Journal of Medicine and Other Such Boring Nonsense [excerpt]

Prologue1

“Cut off his head!”2

“Vive la peine de mort!”3

“Mais ce n’est pas un criminel!”4

“Make the half-breed pay!”5

Cho stood quietly, leaning against the rough wooden beam that supported the gallows. He watched the bloodthirsty crowd and took deep, slow breaths, trying to calm his knotted stomach. He felt more ill than he ever had – not the way the executioner was supposed to feel.6

The castle courtyard was busier than he’d ever seen it, packed with what was probably every man, woman and child, elf, human or otherwise that lived in the city and surrounding countryside. As a result, it smelled awful, and there was hardly room for Cho to move, never mind think. It was loud and confining, and the towering axe he held at his side seemed to weigh more heavily than it ever had. The castle shadowed everyone and everything that stood before it, and despite the excited mood of the crowd, Cho felt that his heart was beginning to darken as well.7

“Kill the traitor!”8

The great double doors to the castle were thrown open, and the crowd redoubled its efforts to yell as loudly as possible; the frenzy of hungry piranhas in what had previously been calm water. They smelled blood. Cho sighed and stood straight, feeling a little dizzy as he did so. His throat was dry. Two soldiers pulled a calm man from inside the castle.9

“Bit tall for a half-elf, isn’t he?” a woman nearby commented loudly, but Cho didn’t turn around to look at her. The prisoner’s arms were bound behind him and, though his footsteps were a little hesitant, he still stood tall, and was not begging or weeping as some men Cho had seen. The soldiers made a show of tugging at the half-elf’s arms – as they always did. Cho felt himself begin to protest but quickly smoothed his expression and continued to watch.10

The first rock was thrown. Cho swallowed again as the projectile struck the prisoner’s back, and he stumbled slightly. More rocks and other debris soon followed suit, and Cho turned away. He pulled his black hood down over his face, hiding tears.11

“Lichi of Ahmsteff,” an authoritative voice announced from somewhere in front of Cho. The executioner glanced over and then kept his eyes glued to the red-clad overseer, who was reading from a short piece of official-looking parchment. “You are a traitor and have been sentenced to die on this day by the members of the royal court. You have been found guilty of acts of High Treason and you will suffer the punishment of death by decapitation...”12

Cho stopped listening, resisting the urge to vomit. He steadied himself against the beam again, feeling shaky as he watched Lichi being pulled up the steps towards the block. The two soldiers pushed the half-elf to his knees. He was bloody and broken, Cho saw, blinking away more tears. They’d tortured him. Lichi’s bloodied wrists were unbound, then tied to either side of the block. The crowd roared and Cho couldn’t discern a word of it. One of the soldiers cuffed Lichi’s head, then tethered the half-elf’s neck to the block.13

“...where someone else will forgive your sins,” the overseer finished. He then looked at Cho, whose legs carried him to the block automatically – almost without his knowledge. He stood still for a moment, looking down at Lichi’s back. The half-elf’s shirt was torn and stained with blood, and he was shaking. Cho bit back a sob and knelt on the premise of checking the knots that bound Lichi’s wrists.14

“I told you I would pay for killing that bandit,” he said very quietly, though he was certain there was no chance of anyone overhearing him over the noise the crowd was making. Lichi’s breath halted in his chest. Almost imperceptibly, he glanced sideways.15

“No... Cho?” he muttered, and as the executioner stood up, he began to laugh – quietly, mirthlessly. Cho moved to the other side of the block and bent, again pretending to check the knots. How Lichi could laugh at a time like this he had no idea, and he didn’t know whether it was respectable or revolting. He fumbled with the rope.16

“I can’t do this, Lichi,” he said brokenly. “I can’t. I’ll cut the ropes and get you out of here.”17

“No.”18

He didn’t say please, and he didn’t explain, but Cho couldn’t disagree. He stood, dragging the axe along with him. Lichi seemed to have relaxed. He was no longer shaking. It was as though he were waiting patiently for something pleasant or unimportant. Cho hefted the axe, forcefully blinking the tears from his eyes and thankful to be hidden behind the hood. He still wanted to vomit. It was impossible to think that he was about to snuff away another life – he had done it countless times before, but this... this would be like tearing out his own heart.19

He agonized, pretending to inspect his axe blade, as he had been told to do before every decapitation, to please the crowds. They were already damn well pleased enough. He choked and pressed his teeth together to stop them from chattering.20

“Good-bye, friend,” he said, brokenly and probably too loudly, then swung the axe up and over his head. The blade was heavy, and as it began to make its arced descent, Cho suddenly wished that he could stop it – that he hadn’t swung it. His heart skipped a beat as it fell. He closed his eyes as it hit – heard the thud – heard the hiss of Lichi’s clothes against the block as the man’s body collapsed, limp and lifeless. He heard the crowd. They were cheering, and he hated them.21

“No... Please no – not yet...”22

She watched, frozen, as Lichi’s head fell to the floor of the gallows. It looked fake, like a prop in a play, except for the fact that there was blood everywhere. She turned, suddenly feeling a chill. She felt detached, as though the scene she had just witnessed was not a part of her life. She flicked her hood over her head and turned from the courtyard. 23

***24

Cho sighed and sat down heavily at the table closest to the hearth. He didn’t feel any warmer. The inn was quiet – in fact, aside from himself, there was no one there but the innkeeper and a brown-hooded figure who sat in the far corner, reading. Seeing the book, Cho was torn from his thoughts by the satchel he’d set on the floor. He lifted the bag onto the table and opened the flap. From inside spilled a myriad of shining, colourful stones. The clatter caught the eye of the cloaked figure across the room, but the stranger didn’t get up. Cho shoved the stones – most of which were highly valuable – into his pockets. He then withdrew a leather kit from the bag, but had no time to inspect its contents before the innkeeper found him.25

“Did you want anything to eat?” he asked kindly. He was short and rotund, with round-rimmed glasses and a red-lipped, cheerful smile. Cho nodded absently, unrolling the leather kit.26

“Something hot,” he muttered, discovering inside the pouch a collection of doctor’s tools; scalpels, scissors, needles, forceps and an assortment of other dire-looking instruments. The innkeeper nodded sagely.27

“Saw the execution today?” he asked lowly, and Cho glanced at him.28

“I did,” he replied tonelessly.29

“That’s the reason it’s so quiet in here tonight... always quiet after an execution.”30

“It was pretty loud in the square today,” Cho said bitterly, cursing his tone the moment he’d finished his sentence.31

“It was,” the innkeeper agreed with a nod. “Funny, isn’t it?”32

Without waiting for an answer to his question, he walked away. Cho stared at the tools before him, unable to find anything funny about it. A perfect soul was dead. Where was the humour? He sighed and reached back into the bag.33

Next he withdrew a pile of books. All were leather-bound and fairly well-kept. There were thirteen in all. Cho set them in a pile and reached back into the bag to withdraw a piece of cloth, which he puzzled over. Before he could quite figure it out, however, a noise near the stairs at the back of the inn called to his attention.34

A young woman had nearly fallen on the bottom step and was presently righting herself. She was tall, with curled dark hair and eyes to match. She was dressed in worn-out rich colours and an unnecessary amount of jewellery. Cho studied her a moment, quickly coming to the conclusion that she was a whore. He returned to the task at hand, pulling a case of coloured pencils and a pair of very old glasses from the bag next. He didn’t have much time to think about these, either, until he was interrupted yet again.35

“Lose something?”36

Cho looked up to see the woman watching him, a small smile playing on her full lips. She was pretty, he thought, but in a tired sort of way, like she’d used her face too much, and had grown weary of being the person underneath it. He shook his head.37

“No... it belonged to my friend.”38

“Oh,” she said, taking Cho’s words as an invitation to sit down across from him. “What happened to your friend?”39

She’s coming on to me, Cho realised. He opened his mouth to tell her he wasn’t interested, but then Lichi’s bag caught his eye, and he took it as a sign. Lichi had been fond – very fond – of whores. Maybe he could humour this one a while – at least she was someone to talk to.40

“He was killed today,” Cho said bluntly. The whore’s face drained. The cloaked figure across the room glanced their way, but made no comment or motion otherwise. “Lichi of Ahmsteff.”41

“The traitor,” said the whore with a bit of a nod. She’d heard the stories.42

“He was no traitor,” Cho said immediately. “He would never dream of such a thing. He was a great man... apparently few people knew it.”43

He bit his tongue, realising once the words were out just how hateful they sounded. The whore motioned to the books.44

“What are those?”45

“His journals.”46

She picked up the top one, flipping it open to a middle page. It was a drawing; a beautiful woman stared back at the whore, and she studied the work for long moments in silence.47

“He was an artist?” she asked after some time, and Cho nodded.48

“As well as a doctor.”49

“What does this say?” she asked, pointing to the page facing the drawing, which was covered in Lichi’s loopy scrawl. Cho held out his hand and the woman handed him the book.50

“...and there were a lot of them – it was hard to choose at first,” Cho read. “I stayed downstairs a while – ”51

“A lot of what?”52

“I’ve no idea,” Cho said. He flipped back a page and the whore straightened.53

“Will you start from the beginning?” she asked, looking at him. Cho looked up.54

“You’re not serious?” he asked. “There are over a dozen books here...”55

“Darling... there’s no one else here,” said the woman, “And you’re obviously not interested. Besides, you have a wonderful voice, and... I’d like to hear more about this man who was not a traitor.”56

Cho licked his lips, looking down at the books. Unfortunately, he couldn’t think of any reason not to read to her.57

“What’s your name?” he asked, and the woman smiled, shifting her chair a little closer.58

“Elina,” she replied, watching as Cho flipped to the beginning of the book.59

“Mine is Cho,” he said, then, “Alright...”60

“I want to see the pictures,” Elina reminded, and Cho nodded, smiling slightly. The first page held a title and a name.61

“Journal of Medicine and Other Such Boring Nonsense,” Cho read, unable to resist a grin. “Lichi of Ahmsteff.”62

***63

Volume I – Part I – The Skeleton and the Girl64

“Son! You’re going to have to run to school if you don’t get down here and eat!”65

Lichi’s lanky frame scrambled down the stairs immediately, pulling at the wooden railing to keep himself upright and causing the entire house to groan. He reached the base of the stairs, brushing his messy black hair out of his bright green eyes and searching the room for the only thing that was important in the morning – his breakfast.66

“Father, I won’t be late. I’m never late.”67

“That’s not what your professors tell me,” the boy’s father admonished, handing him a wooden bowl full of boiled vegetables and rice. Instead of bothering with a rebuttal, Lichi sat on the floor and ate, watching his father.68

Liam was tall – especially for an elf – with green eyes and black hair to match his son’s. He was already dressed casually despite his respectable station, and he currently wore a loose white shirt and cotton pants which he’d undoubtedly found at the local market. In fact, the only things of any value on his person were his glasses and his wedding ring. Their house seemed to reflect his style; it was simple and undecorated, but it was accepting and comfortable. It was warm.69

“I don’t understand what takes you so long to get ready in the morning,” Liam said, smiling slightly as he doused the small fire he’d made. The building’s common room had a wood floor covered in rushes, aside from the fire pit that occupied a small stony square in the centre of the room. Directly above the pit, a large black smoke stain covered the ceiling from when Lichi had tried to cook without opening the window. There was little furniture – one rocking chair covered in cushions and blankets, a normal chair and a desk which was currently littered with papers. The door outside was just behind Lichi, in front of the stairs, and behind that was his father’s bedroom, where he was rarely allowed.70

“I like to sleep,” Lichi replied with his usual grin. His father raised an eyebrow.71

“I’m sure the kids at school can tell that just from looking at your hair,” he said. Lichi shrugged.72

“What do I care about the kids at school?”73

“They can help you with your studies, you know.”74

Lichi sighed. He got up, leaving his empty bowl on the floor.75

“I needed your help yesterday night,” he said. “How come you can’t help me?”76

“I can’t be there to help you all the time,” his father said, and Lichi rolled his eyes, turning to head back upstairs. His father let him go. Lichi reached the top landing and from there was able to look down on the top of his father’s head, for the top floor of the house was only a long landing and his own bedroom. He stayed still a moment, watching his father eat, then entered his room, which had recently begun to smell a little different than the rest of the house due to some flowers that were rotting in a vase near the window. Lichi picked up his books and crammed them unceremoniously into the leather satchel his father had bought him. Glancing out the window he saw that the sun was indeed well over the heavily-treed horizon, and knew he would have to hurry to school. He sighed and raced back down the stairs, pulling on a shirt that he knew was only half-clean as he went. He had his hand on the door when his father stopped him.77

“Son.”78

Lichi turned, forcing his long feet into his sandals as he watched his father walk sedately towards him.79

“I will help you tonight, if you still need me.”80

Lichi nodded and said only, “Alright.”81

He turned back towards the door and felt his father touch his head.82

“I love you.”83

Lichi glanced back, raising an eyebrow – which he had recently taught himself to do.84

“Why do you always say that?” he asked, and his father grinned, cuffing his head lightly.85

“Because it’s important to me. Now go to school, or you’ll be late again.”86

Lichi rolled his eyes once more and headed outside, closing the door. The morning was warm and yellow, and Lichi smiled as he raced along the narrow dirt path towards the road. His father’s house was far from the elven town known as Ahmsteff, for he was a farmer as well as a doctor, and he liked the quiet. Ahmsteff was perfect, in his opinion. Despite its small size it was the pinnacle of elven technology and science, and its organized streets boasted some of the continent’s greatest schools and services.87

Lichi slowed as he made it to the road, then turned towards the city. The way was hard and dusty, as per usual, but the forest on either side was lush and dark. Lichi watched it as he walked, hoping to see anything that might distract him from whatever they were preparing to teach him at school. Luckily for him, such a distraction was on its way. Halfway to town, as the farms began to be fewer and the buildings began to come more often, Lichi heard a wagon approaching behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and migrated towards the centre of the road. The wagon slowed as it got nearer, and Lichi hailed the driver.88

“Heading into the city?”89

“Get in the back, boy,” growled the driver, and Lichi did so, tossing his bag in before climbing up into the still-moving wagon, which was full of hay and farm tools. He hung his feet over the back, watching the road behind him disappear. When he passed the first mud-walled temple he hopped off and made his way through a narrow alley. He was only a block away when he was distracted yet again, still picking hay out of his clothes.90

It was a cruel twist of fate that a circus practise had sprung up merely a block from his school. There was juggling, acrobatics, singing and acting – costumes – masks – and there was dancing.91

“No! No! No! I’ve told you, Nauru, a hundred times! You step here, not there!”92

Lichi paused, as he did almost every morning, watching the director yell at a dancer who couldn’t have been much older than his own sixteen years. The director demonstrated the steps and Lichi absorbed them as though they were second nature. He walked closer and music began to play; his quick eyes soon found the lyre at its source. The half-elf came to a stop just behind the director.93

“Nauru!” the tall, well-dressed man, yelled again. The music ceased and the dancer in question was looking murderous. “Look, you’ve got to get this right. Dridus will be back this afternoon to watch you and if you haven’t perfected – ”94

“But these steps are ridiculous! Honestly, Dridus is only the writer – you’re the director! If you just talk to – who are you?”95

It took Lichi a moment to realise the dancer was looking at him, and he looked up.96

“I – my name’s Lichi,” he stumbled, suddenly very aware that the half-dozen people gathered around the carpeted practise area were all looking at him. He shifted and the director quirked a brow.97

“You know how to dance?” he asked, and Lichi shook his head.98

“No sir.”99

“Then what are you doing here?” the director snapped, and a couple of the other performers laughed. Lichi licked his lips and shrugged.100

“I’d like to learn.”101

The director raised his eyebrows dubiously and Nauru hopped off the stage.102

“This isn’t something that just anyone can do,” he said, placing his hands on his hips. Lichi could tell he was well-paid; his skin was soft and white, his cheeks round, and he wore his prince costume as though he lived in it every day.103

“I think I can; it doesn’t look that difficult.”104

Nauru laughed and started to say something else but the director cut in, “We haven’t got time for this! Nauru, get back on stage. You – Lichi, was it? Get out of here.”105

“Wait – Lichi? Isn’t that the half-elven son of Liam, the doctor who lives here?” asked the man holding the lyre. Lichi blushed deeply, bowing his head and nodding. It was rare that anyone ever knew him only for his father – they all had to know he was half-elven as well. In a small city that was almost completely composed of elves, he was a rarity. There were few humans on the continent, and most of those who did dwell there were considered barbarians by the elves. Without bothering to reply, Lichi turned and walked away.106

He was very late, and standing in front of the clay schoolhouse when he realised he no longer had his satchel.107

“Shit.”108

Lichi looked wildly about himself – as though that might help. It didn’t, so he sprinted back another block and quickly looked around the stage – though he knew very well where he’d left it. The bag was probably still on the wagon. He sprinted to the main road.109

It was about an hour later when he finally got his satchel back. It was thankfully intact and still contained everything he’d packed that morning, which was good, as his two schoolbooks were worth more than he cared to think about, and certainly more than he wanted to tell his father he’d lost.110

Lichi sat in the alley and watched the performers for the rest of the morning, unwilling to show up more than an hour late for school. He waited until after the midday break to make his way inside, hoping no one would notice that he hadn’t been there that morning.111

“Ah. Lichi. Right on time, I see.”112

The half-elf looked up to the front, where his professor was staring right at him. Rumeus was short but broad, with a strong jaw and clever grey eyes – the same colour as his long hair. He was currently looking very unimpressed, which was an expression that Lichi was very used to.113

“We had a test this morning,” Rumeus said. “Since you missed it, perhaps you’d like to do yours now?”114

Lichi’s heart began to beat a little faster. He licked his lips and nodded.115

“Alright...”116

“Good. Arothis, stand.”117

A boy at the head of the class stood up and faced Lichi. Clearly he already knew what was going on. He was an older boy, Lichi knew, and had probably learned similar things the year prior. He was also very intelligent, or so Lichi had seen.118

“Lichi, tell me, what bone is in the arm, here?” Rumeus asked, and Lichi looked blankly at Arothis’ arm.119

“The... er... ulna?”120

“Wrong, the ulna is here,” Rumeus corrected, pointing at a different spot on Arothis’ arm. Lichi frowned but nodded. “What is this bone called?”121

“Clavicle.”122

“Very good. And these ones?”123

“Er... pha... pha...” Lichi shook his head, feeling himself blush. “I forget.”124

“These are the phalanges. This one?”125

“Tibia.”126

“No. The tibia is here. This is the femur,” Rumeus corrected, looking annoyed. A few of the young men around Lichi stifled laughter, and he sighed, pressing his teeth together. “Did you study at all, half-elf?”127

“I – I tried to, but I got – ”128

“You got distracted,” the professor said wearily, and Lichi sighed. “Have you studied anything I’ve assigned so far? Have you been reading at all?”129

“Yes.”130

“Tell me then, what is curare?”131

“It’s... ...is it a poison?”132

“What does it do?”133

Lichi blinked, his mind going completely blank. He sighed, looked away and muttered, “I forget.”134

“Mmm,” was Rumeus’ only remark. “You may be seated, Arothis. I will remind you, Lichi, that you must do substantially better on your next examination or you will no longer be allowed to attend this school.”135

Lichi nodded, still looking away. Rumeus went into his next lesson about curare and the half-elf stared at the floor to his right, watching a spider build its web in a crevice in the stone wall. It was a few hours later before he was jerked from his daze.136

“Hey, will you come play cards tonight, or..?”137

“I think I’m going to read, Will,” Lichi replied without looking up, though he was somewhat startled that the class was over already. William was the only non-elven boy in class, so the two of them had become friends very quickly. The human, however, was very clever and very outgoing. His father was a builder and he was very liked despite the fact that he was human. He was tall and handsome, with red hair, freckles, and lips that were always smiling.138

“Alright. Maybe tomorrow then. Don’t let Rumeus bother you too much; you’re smarter than you think, Lichi.”139

“Thanks, Will.”140

The classroom slowly emptied until Lichi was the last one left. He eventually got up, sighing heavily and picking up his bag. He was almost out the door when he heard two girls’ voices, and so ducked back inside the room.141

“You’ll be cleaning everything on this floor,” an older voice was explaining, and Lichi peeked around the corner. Two elven women were standing in the main hall with their backs to him, one of them middle aged – probably around two hundred years old – and the other quite young; Lichi guessed she was probably about his age. She was pale and sylph-like, with long blond hair that fell in a thick plait down her back. “And Rumeus expects a job well done. Now in this room – well, it tends to be the messiest on some days...”142

Lichi watched as the two women disappeared into one of the few rooms down the hall, then allowed himself to breathe. He smiled and headed out the door, hoping the younger maid would be back. The early afternoon was still sunny, though the actors had retired for the day, Lichi soon saw. He made his way to the road, treading slowly and again allowing his eyes to be drawn to the lush forest. By the time he got home it was dusk, and the house was quiet.143

“Father?”144

“Rumeus tells me you weren’t in class all morning. Where were you?”145

“I... I was late,” Lichi replied, glancing only briefly at his father and wondering how the man had already spoken to Rumeus and beat him home. Liam was seated in the main room, looking at his son over a cup of tea.146

“Lichi... come here.”147

The half-elf obeyed, dropping his satchel in the entranceway and seating himself across from his father, who went on, “Your studies are very important.”148

“But I don’t want to be a doctor,” Lichi said immediately. “I don’t care about the tibula and fibia, or – ”149

“Tibia and fibula,” his father corrected, and Lichi ran a hand through his untamed hair.150

“I’m not good at this,” he said resolutely. “I’m not meant to be a doctor like you, father, and I don’t want to be.”151

“Well, what do you want to be?”152

“I want to be a dancer,” Lichi replied without hesitation. Once the words were out of his mouth, however, he wished he hadn’t said them. His father raised his eyebrows.153

“A dancer,” he repeated tonelessly, and Lichi could only nod. His father sighed.154

“An... an actor – a performer,” Lichi tried to clarify.155

“You realise, of course, that dancers don’t make much money..?”156

“I didn’t think it was about the money?” Lichi countered. “You could make a lot of money – a lot more than you do. You could have a big house – in the city – and you could buy expensive clothes, and – ”157

“Alright, alright, I get the idea. But doctors help people.”158

“But I don’t want to be a doctor. I don’t care about what plants I can use to help people, or how to tell if someone’s got a cold or a fever. I just – ”159

“Listen, what if I make you a deal?”160

Lichi raised his eyebrows, surprised.161

“What kind of deal?”162

“I’ll put you in dance lessons if you continue with your medical studies.”163

“Really?” Lichi said, incredulous164

“Get your books and I’ll help you learn about the... what was it? Tibula and fibia? It’s strange that you can draw them so well and yet you don’t remember their names...”165

Lichi smiled ruefully and fetched his books, thinking more about what kind of dance he’d like to learn than about the elven skeleton.166

***167

Volume I – Part II – Ramshir168

My father has instructed me to keep this book. He wants me to keep a record of what I have learned, and of the things I have done, but so far it has seen little use other than to be a journal of my thoughts – most of which do not include medicine. 169

This morning I practised a new dance Natalia taught me yesterday night. I have already forgotten its name, and the steps have been just as easily lost. I will have to draw them in order to commit them to memory.170

...but I will draw later, Adelaide is here now.171

...perhaps I will draw her again as well.172

Lichi closed his book and shoved it into his bag, hoping to be packed before Adelaide found her way into the classroom. Unfortunately, he wasn’t anywhere near fast enough, and when he looked up it was to find the girl seated on the desk in front of him. She was tall and beautiful, and in the past half a year he had come to know her rather well – though only through the small amount of time he spent with her each day after school.173

“Aren’t you ready yet?” she asked, rolling her eyes exaggeratingly. Lichi smiled, getting up from his chair so that the two of them were about eye level. Tonight, she would visit his home.174

“Of course I’m ready. You’re the one who’s taken so long cleaning – I’ve even finished all my work,” he said, placing his hands on the desk on either side of her legs. It wasn’t completely true – he’d only half finished and then had been distracted by other thoughts. In fact, his marks hadn’t much improved at all, but as far as he was concerned, the fact that he was staying in school would have to be good enough to please his father.175

“Impressive,” Adelaide said, batting her long, pale lashes. She smiled, leaned forwards and pressed her lips against Lichi’s. The half-elf didn’t waste any time moving a hand up to her waist, and the other into her golden hair. They stayed like that for only a short time, before Adelaide pulled away, looking through her lashes into Lichi’s intense green eyes.176

“I thought we were going to your house?”177

“My father will be out all night,” the half-elf insisted, beginning to move forwards again, but Adelaide shook her head.178

“You promised me you’d make me dinner.”179

Lichi sighed but nodded, then picked his bag up off the floor. He took Adelaide by the hand and together they walked outside to find that the sky was already beginning to darken. It took them a lot longer to get to Lichi’s house than it usually took the half-elf to walk alone, but still no one was home when they got there.180

“Welcome,” Lichi said, opening the door for Adelaide to step inside. He followed her in and, after kicking off his straw sandals and leaving them in a pile near the door, watched as she looked around the small house.181

“It’s small,” she commented. “I... didn’t expect that.”182

Lichi shrugged and replied, “My dad doesn’t accept a lot of money for what he does, even though he could, so... we live here. Sorry to disappoint.”183

Adelaide smiled.184

“I don’t need you to have a beautiful home, Lichi. In fact, I think I like it better this way anyway.”185

Lichi grinned, blushing a little, then said, “I need to get some things from the garden, so... er... make yourself at home. You can look around if you like.”186

With that he headed back outside, barefooted, and proceeded to raid the garden for everything he knew tasted delicious. When he returned inside it was to find that Adelaide had disappeared somewhere.187

“Adelaide?”188

He waited, but heard nothing. Then, a floorboard creaked upstairs. Lichi glanced upwards, then ran upstairs, taking two at a time.189

“This is your room?” he heard the girl say as he reached the landing. Lichi smiled, for she was seated on his unmade, iron-framed bed.190

“It is. Sorry for the mess...” he said, walking over to her. Adelaide stood up as he neared her, wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips against his. Lichi didn’t object, and soon had his hands on her back and in her long, soft hair. Adelaide slowly pushed him towards the bed until he was sitting on it. He heard the straw inside the mattress shift, and Adelaide sat on his lap, her dress riding up a little as she placed each knee on either side of his hips. Lichi let out a contented sigh, and in moments lost any perception of time he had hitherto had a grasp of. It was for this reason that he let out a strangled yell when his father’s voice suddenly came from the doorway.191

“Ah. That’s why you’re ignoring me.”192

Lichi sat up – too quickly – and fell off the opposite side of his narrow bed. Adelaide let out a small cry, hastily straightening her simple white dress.193

“Dad! What are you – ? I thought you weren’t going to be home tonight?” Lichi said as he got to his feet, blushing furiously and attempting to casually smooth out his hair. Liam watched them both, arms folded and wearing an unimpressed expression.194

“I rode back to get some things I forgot. When I saw two sets of shoes at the door I wondered who was here,” he said, looking very tired. He glanced at Adelaide, then back at Lichi and went on, “I thought that perhaps you would be studying.”195

Lichi swallowed, looking away. Adelaide was still just looking frightened, her eyes wide and her normally pale cheeks flushed. Liam shook his head and turned away from the door. Lichi bolted into the hall.196

“Father – I – ”197

“I don’t want to talk to you right now, Lichi. I have a sick girl to help.”198

“The... the Setlock girl?” Lichi queried, hoping to goad his father into at least a short conversation. It didn’t work.199

“Mm,” was the only reply to his question, and after watching his father gather a few things from below, he was left alone again with Adelaide, who soon appeared on the landing.200

“I should go,” she mumbled, still red in the face. Lichi turned.201

“What? Why? Adelaide, it’s alright – he isn’t mad at you – ”202

“You told me he wouldn’t be here, Lichi.”203

“I’m sorry,” the half-elf said, bowing his head after a moment of stunned silence. He made to touch her arm, but Adelaide moved away.204

“I don’t think I’ll come back here,” she said quietly, then started down the stairs. Lichi followed her.205

“Can I walk you home, at least?”206

It was already dark outside, he saw through the window, and he didn’t want her to walk alone. Adelaide glanced at the window, then at Lichi’s face. She frowned, but nodded.207

“I’d appreciate it,” she said, blushing, then put on her dainty elven shoes and went outside. Lichi joined her in moments, carrying a lantern and closing the door behind himself. He shoved his free hand into his pocket, quite certain that Adelaide would no longer want to hold one.208

“I’m very sorry,” he said sincerely. “I didn’t know he would be home.”209

“I’m so embarrassed,” the maid whispered, and before Lichi could reassure her that there was nothing to worry about, she burst into tears, holding her hands in front of her eyes. Lichi was completely at sea. Awkwardly, he put an arm around her shoulders.210

“Listen – it’ll be alright,” he said with a smile and a bit of a laugh. “It was embarrassing, but... it’s nothing to worry about, and certainly nothing to cry about.”211

“Lichi...” the girl said, shaking her head and calming down only slightly. “I could never speak to him again! Not after that! He must think I’m some awful... whore...”212

“Adelaide, you know that’s not true, and so do I, and my father wouldn’t ever think that – not for a second.”213

Adelaide sighed and nodded, but Lichi could tell she didn’t believe him. He remained quiet for long minutes, listening to their footsteps and feeling terrible. He didn’t want to stop seeing Adelaide, and, more importantly, he hadn’t wanted to make her feel bad.214

“What was that?”215

Lichi stopped, straining his ears in the quiet night for whatever Adelaide had heard. He smiled.216

“I get the feeling I’ve only got half the elven hearing you do,” he said with a bit of a laugh. “What did you hear?”217

“I... I thought... ...I don’t know...” she said slowly. Then she looked at him, curious. “Is it much different? Being half-elven..? You... you don’t look... much different...”218

She looked away as she said it, Lichi noticed, and he smiled. It was clearly something she had always wanted to ask, but never had. He shrugged.219

“People make fun of me sometimes,” he said, “But... it’s not so bad. As far as being much different than any ordinary elf... I don’t feel much different – although, I’ve never really been a proper elf before, so I can’t be that sure.”220

Finally a smile. Adelaide grinned despite herself, looking up at him through her long lashes and grinning a little.221

“You’re still very sweet,” she admitted, and Lichi’s grin mirrored her own.222

“You still like me then?” he asked hopefully, and Adelaide’s face fell.223

“Of course I still like you,” she said, “But... I don’t think I want to be anything more than your friend.”224

Lichi forced himself to remain stoic, though he could practically feel his heart breaking. He swallowed and nodded, then forced a small smile.225

“Alright,” was all he could muster, and Adelaide touched his shoulder.226

“I’m sorry,” she said earnestly. “I really don’t – ”227

“Well well well! What have we here?” a loud but nearly incomprehensible voice suddenly said from the edge of the road. Lichi and Adelaide both jumped and looked in the direction of the strangely-accented voice.228

A tall human male deftly made his way onto the road, carrying a well-worn stick and wearing dirty, torn clothes to match. He was broad and ragged, with darkened eyes and a tangled beard to match his dark, knotted hair. He grinned, revealing broken, yellowed teeth.229

“Elves, Ramshir!” another voice suddenly said from behind Lichi and Adelaide, and the two of them spun around yet again. This man was lither but equally frightening, with long red hair that hung limply around his shoulders. He too was grinning, and holding a long, battered knife. His elven accent wasn’t any better than his fellow’s, either. Lichi’s jaw clenched.230

“What do you want?”231

“Well,” said the one called Ramshir, feigning a kind smile but not bothering to hide his sarcastic tone, “You’re an elf. That means you’ve got money for us poor, stupid humans.”232

Lichi shook his head and said, “We haven’t got any money.”233

“Oh?” said the thinner man, getting closer, “Then I suppose we’ll just get rid of you then, if you’re that useless...”234

Lichi stepped between the red-headed man and Adelaide, shaking his head.235

“Leave us alone. We haven’t got anything to give you, and if two humans are found on the road with weapons, you’ll – ”236

“Oh yes, we’ll be hanged,” said Ramshir with emphatic sarcasm, and Lichi glanced back at him, over his shoulder. At that moment the red-headed man lunged forwards, and it was all Lichi could do to stay between Adelaide and their attacker. Unfortunately, once the thin man had grabbed his wrist in a surprisingly strong grip, there was nothing he could do to stay between Adelaide and Ramshir, who soon wrapped a strong arm around the girl’s neck.237

“Adelaide!” Lichi yelled, dropping the lantern as he struggled against his own attacker’s grip. He stopped when he felt the jagged edge of a knife blade tear into his side. He yelled again, but stopped struggling, having never felt such pain in all his life. His vision blurred. “A... delaide..?”238

Seconds passed. Lichi felt the dirt of the road press into the skin on his face. He heard Adelaide screaming.239

“Adelaide...”240

The humans were saying something in their native tongue. Lichi’s vision slowly began to return, and he could feel the knife wound in his side, like fire. Slowly, as though it took all the effort he had left, the half-elf raised himself to all fours. Adelaide, he saw, was on the ground. He could feel the thunder of approaching hoofbeats through the ground. Someone was coming – the humans were fleeing into the forest.241

Lichi dragged himself to his knees and moved towards Adelaide’s still white form. She was lying on her side, and when he rolled her onto her back it was to find her white dressed covered in blood. He gagged.242

“Adelaide!”243

“Lichi – you’re alright – ? Move aside.”244

“Father..?” the boy said, a little dazed. He watched as his father knelt beside Adelaide, muttering to himself. “Can... I help?”245

“Lichi, please lie down,” Liam said, suddenly turning to his son. “You’re injured as well, but not as badly. Lie down and be quiet, please.”246

Lichi felt his brow wrinkle but wasn’t actually aware of forcing it to do so. He also felt himself lying on the ground, but had meant to stay sitting. He sighed, and, quite suddenly, the world was black.247

“Lichi?”248

“Dad...”249

Lichi slowly sat up, hearing the usual crinkle of his mattress as he moved. He grimaced at the pain in his side, but otherwise didn’t feel anything but tired and worried. He looked at his father, seated in a chair beside his bed, whose face looked drawn and tired. After a moment he asked quietly, “Where is Adelaide?”250

Liam let his gaze fall to the floor. Lichi saw his mouth tighten.251

“I couldn’t help her, Lichi,” he said sombrely, and a cold hand gripped the half-elf’s stomach.252

“Wha...what..?” he managed, already feeling himself beginning to fall apart. The pain in his side became infinitely more agonizing.253

“I did everything I could. I couldn’t see well in the dark, and by the time I brought her back here – ”254

“You’re making excuses,” Lichi interrupted loudly, abruptly feeling his mood change for the worse. Hate burned inside him, vanishing the tears that had threatened to breach his lashes only moments before. His voice sounded thin and unrecognisable. “You’re a doctor – why couldn’t you save her?”255

Liam lifted his head, rather taken aback. He managed, however, to maintain his composure.256

“Lichi, you know very well that I can’t save everyone. ...I am very sorry.”257

The half-elf could only stare at him, angry and hateful.258

“Adelaide left because of you,” he said quietly. “And you could not save her. She is dead because of you!”259

“Lichi – ”260

“Get out of my room!”261

“Listen to me – ”262

“I said get out!”263

The doctor stood, tight-jawed and obviously holding back a few words he knew would be wasted if he said them immediately. He shook his head and left the room, slamming the door as he did so. Lichi listened to his angry footsteps on the stairs, and only when his father reached the bottom did he burst into tears. He could still smell her on his blankets.264

For long moments he stayed like that, only weeping, until eventually he could cry no more. At this point he looked at his nightstand, where his medical books were stacked in a neat pile. His father had clearly put them there. Lichi picked them up and placed them on his lap. After looking at them only briefly, he choked again, opened the first leather cover, and began to tear out the heavy parchment pages. His entire body shook as he tore each page out one by one, crumpled them and dropped them to the floor. It felt good.265

He reached the journal last. It was thinner and uglier than all the other books, and wasn’t worth nearly as much money. Lichi opened it to a random page near the start, and his heart stopped. Adelaide was staring back at him. With a yell, he snapped the book closed and threw it across the room.266

I could have drawn her a hundred more times.267

DAMN MEDICINE TO THE ABYSS!!!268