Izulen watched nervously from the doorway of the infirmary as the healers cared for his mother. He felt horrible for not being right there with them, but he had quickly proved to be more of a distraction than a help to Esellyn.
"Izulen, Master Theinan wants to see you," the headwoman told him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She'll be alright for a few minutes. He said he wouldn't keep you long."
"But..." Izulen began to protest but couldn't think of a reason. He allowed himself to be pulled away from the doorway and gently turned in the direction of the Masterharper's study.
People in the hall moved to avoid him; Izulen didn't notice and didn't care. In the three sevendays since his mother had become ill, the journeyman, usually overflowing with energy and a hunger for life, had been transformed into a shadow. His hair was constantly messy and his bright eyes dulled like someone who had gone blind. He went through the motions of life, but he wasn't really alive.
The Masterharper had left his door open for Izulen and a chair near the door for the journeyman to collapse into. "No better, is she?" Theinan asked sympathetically.
Izulen raked his hair back from his eyes. "No better," he repeated sadly. "The healers..." he shrugged, struggling to keep his composure, "they say this might be it."
Theinan nodded. "They told me. But they also told me that it may be the climate here that is slowing down her recovery."
Izulen's face brightened for the first time in three sevendays. "So there's still hope?"
Theinan held up a hand. "Don't get too excited. All they're suggesting is that she might be able to recover in a warmer climate. There's a little hold on the southern continent that they reccomend, their healer is very talented. I've spoken with her and she will be glad to take on another patient."
"Would I be able to go with her?" Izulen asked hopefully.
"Of course," Theinan assured him. "It's just... you've heard of Relan Hold haven't you? The Holder doesn't much care for harpers. We haven't sent one there in turns. The last one came back half dead."
"Is Relan the only place you can send her?" Izulen asked, his hopes fading as quickly as they had come.
Theinan nodded sadly. "Yes. That is where the healer is. Many people with her disease have gone to Relan and made a full recovery. I told their Holder about you, he said that as long as you didn't harper while you were there, you are welcome to accompany her."
The thought of not being able to play or sing was tolerable, the thought of not following his mother was not. "Then I'm going with her," Izulen announced.
The Masterharper raised an eyebrow. "Izulen, are you sure you are making the right decision? It may takes months for her to recover. You will miss a lot of training in that time."
"I know," Izulen replied sadly, "but my mother comes before my craft."
His mother smacked him as hard as her condition permitted when he told her the same thing. "Stupid boy! Don't throw away your training to be with me!" Esellyn croaked.
Izulen smiled. No matter how sick his mother's body got, she was always there underneath to yell at him. "I'm not throwing away my training, mother. It won't be that long, I'll be able to catch up easily when we get back."
"Stupid boy," Esellyn spat and then dozed off.
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