The Law of Isolation by Angela Holder Read Free Book Online

there?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He gave her the most reassuring smile he could muster. “Elkan is a great wizard. Everything will be fine.”
    “I’m sure it will.” Master Tava lay back on the cot and closed her eyes.
    Josiah followed Elkan from the cubical, past the rows of screens where other wizards worked with patients, and to the side wall of the Hall where a series of basins waited. Sar and Tobi followed them. Elkan scrubbed his hands and gestured for Josiah to do the same. From its sheath at his belt Elkan pulled out the thin, razor sharp knife he kept for just this purpose. He examined the blade critically. “I sharpened it this morning. It should do.” He soaped the blade, rinsed it, and dried the metal on a clean towel.
    Elkan turned to Josiah. “Sar has worked with me on plenty of surgeries. He knows what to do. I’ll be busy coaching Tobi, so I won’t be able to spare much attention for you. Listen to what he tells you and you’ll do fine. You and Sar will be responsible for keeping blood loss to a minimum. You’ll need to slow her body until her circulation nearly stops. That will stop the pain as well. In addition, I want you to push blood away from the incision site and heal any major vessels I cut. There’s going to be some blood anyway, and I need you to clear it away periodically so I can see what I’m doing. It will take a fair bit of energy, but you should have plenty to spare. Tobi and I will take care of removing the organ and healing the incision. Are you ready?”
    “Yes, sir!” Josiah couldn’t wait.
    Elkan grinned at his enthusiasm. “Let’s get started, then.”
    He detoured by the stash of supplies to acquire a large basin, a small metal bowl, and a stack of towels, and again by the busy front section of the healing area to notify Master Yathora of their plans. She looked around at the crowd of people waiting to be served and sighed. “This is going to put you two out of commission for the rest of the morning, isn’t it? Report back to me as soon as you’re rested. We’ll be working past sundown at this rate.”
    Elkan assured her they would.
    He sent Josiah to fill the basin with water. When he arrived back within the screens, Elkan was chatting with Master Tava. After he’d explained everything they intended to do, he positioned Josiah and Sar where he wanted them, on the far side of the cot. He nodded to Josiah.
    Josiah cleared his throat. “We’re going to slow down your body for a while, Master Tava. You won’t be aware of what we’re doing, or feel anything. It will seem like no time at all, and then you’ll be awake and we’ll be finished.”
    “Go ahead, young man.” Master Tava pulled her tunic up, exposing her belly. She lay back and closed her eyes. For a moment Josiah was taken aback by the completeness of her trust in him. She was vulnerable to anything he might choose to do. The idea overwhelmed him.
    It’s not you she trusts, but the Mother. Sar pressed close to Josiah’s side.
    He was right, of course. Master Tava was perfectly safe. Josiah could do nothing with the Mother’s power unless Sar cooperated. And animals, since they had no free will, were incapable of disobeying the Mother’s Law. Even if Josiah wanted to abuse his power, he couldn’t. The idea was oddly comforting. That was the whole reason wizards had familiars, after all.
    He gripped the base of Sar’s mane firmly and extended his other hand over Master Tava’s chest. I’m ready, Sar.
    Hold on.
    Power surged through him, far more than was necessary for most purposes. Light spilled from his hand and flowed into a cloud that wrapped Master Tava in sparkling gold. Josiah felt Sar’s effort as he took control of every process in Master Tava’s body and slowed them nearly to a standstill. His heart raced, and he panted. Would they be able to keep up this level of exertion long enough?
    “We’re ready,” he choked out.
    “We’ll be quick.” Elkan placed his left hand on Tobi’s