Chapter 165
The quiet of the lab felt far away. Now, I was in Dr. Merill's pharmacy, surrounded by the scents of herbs and rustling paper. My focus narrowed to one thing: getting ready. This wasn't a place of science, but of old knowledge. The Minister's sickness was a worry, but here, I had to deal with what was in front of me.
"Since I can't make the antidote yet, I need to get my supplies together," I said, looking at the shelves. Each jar held a familiar herb: Echinacea to boost my immune system, Willow Bark for pain, Slippery Elm for my stomach. "The hospital will use everything. I can't afford to get sick or injured."
Dr. Merill watched me from his chair by the fire, his hands resting in his lap. "Good idea," he said. "The city needs your mind, but the mountains need your body. You need to be strong."
