章節 5: To the Clinic
Bel watched a servant bring her horse around the castle. They stopped in front of her and handed her the reins.
"Sorry, Brian," she whispered and caressed his hair coat. "I know you wanted to get some rest."
The horse neighed and rubbed his nose on her chest. She giggled and rubbed the top of his head, where his mane started.
Brian was a white horse with a long mane. He was taller than she was and it took a while for her not to need help to mount him.
He was a gift from her father when she clocked sixteen. She has had him for basically most of his life and that was steadily approaching six years. His mother was a white mare who died less than three years after his birth.
He had four other siblings but none of them shined as brightly as he did. She loved him and she knew he felt the same way about her.
"Ready?" She asked as she placed her right foot in the stirrup and pulled herself upward, leaning against him for support, she swung her other leg over his back.
He took a step forward and back and she adjusted. It has been too many years for her to fall off. She could ride him asleep.
Holding the reins, she spun him to the left, leading him to the castle gates. Her guards were already getting on their horses ready to escort her to town.
Bel didn't wait for them. She gave the signal and Brian's trot soon turned to a gallop. He raced for the gates.
The guards frantically tried to raise the bars on time. They managed to raise it high enough for the horse to go through and Bel ducked.
"Woooo!" She yelled out as they got to the other side unscathed.
Brian neighed at her and she laughed as he went down the slope and towards the town.
Brian navigated the road easily and even without her to direct him, he would know where she was headed.
The villagers stopped to greet her severally and she could only wave as she sped past them. Soon enough she got to her destination.
It was a building in the corner of the town. It wasn't very big but it comfortably held several people and by the smoke coming out of the chimney, it was occupied.
It was the town's clinic and health center. It was basically where she spent most of her hours. They often got patients from all over town and Bel healed patients with severe conditions.
The door pushed open and Isaiah walked out. "What are you doing here?" He asked. He had a worried look on his face. "I thought you won't be back until tomorrow."
"I changed my mind," she said and got down from her horse.
"What does that mean?" He asked with a frown. "Didn't the Queen call for you?"
"She did. She said what she wanted and now I am back. Don't sound like you'd rather not have me here."
"I wasn't going to say that but since you took the words from my lips. There is no reason why you should be here."
Bel glared at him. Isaiah had brown hair and brown eyes. He was in his mid-twenties and a mage. He was also the capital's doctor.
"That's not true," she replied as she approached him. "I am sure there are a few things I can do."
He gave her an unimpressed look. "You exaggerate but as you wish, princess. Please, come in."
"Your tone is condescending," she scoffed and walked past him.
"I apologize, Your Highness, it was not my intention."
Bel stopped in front of the door and opened it. The door revealed the waiting room and she could see a mother holding a child.
The child was quiet and their face was hidden from view, it was hard to tell if the mother or the child was the sick one.
They were both seated on a bench and an old man sat next to them. The old man was so old that his limbs shook as he sat. A young boy stood next to him and Bel knew it was his grandson. She was familiar with the family.
"Princess," they all simultaneously said.
The young boy dropped to his knees while the woman stood to her feet and bent her head. The old man tried to stand up but she stopped him.
"I thought you said I wasn't needed," she asked as she turned around to look at Isaiah.
"And you're not, this is something I can take care of by myself. A few potions and they would be back to normal."
"I can just heal them," she replied.
Isaiah frowned and Bel knew she was going to hear something she didn't like.
"We can't always rely on your healing for something so minute. Medicine would have to work."
"It is not minute if they could be bedridden," Bel insisted.
"And they are not. It's not life-threatening. You indulge them so they put up an act to get the fastest treatment. Sometimes, you gotta let the body do its job."
Bel's eyes widened and she stepped back out and closed the door behind her. There was no reason to get the patients with all their arguments.
"What are you talking about?" She couldn't believe he had just said that in front of them.
"I am saying, we don't have to go the simple way every time. I can handle this. You can go back. Besides, the sun will set soon, there is no reason for you to be out here."
"I don't want to," she replied and folded her arms. "I am going back in and healing them."
"No, you…" The words dried in Isaiah's mouth.
Bel could tell why. She could hear the loud sounds of hooves heading this way and by the sounds of the trumpet, it was the most unexpected person. "What is he doing here?" Bel asked in horror.
"That's what I'd like to know," Isaiah whispered and turned in the direction of the sound.
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