanned the room moving only his eyes... the healer Broinur... his son Kandrin, nursing a bump on his head.... and there she sat, to his right, Thrandili... eyes puffy. Kandral moved his head, with some difficulty and tried to set himself upright, looking at his daughter thoughtfully. "Careful there Uzbad, don't strain yourself", said Broinur, somewhat concerned.
"Have a sip of this", said Buhni as she raised a mug of herb-tea to his lips. "Healer's orders", she commanded.
"Bwah!" Kandral uttered in disgust as he spit some of the tea out. "What are you trying to do? Poison me?!?"
Buhni quickly set the mug down next to the bed, got up, and in a casual fashion she let out a disappointed sigh: "oh yes... he's back alright". Kandral looked his wife in the eye, she understood. "Right! Everyone out... everyone but Thrandili!", Buhni added. Kandrin seemed like he wanted to object, but one stern look from his mother made him reconsider. A minute later Thrandili and Kandral were alone in the room.
Thrandili got up and sprang to Kandral's bedside, her face alive with relief. " 'Adad! Oh we were so worried!" She started to take his hand that lay so quietly on the coverlet, for once without a quill or a book in its grasp, then hesitated. She wasn't used to displays of affection with her adopted father, and anyway Kandral had never seemed to encourage it. However, after a moment's indecision, she laid her hand on his, and looked him in the eye. " 'Adad...I'm so sorry...I never thought..."
She dropped her gaze, again unsure how to proceed. "But now it's done, and I hope you can forgive us."
Kandral smiled lovingly at Thrandili, then looked at her hand in his. "It is so small, so soft, so precious", he thought. "She is mine to protect.. under my guard, for so I swore to Mahal", this thoughts continued.
"My mother... you never knew her... " Kandral started in a frail voice, "she told me this --never forget, as a father you need to not only defend a daughter, but take away her pain---. " Kandral spoke, then halted. "And I have forgotten it.. look at you, you have cried... I gave you pain... and for that I am sorry." Kandral spoke softly, and held her hand tight in his. Never had Kandral spoken so softly, so earnestly and open about his feelings as he did that moment. Tears were in his eyes. Whatever he had witnessed while he was asleep, it had left a mark.
"Now, let us discuss this matter of your boy... This Byli", Kandral continued, giving Thrandili a little smile and grin. "What did you mean when you said ‘it is done’, my shuthrathur?" (tiny cloud)
Thrandili stared at her father in utter disbelief. He'd never spoken to her in this manner, with such tenderness. Suddenly, she saw into his heart. It wasn't just made from duty and honour and traditions; it also held a depth of love she'd never suspected he could feel. She smiled at him through tears of joy.
Then he said "What did you mean when you said ‘it is done’, my shuthrathur?" and her smile faded as if it had never been. Byl's parting words came back to her in a rush: "For goodness sake say nothing of this until he is better. Any more shock might kill him!" She started to stammer some excuse, then stopped. He had to know, and she knew he wouldn't stop asking until he did. She looked up at the closed bedroom door and hoped the healer was still outside.
Leaning close, she said quietly, "I read about it in your book, the one you showed me about the power of maidens in the family, remember? You were telling me how maidens were not weak like Women in the Second Age." She paused, gathering courage, then her words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other like pebbles in a torrent. "No one would listen to us! And Kandrin hurt him! And Lord Byl was just there, so I claimed Byli, and Byl said the next bit about Mahal, and - and - now it's done." Her hand hurt, and she realized she was gripping Kandral's hand so tightly that all his fingers were turning blue. And he was gripping her hand hard also...
She held her breath and released his hand, watching his face, ready to shout for the healer in case her father had another attack.
