Pure

Instead of being covered with tarasque scales, Finten’s back and shoulders were a landscape of ruin. It looked like each of his scales had been individually ripped out of his back. There were old scars, lumpy and thick, and new wounds. Some pink and healing, others looked like they had been torn out recently then the wounds had been reopened multiple times and were bright red and irritated. There were a few malformed scales trying to grow, miserable lumpy, twisted things poking through Finten’s tortured skin, the area around them was also bright red and irritated. But up on the back of his shoulder, near his neck, there were two black puncture wounds on top of a huge blackish purple bump, shiny and swollen to the size of Maigred’s fist. A putrid smell was coming from it.

“Oh my gods,” Maigred repeated. There was a moment where she thought she might throw up, but she shook herself. This isn’t the time to feel sorry, it’s time to get to work. “Help me get his pants off. I don’t want to accidentally overlook another wound.”

Cathal was still pale. He nodded and helped Maigred get Finten’s pants off. His hands were shaking.

Maigred didn’t see any more wounds on Finten’s legs. “Right. I’m going down to grab some things. Can you check…the rest of him? Look for wounds or any swelling.” Cathal’s breathing was fast and shallow. Maigred paused. She guided Finten to lay down on his side, pulled the edge of her blanket over him and went over to Cathal.

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead into her stomach, his trembling hands clenching on handfuls of her skirt.

Maigred ran her fingers gently through his hair. “It’s going to be okay, Cathal. You’re safe. I’m safe. Finten is safe. We’re all safe. Finten is just sick. Focus on the ground under your feet. Can you feel it?”

He didn’t reply.

“Cathal, take a deep breath with me.” She used one hand to hold him close to her and the other to gently rub his shoulder. “Come on, breath in.” She took a deep slow breath in. She felt his back rise as he breathed with her. “There, good. You feel the air in your lungs?”

He gave a jerky nod against her.

“Breath again.”

He obeyed her.

“Now I want you to focus on the ground under your feet. Can you feel it?”

He gave another jerky nod.

“What does it feel like?”

Cathal mumbled something against her.

“What?”

He turned his head, his ear now pressing against her. “It feels like home.”

Maigred cupped his cheek. “Good. I want you to find something in the room and tell me what color it is.”

“The rose is red. Red like blood.” His voice was dull.

Maigred squeezed her eyes shut. “Good. Good. I want you to come downstairs with me, okay? Can you come down with me?”

He nodded slowly.

Maigred took his hand, helped him up and led him downstairs. The children were done in the dining room. Maigred could hear their lively chatter in the kitchen. She stopped and turned to Cathal. His eyes were glassy, he was still breathing like he had just sprinted a mile. She cupped his face in her hands. “Cathal, listen to me. What do you need right now?”

His eyes slowly focused on her face. “You need help.”

“I’ll manage with whatever you can give me, Cathal. If you need to go upstairs, I’ll take you back upstairs. You can lock yourself in your room. We’ll get by fine.”

He shook his head slowly. “No, I want to help, Maigred.”

She nodded. “Okay. I need you to run the kitchen. Can you do that?”

He nodded.

“Can I trust you, Cathal? I can manage a morning or a day or two without you, but if something happens to you-” her emotions rose up and choked off the rest of her sentence.

“I promise, I won’t leave you.”

His eyes were still glassy, but he seemed to know what he was saying and seemed sincere. “Alright. I’m trusting you, Cathal.”

He nodded again.

Maigred went up on her toes and kissed his cheek. Cathal wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry I’m so useless.” A sob erupted from his chest.

Maigred returned his embrace. “Cathal, no. You’re not useless. Not ever useless. You’re here with me, you helped me get Finten inside and safe. I need you to make sure you’re getting what you need now. I need you to stay here with me, Cathal.”

They stood there for a moment, then Cathal released her. He wiped his face. His hands were still shaking, but he seemed a little more present. Maigred took his hand and squeezed it. “You sure about this?”

He nodded.

“Okay.” She led him into the kitchen.

Aoibh’s eyes quickly found them, her gaze focusing on Cathal for a long moment before turning to Maigred. “What happened?”

“Finten has an infection. A bad one. He might have blood poisoning. Cathal is having a bit of a rough time. Can you and he run breakfast this morning? I’ll have Sinead and Eoghan help get Cara ready this morning and help me with Finten.”

Aoibh gave a quick nod. “Of course. If you need anything, anything at all, just send one of them down and we’ll get it ready for you.”

Maigred stared at Aoibh, wanting to beg her to keep a close eye on Cathal, but she didn’t want him to know that she was so worried about him.

Aoibh smiled. “Don’t worry, Maigred. Cathal and I will manage down here just fine. He’ll keep a good eye on me, make sure I’m not left alone to fret by myself.” She came over and slipped her arms around Cathal’s arm. “Cathal, I need your help making sure the children don’t skimp on these food bundles.”

Maigred let Aoibh take Cathal away to the worktable that was surrounded by rambunctious children, chattering away, unaware of the tension between the adults. She watched him for a moment. He was a bit subdued, but he wasn’t having any trouble interacting with the children. She let out a breath and turned to get the supplies she would need to lance Finten’s infection, then clean and bandage his wounds.