However, she also didn't see any way that she'd be able to convince this woman of that, not without having her meet Tchisa. Which probably wouldn't happen, given how she had other matters to deal with at the settlement rather than being able to go wherever she felt like. Though, Embris wasn't sure where that thought had come from, just that it popped in her mind out of the blue.
"If you'd already determined that, then why'd you ask if we wanted to share the duty or alternate?" Yaelish asked, pulling Embris out of her thoughts.
Ivesse merely smiled. "I was curious as to what your reasoning would be and how agreeable you'd be. If we're to work together, even if we did alternate, it's good to know a little about how the other person thinks. Although, both of you are much younger than I expected to have such ranks as you have."
Embris shrugged, not sure what Yaelish's reasons for having gotten her rank but not really caring enough to ask either. While her own certainly wasn't something that she'd ever expected to be able to get at any point. "Well, you should see how young our captain is," she remarked, not sure what Ivesse's reaction would be to that.
"It probably would be interesting but sadly I'm not going to be able to see her at all," she said, sounding a little mournful in her tone. "Not with the claim she made about being able to treat something that no one can treat."
"As I said, I had the spotted plague recently and I was treated," Embris growled, not sure if they really should try to get along with this woman with how she didn't seem as interested in really getting along with them.
"Of course, you did," the woman said patronizingly, making Embris want to hit this woman just to relieve her frustration.
A hand put on her shoulder, made her jump and look at Yaelish in surprise. "Don't let her get to you. We both know what can be done and what Jenn's claim is about, so you know we don't have anything to worry about on that," Yaelish said sounding more confident in Jenn's ability than Embris supposed hitting this woman would probably make her seem.
After all, she knew that Jenn knew how to treat the spotted plague. So, that should be enough. Especially with how she knew she'd be able to bypass any obstacle anyone tried to throw her way that would keep her form actually being able to treat that disease. Not that she expected anyone to try much on that front. Not with how no one likely expects her to succeed in her attempt, regardless of how paved her demonstration is.
_
Jenn knelt before the queen, surprised that she was the only one deemed necessary to come before the queen. While she didn't mind it, she also wouldn't have minded someone to aid her in the demonstration. Although, as she thought about it, it probably was for the best, given how she'd probably be required to remain in quarantine for a week just to prove that she didn't come down with the spotted plague herself, after being exposed to it as she treated whoever it was that had the plague.
"I must admit, I'm surprised that you're back and so soon at that," the queen said, her voice crystal clear despite how many people there seemed to be before her this day. Many of which Jenn suspected showed up because word about her arrival had spread. After all, it was likely that her claim to be able to treat the spotted plague had garnered interest with even the chief healer probably talking about how she'd fail or something.
Not that it mattered, as she knew what she'd prove during her demonstration.
"When would you like to begin your demonstration?" the queen asked, making Jenn wonder if she was actually serious with that statement. When she'd been here before, she'd gotten under the impression that the demonstration would have to begin right away, with the challenges to her claim having been made at that time. "You must be weary from your travels, and I'm sure treating the plague must take a lot out of you, so would you like to rest before you begin your demonstration?"
Jenn shook her head politely. "Actually, it doesn't take that much energy out of me. I just need some hot water and I'd be good to go."
The queen looked like she wanted to say something but stopped, causing Jenn to grin for a split second before she'd been able to control herself. She didn't want to embarrass the queen here and she suspected that her grinning could possibly constitute doing just that. As she had no clue as to the rules of etiquette for being in front of the queen.
"You really think that the poisonous mushroom and hot water will do something that no one's been able to do since history began?" the chief healer asked derisively.
Jenn nodded calmly. "Yes. Yes, I do."
At this time, Jenn allowed herself to grin broadly as she was certainly amused at the healer's reaction to her statement, his face growing as red as a tomato. While Jenn wanted to warn him about the dangers of heart attacks and blood pressure, she had a feeling they didn't have issues like that as much here. Solely based on what she recalled Amelia once spouting about how things like heart disease were a more recent condition that wasn't very common before the modern world.
While Jenn wasn't sure if that would rule out the possibility of a heart attack, she couldn't say that the healer getting like that was good for his health.
Besides, since she was grinning in response to his reaction, no one would think that She was being disrespectful, or trying to embarrass, the queen.
"Very well, if you are sure about that, I'll have a pot of hot water brought to the quarantined area. We'll send in one of our healers to accompany you during your time in quarantine and will let us know if your treatment is as successful as you claim. If it isn't, we'll post guards to prevent you from escaping and execute you the moment your quarantine is over."
Despite her confidence, she felt a single drop of sweat slide down her back at that moment. It unsettled her that she might feel uneasy about what the queen said, even though she knew she'd be able to treat this illness. She just couldn't be sure that there wouldn't be any actual sabotage. As while she knew that those who were against her were confident she'd fail, she also knew that sometimes people didn't want to take chances, even though they were certain the other person would fail, regardless of anything else.
Which Jenn supposed was a good thing that she hardly needed any supplies. It would make sabotaging her that much harder.
"So, is there just one person with the plague now or is there more than one?" Jenn asked, wondering if she might as well treat as many as she could. After all, it wasn't like the one mushroom would only last for one person.
The queen blinked, looking confused for a moment before nodding. "Yes, as far as I'm aware there's only one person in there who has the plague. As it's a testament to how well the quarantined areas are for the plague."
Jenn couldn't say she agreed with that but was pretty sure saying as much wasn't going to help her out any. As she couldn't help but wonder how she and her friends had gotten the disease themselves when not everyone had touched that body. While it was possible that it was transmitted by touch, Jenn seriously doubted that it'd be like that, otherwise whoever would have taken the person into the quarantined area would have been alone, since they probably had needed someone to help them there, which in turn would create another patient. Every time.
However, she pushed that thought out of her mind. She wouldn't be surprised if Amelia had come up with a reason for that already. As Amelia certainly would know things like that, as well as what to look for when it came to figuring out how the disease would spread in the first place.
"Well, if you'll give me the mushroom and show me the way to the quarantined area, I'll prove that my method will be something that anyone can replicate when it comes to treating the spotted plague."
While Jenn felt eager to begin the demonstration, she had a feeling others weren't as eager. Though, she couldn't say that she really understood why. As if they didn't believe that she'd be able to accomplish what she claimed, then they should be eager for her to prove herself wrong. Yet, they seemed rather reluctant to even give her a chance to prove her claims in the first place.
Still, the one whose opinion mattered the most was the queen's.
"And what made you think that we have someone who's contracted the spotted plague at this time?" the queen's voice rang through the entire room, as if the queen was using a microphone, making Jenn in awe of the acoustics of the room itself. "I don't believe any of us had said that there was before you brought it up."
"Well, if there wasn't, I'd have expected less fanfare when I returned," Jenn replied, as if it was only her and the queen in the entire room. "I can hear others whispering about how they're confident that I'll fail and things like that. The thing is, though, that if there isn't someone who's been quarantined, then they'd likely be whispering about something else. Or at least anticipating 'when' they think I'd be confident that I'd fail. Then there's the fact that when I mentioned needing hot water and explained to your chief healer that I wouldn't need anything more, he said that he'd have someone bring a pot of hot water to the quarantined area. Meaning that he expects me to go there soon, as well."
The queen nods, her eyes and body language not betraying anything of what she's thinking, which makes Jenn feel a little uneasy. She's tempted to use her magic to peek into the queen's mind, but she holds back, largely because she doesn't want to see what the consequences of being detected would be. As while the queen isn't an actual ally right then, making it so that Jenn wouldn't find it objectionable to look into her mind, she couldn't say what the queen's abilities actually were. If she was detected, she couldn't say that the queen would then become an enemy, or at least consider Jenn an enemy for having attempted to look into her mind.
"Very well," the queen said after several tense minutes, or at least that's how long it felt to Jenn. The queen then turned to her chief healer. "Have someone escort her to the quarantined area and stand guard outside to make sure she doesn't try to leave. Ensure all the other arrangements we already discussed are in place and we'll see how this goes."
Jenn accepted the escort, not caring that she'd be expected to stay in the building for a couple of weeks, at least. After all, she was certain that she'd be able to deal with this quickly and be able to get out of there as soon as her time was up. Though, she did hope that she would be allowed visitors. As it certainly would get boring if she didn't have anything to do or anyone to talk to.
Yet, at the same time, she knew she couldn't complain about that, as she was the one who'd pretty much put herself in this position in the first place. Although, she supposed that it wouldn't be as boring as the time when she'd been a slave, kept in a cage with absolutely nothing to do while she waited. Where, at least here, she'd be able to talk with whoever it was that had the plague. Someone who she hoped she'd be able to get along with.
Jenn couldn't say that she was surprised when she was taken outside the palace and across the gardens to a building that was out of the way, but also looked like it was poorly maintained. Though, she supposed it would be hard to find people to work on keeping it structurally sound when it was used to house people who were ill and she doubted that the healers had any training in construction, which meant that they'd be useless when it came to basic maintenance on the building itself.
Not that Jenn thought she was in any better of a position to do that herself. As she knew that she would be either someone there to help or she'd merely be in the way.
Then as she got closer, she saw that there was a gate, which she supposed was to be expected, given how it at least gave a clear indication of the border of the grounds that were quarantined.
"She'll be the one keeping an eye on you," Jenn was informed by her escort, a young woman with bright pink hair and blue eyes, wearing something similar to the chief healer, which Jenn took to mean that it was a uniform, though this girl's didn't have as much decorations on it, that made Jenn wonder if this girl was merely considered 'expendable' or was just 'in training' and so was deemed acceptable to send into the quarantined area.
Which Jenn hoped wouldn't be used against her when she managed to treat the plague and thereby ensuring that this young woman wouldn't be catching the disease herself.
Jenn could see the fear in the young woman's eyes, even as she entered the quarantined area ahead of Jenn. Inside the quarantined area, aside from the run down building, she could see a small vegetable garden, that she supposed was tended by the healers when they were put in this building, considering she couldn't imagine anyone else willingly entering here and having the strength to do any gardening.
Which was something that Jenn supposed she'd be able to do while she was here. As for one thing, it certainly looked overrun with weeds. While it was still summer, Jenn knew that there could still be a chance for some of the plants in the garden.
Although, as she thought about it, she couldn't help but remember how the preparations for the next Spring Collection would be coming up. Which meant that she would either need to figure out what had happened to the royal guard around here or hope that they'd be able to recover from whatever it was so she'd be able to head out and participate in the race that would be coming up soon. After all, even if she wasn't sure she'd actually be able to do very good in it, she couldn't help but feel eager to be around the beast-kin again. Possibly even learning how far away from the pronghorn-kin they were.
The gate closing behind Jenn, brought her back to the present, making it clear that she was now essentially a captive for the next two weeks. At least as long as she was able to prove her ability in treating the spotted plague.
"They handed me this," the young woman said, holding out a bag towards Jenn. "They said I was to give it to you after they closed the gate."
Jenn didn't need to look into the bag to know what it contained. Though, while she had the mushroom, she just needed the hot water, though as she turned around, not sure where they'd have put the water, she saw a pot of steaming water just inside the gate. Something Jenn realized had been set there before they closed the gate.
While she doubted that they had enough time to heat the water after she'd mentioned needing hot water, she figured that it had been acquired from somewhere else that had need of hot water, like possibly the kitchen.
"I have everything I need," Jenn said, more for the young woman's benefit. "Should we get started?"
"I have no idea what's going on. Just that I'm supposed to keep an eye on you," she said, sounding as if she had other things she could think of that she'd rather be doing. As if Jenn was an inconvenience in what she planned on doing in her life, if not a hurdle for her to clear.
"Well, would you be willing to help carry the water for me?" Jenn asked, unsure if she'd be able to carry it herself. "We need to take this with us so I can treat the patient inside this building."
The young woman rolled her eyes but picked up the pot of water anyway. "You do realize that there's only one person in this whole building, right? And they have the spotted plague. So, are you sure you're thinking of the same place?"
"Of course. I came here to treat the spotted plague. Why else would I willingly come in here?"
The young woman didn't answer and without looking, Jenn was pretty sure she was shaking her head. Possibly in annoyance and possibly in resignation. Either way, she now knew precisely what Jenn was here for.
When they reached the patient, Jenn had the young woman set the pot next to the bed the young man with the plague was in. His spots were bright orange, showing Jenn that he'd been in here a while, though Jenn couldn't help but wonder if they had anyone in here taking care of him. After all, it seemed to Jenn like caring for him would be something the healers should do themselves rather than just let him suffer alone.
Although, she suspected that that's probably what had been done in the first place. Unless, whoever was supposed to be caring for this young man was elsewhere in the building, possibly sleeping at the moment.
Regardless, Jenn dropped the mushroom in the water and watched the oils from the mushroom spread out in the water, creating a prismatic effect. Something Jenn realized she hadn't seen before, mostly because she hadn't actually watched what it did when it was dropped in water. She'd merely used the water with that oil to treat the plague.
Which she did so, using a clean cloth that was nearby, not caring about what the young woman with her did while she worked. After all, it wasn't like she had come there planning on worrying what would be thought of her once she finished. She came to treat the patient, regardless of anything else.