Life as we know it

The babe in Treasca arms held very still her magic was gentle yes but she knew it would still be painful. She had sent her magic first to his small lungs. They where by far the most concerning affliction for the moment. She saw with magiced vision the fluid that had built up in those tiny lungs. This happened from time to time with newborns born in the damp cold air of winter. She gently removed the fluid and infection. Immediately the baby's breathing sounded much better. Next she moved to the fever that burned inside the small body, it cooled as she soothed the bodies natural defenses. Satisfied she opened her eyes and smiled down into big brown eyes and cute button nose. He yawned a big yawn and his eyes fluttered shut. Healing this way was exhausting both for the patient and for her. Treasca had been building her stamina for years, and was barely affected at all. The babe however would sleep at least a day.

" You will need to wake him enough to eat" Treasca warned handing him back to Lena. "He will want to sleep nearly all the time for at least three days. If you have any concerns please feel free to come see me."

"Thank you so much Treasca." Lena smiled eyes a little watery.

Holan, Lena's husband poked his head in eyes still wide like a deer's with anxiety.

"I will let you all three rest. You seem exhausted. Remember wake him every three to five hours to nurse." Treasca said in parting.

Once outside she stretched her arms to the sky. She was stiff from reading in a cramped bed too long. She decided to do her rounds as it seemed the troop was making camp for the night. She glanced up, dusk was still several hours away she observed. They needed to make the next city by weeks end if they where to make it in time for its annual festival. The city of Alonia was some what remote even for the Travelers, but her father Yolan had heard a good tip at the last Alls Meet of their centennial celebration. With gold on his mind he had set out immediately for the city. Treasca was more than a little excited she admitted to know one. The last festival they had been to was more of a farmer's market, and had been extremely dull. Though Alonia was rumored to have lavish festivals they had never before bothered to go that far from the Alls Meet. The Alls Meet was the Traveler's hub of operation. They where merchants everyone of them, and the Alls Meet allowed them to reconnect with the other clans. At least once annually every clan would return their to pay tithes to the King of the Traveler's Destan. Marriages, alliances, and grievances where all forged and settled there. Treasca's bother Rownen had taken a bride this last visit. Caroline had been the daughter of a tailor her skill was very welcome indeed to the family. Marriages amongst the Travelers where arranged like a business transaction. The families each paid the other or made deals for the union. Caroline had been a very good investment. Already she had began to show signs for being with child. Treasca loved her sister-in-law very deeply already. The two girls where nearly inseparable in the fire light.

"Is she my bride or yours?" Rownen would complain before taking his wives hand and leading her away. Caroline would giggle uncontrollably all of the way to the tent.

Treasca had begun to wonder if she would be married. Her skill was too precious to her clan to let her leave to be with a husband, and rarely did boys leave their father's clan for a women's family. Already her father had turned down three candidates because their parents refused to let their sons go.

Treasca stopped by each tent talking and healing those who needed her. She mainly used potions and tonics and the direct magic was often jarring and painful. She preferred to aid the body in it's own healing. There had been several occasions like today when her direct interference was absolutely necessary. At last she circled back to her own family's tent. Her two younger brothers Ansel and Able ran back and forth chasing eachother in an endless game of tag. They where twins of five Summers, and her youngest and only sister Bridget giggled and clapped toddling after them. She was three and a bit of a surprise no one had expected her mother to give birth in her fiftieth winter. Treasca chased Able a moment before turning on Bridget and swinging the young girl around in her arms.

"Weeee" she yelled head back and arms out. Treasca's father Yolan grinned at them as he prepared a cook fire.

"I take it Holan's son is better then?" he asked as a blaze began on the wood he had been struggling to lite. It had rained hard the night before dosing their supply because her bothers had forgotten to cover it. She grinned at her father and stopped pointing at the logs once she was sure they would stay lit.

"Naturally, Holan looked ready to faint. It was wise to stop early." Treasca said sitting her sister back down to chase her brothers.

"You are such a valuable young lady." Her father beamed. That was high praise amongst her people. To be valuable to your clan was the goal of every child of the Traveler's.

"Oh I nearly forgot, Treasca your mother and I need to speak with you after the evening meal." Yolan had a slight frown making Treasca a bit concerned.