Tespis frowned as she surveyed the sweltering marketplace. Though it was still morning, already the heat of the day had begun; the twin suns of Saera burned down from their lofty throne and the “Leesian haze” had already begun to manifest. She noticed the streets were clearer than usual. There were fewer stalls open as well.

“Maybe the heat?” Jericho set down the box of baubles he was carrying and kissed her on the cheek.

Tespis smiled and turned to face her husband. His hazel eyes stared back at her lovingly. “It’s no hotter than usual, love.”

Jericho ran his hands through his curly black hair and sighed. “True. It’s always this damn hot.” He flashed her a quick smile and began arranging the box of trinkets on the sandstone countertop.

So why the drop in customers? There had been word of something new sweeping through the slums, but this was unprecedented. We have enough savings to get by a bit longer like this, but if things don’t improve… “How’s the stock looking?” she asked suddenly, hoping the question would hide her growing concern.

“As well as the last time you asked, love.” Jericho’s half-hearted grin turned suddenly. “You shouldn’t worry Tes, business will pick up. It always does.”

Tespis forced a smile. It had been two days now without proper business. At this rate…

Her worries were interrupted by Abdul, a great felian merchant, rounding the corner of the street their stalls shared. The lion was disheveled, and his black eyes seemed oddly sunken; lifeless. As he shambled into view, Jericho hailed him.

“What ails you friend?” Her husband’s normally lilting tone had shifted; his playfulness masked an underlying sense of concern. “You’re looking a tad wan.”

The felian shambled by, seemingly oblivious to Jericho’s calls. Her husband’s forced smile faded. His eyes darkened. “Abdul.”

Tespis took a step toward the ailing lion, something was obviously amiss, but Jericho stayed her with a glance.

“Abdul!” Her husband’s voice was almost shrill.

The lion stopped and looked sullenly to his feet. “Ah,” he swallowed, “I didn’t hear you Jericho. I’ve-ah” he took a breath and rubbed his eyes with one furry forepaw “I’ve been a bit out of sorts of late.” He sighed, swaying on his feet. “You see Meb… she’s been” he swallowed again, as though steeling himself. “She’s been sick Jericho. Sick like I haven’t seen.” He approached them now, his eyes wild, his face that of a man undone.

Jericho took a step back in spite of himself, keeping the frantic lion out of arm’s reach. This was not the Abdul he knew. “The doctors?”

“Ah, the pox on those bastards. The doctors won’t come. They says it’s a plague, but even if it’s true, I know they’re up there” he motioned with his head toward the city center, where the mansions of the upper families rested at the mouth of Byrdfoot bay, “tending to them.”

Tespis felt her stomach drop. A plague in Leeis? The revelation rolled over her like a fog. She felt suddenly numb.

“The doctors…” Jericho paused, looking nervously to Tespis. He did not know how to continue. “They have a duty.”

“Duty?” the lion spat on the ground between them and stamped his great foot into the dust. “They only have a duty to those that line their pockets.”

The doctors of Leeis had always minded the families more closely than the commonfolk. Such was the case in all of the Silverstates. Money talked, and those without didn’t. But for the doctors to be forsaking the poor completely, and even the merchants…

“Tes…” She could smell Jericho’s sweat close beside her.

“How bad is it, Abdul?” Tespis felt now was the time to act, but to act, she needed information. More softly, “How is Meb?”

Her heart ached as she saw the great lion’s lip begin to tremble. “She… she.” he paused, breathing in deeply and letting it back out slowly. He was more composed as he continued; his eyes stared blankly ahead, as though detached: “she’s been coughing for a while now, thought nothing of it. But now there’s blood.” He shook his great tawny mane and his eyes seemed to focus on Tespis. “She doesn’t sleep well, or eat. She’s terrible thin, and the fever…”

Tespis could feel her heart beating in her chest. This suddenly sounded terribly familiar to her. “How long has it been since she started showing signs?” She needed to know for sure what it was, where it had originated, and what to expect.

And how it spread.

“A week, maybe more,” the lion interjected, his stony visage betraying the first rays of hope she had seen in him thus far. He rubbed his beard contemplatively. “A week, I think. About the same time as Taurel and his wife.”

Tespis felt her blood run cold. Could it be… She felt a reassuring hand squeeze her shoulder. Jericho smiled, and his warmth cut through the icy veil that had threatened to envelop her. “Taurel and his wife. Then this isn’t isolated.” She wondered… How many, how quickly? What’s the vector of transmission? Where is this coming from? Is this like before?

There is so much I need to know.

“How many are sick Abdul?” Jericho cut in, noting that Tespis had stalled for a moment. “Is it based around the oldtown?”

Tespis nodded. Oldtown was a rundown civil district wherein Abdul and most of his kin dwelt. It was a particularly densely populated area that housed mostly felians. She knew what her husband was hinting at.

“Oldtown?” The lion seemed perplexed at the question. As to its meaning, if he caught it, he betrayed no signs of comprehension. “No, it’s all through the city.” he cast a sudden sidelong glance at Tespis “haven’t you noticed the lack of patrons?”

She had noticed. Then it was as she had feared.

But I have to know for sure.

If the disease was already in the slums, and if the doctors weren’t going to help, she knew she had to act fast. Tespis nodded to herself, the matter settled. She turned to the house and after rummaging about for a bit, came back out with supplies she had gathered.

“What are you going to do Tes?” Jericho sounded nervous, reverent. “You can’t mean to-”

#

“What did you do mom?” Rana interjected, snapping Tespis very suddenly out of her story. Her daughter sat up in bed, her hazel eyes aglow, her face flushed. “What did dad do?”

“Hush love, I’m getting to that.” Tespis smiled at her daughter’s round, pouting face. “You know it’s rude to interrupt, and you’re supposed to be going to sleep, remember?”

“Yes mom.” Her daughter’s pout turned into a smile and a contented sigh as she settled back into her pillow.

“What I did, Rana, was gather supplies and head to see Meb with Abdul.”

“You went with the crazy lion?!” Rana’s mouth was a saucer.

Tespis laughed. “He wasn’t crazy, dear, just upset and past his wits. As soon as he saw a bit of hope… well you’ll see.” She smiled at her daughter’s impatience. “I left your father to tend to the stall in case any customers were to happen by, and went with Abdul to oldtown.” Tespis felt her eyes begin to glaze as she remembered. “There were some things that I couldn’t take the lion’s word for. There were some things that I had to see for myself.”

#

By the time Tespis and Abdul had reached oldtown, the haze was in full effect; the twin suns beat down upon them in palpable waves of heat. To be in their full light for long was to flirt with death. The town within a city was made mostly of old, sandstone buildings that leaned perilously over the narrow, pitted streets. Everywhere she looked, Tespis spied the forms of lounging felians, most with short, thickly matted fur to stave off the insufferable heat. But even with their fur, shade was a premium in oldtown.

The signs of sickness were evident. Everywhere, the monochrome sun-bleached tan of the cooked buildings was broken by the deep brown of boarded doorways and windows. Dens of sickness, those. And fresh. The stench of death pervaded the squalid place.

Abdul had kept up a steady stream of speech, babble and noise mostly, since they had left the market district; he had fallen quieter as they drew near to oldtown, and now that they were within its confines he was practically mute–only the sound of footsteps and the subtle swish of his darting eyes betrayed the fact that the lion was not indeed a statue.

“House is ahead–but I suppose you’d know that.”

Tespis nearly jumped from the sudden gravely tone of the lion’s voice–the first words that he had spoken in what felt like an eternity beneath the sweltering suns. She nodded. She and Jericho had called on them once or twice before. It had been a lovely place, if a bit bland. “Yes, It’s the–uh–tan one if I recall correctly.”

Abdul choked out a stifled laugh. “Aye, it is that.” A few moments of silence passed. “Here we are.”

The house was dark, as were those around it, but that was not what made the place seem suddenly sinister. Stillness flowed from the place as water, threatening to drown her if she could not stay afloat.

“She yet moves, I’m sure.” Abdul broke the tension, having noted her hesitance.

Tespis nodded. “I suppose it’s time then.” She shifted from foot to foot, wishing Jericho’s warm hand would clasp her shoulder reassuringly.

Instead it was Abdul’s.

“Tespis, please.” The tone of his voice was pleading; it sounded strange coming from one so great in stature.

“Right.”

As she entered the house, Tespis broke the stillness with the resounding creak of the heavy oaken door as it heaved inward. A stench of rotten food washed over them and Tespis felt herself wince. She affixed her cloth mask and gestured for Abdul to do the same.

“Sorry about… It’s just been hard to tidy up what with, well.”

She shook her head, understanding full well how hard it could be to care for oneself with a sick loved one.

Though the houses were built to avoid or vent as much heat as was possible, the nightblack bedroom Tespis found herself in was still stifling. The room was a veritable volcanic cave. She moved to un-shutter the windows then thought better of it. She lit one of the bedside lamps instead. As wick caught, and a blazing star suddenly illuminated the nighted room, Tespis could make out the emaciated form of Meb, the lynx’s pupils narrowed to slits in the sudden radiance.

Meb looked largely like Abdul had described her. Just as Tespis had feared. She was frightfully wan; the lynx’s robust frame was reduced to a shadow. But it wasn’t just her physical form that seemed so drastically reduced. She was slow, groggy, and coughed up bloody phlegm regularly. Tespis checked her pulse, then her forehead to find that she was frightfully warm.

“Abdul, could you get me some rags?” The lion began to move behind her. “And make them as cold as you can manage.” A nod and he was off. Tespis felt the lynx turn her eyes on her once more.

“My husband, is he?” The lynx trailed off, and in the shallow lamplight, Tespis could see how sunken and lifeless the felian was.

“He’s not sick, Meb. Not that I can tell.”

Meb sighed thankfully and shrunk back into the bed. “Well at least that’s good news.” She fell suddenly into a coughing fit, and waved Tespis away before she could come into contact with her. As the racking coughs faded, the lynx fell back to the pillows panting. “What’s wrong with me?” She squeaked out in a strained, almost childlike, pleading voice. “Tes… Am I dying?”

Hearing Jericho’s pet name for her thus spoken sent a chill down her spine. Tespis wiped her brow and sighed herself. Her knees felt weak. She knew though, that she could not back down, even to Meb’s withering, pleading stare.

“You’re sick Meb, very much so.” The lynx averted her gaze, eyes welling. Tespis heard Abdul stop in the doorway. “But I think that I’ve seen this before.”

Abdul started. “Where Tespis? Where have you seen this before?” He seemed almost frantic at the news. He grabbed her hand, his imploring eyes strangely soft.

“In my sister, Abdul,” Tespis extracted her hand from his massive paws. “She died of it.”

Meb choked back a sob. “With how advanced your case is Meb, I honestly can’t promise you anything.” She paused for a second to collect her wits. “But I can try. I learned much from the sickness that took my village.” She swallowed. “I learned much from my sister.”

#

“What did you do mom?” Rana interjected again, unable to bear it any longer, her eyes the size of musket balls. Tespis had to fight back the urge to smile. “Did she die?”

Tespis hugged her instead, petting her head lovingly. “No Rana, she did not die. Not that day.”

#

“I’ve done all that I can for her Abdul; all that’s left is to wait and hope to fate that she isn’t to leave us.” Tespis mopped her brow with the sleeve of her blouse. She was not dressed for this sort of work. I’ll need to get some new clothes.

“Thank you Tespis. I know it’s not much, but I want you to take this,” Abdul reached into his coinpurse.

“No Abdul. Keep your money. I did this as a friend.”

“You’re too kind, doctor.”

Tespis laughed. She supposed she was a doctor, at least to Meb. “Have her breathe the fumes twice a day Abdul, like I showed you. She should set to coughing, but over time, if fate wills it, she’ll yet live. It’s the only thing that seemed to help Aba.”

Abdul nodded and patted her on the back. “If there is anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’ll remember it, Abdul.” Tespis smiled and turned homeward.

The walk back to the market district seemed quicker this time, without the oppressive weight of the dying lynx hanging over her shoulders. It was cooler now, too. The twin suns had begun to fall, and she knew that soon they would dip below the horizon and be blotted from view. She sighed, weary now that she had a chance to breathe. Impatient to be home, in the blessed, chill air of Leesian night, in the arms of her beloved.

But something yet weighed on her.

She was sure that she’d done all she could for the lynx; her conscience was clear on that. But what about the others? If Meb lived, if Tespis was really able to help these people with the little that she could do, she knew she would feel obligated to do so. But what would that mean for Jericho? What would that mean for her family? There was no way that she could care for all of Leeis by herself.

#

“When I got home your father and I – um” As Tespis broke from the flow of the story, she could feel a blush creeping into her cheeks. “We discussed our options until the wee hours, deciding to leave the stall closed that next day. We figured then that missing a day wouldn’t change much.”

Rana was dozing now, but she snapped awake at the change in Tespis’ tone. “What did you do mom? How could you get to all of Leeis?” She yawned heavily and settled back into her pillow again as Tespis continued.

“We didn’t know either, darling. We both knew that your father was out of the question. Someone had to look after the business after all.”

“And dad can’t stand the sight of blood!” Rana giggled.

“There was that as well.” Tespis smiled. “Your father did not like the idea of me doing what I ended up doing though. And especially not alone.” Tespis nodded to herself as she remembered, taking the pause to tuck Rana in more securely. Her daughter giggled again as Tespis’ hands got near her armpits. “Luckily, Abdul solved that problem for us.”

#

It was still early when a groggy Tespis heard a heavy knock on the door to their small home in the market district. She untangled herself from the still-sleeping Jericho, planting a quick kiss on his forehead as she rose, and dressed herself with what was on the floor as she moved to answer the summons.

Filtered sunlight poured into the dim entryway as Tespis swung the door open, revealing the regal silhouette of a tawny lion; a lion who had a small smile etched across his otherwise imposing visage.

“Abdul,” Tespis paused, surprised. “what brings you by at this hour?” She stood perplexed as the lion turned to face her, then quickly averted his gaze.

“Ah Tespis, I’m sorry if I’ve caught you and Jericho at a bad time, I can come back later.”

Tespis felt her face flush as she realized that she had answered the door in her smallclothes. She slammed the door quickly, then returned a few moments later apologizing profusely, this time clad in a thin olive shift of her own design.

“Do not worry yourself human,” the lion put on his most impressive baritone and laughed heartily. He winked “Though I did appreciate the show.”

Tespis blushed again. “If you don’t watch your tongue I’ll tell Meb you’ve been…” she trailed off suddenly, her face frozen between a smile and a grimace. “Meb.” Tespis frowned fully now, “how fares she?”

The lion sighed, then smiled coyly. “You’ll have to wait a bit longer before I’m back on the market I’m afraid.” The lion broke into laughter once more.

“I suppose I’ll have to do with Jericho for a bit longer then.” Tespis feigned an annoyed sigh. “But oh, that is great news Abdul! Then the herbs seem to be working?”

“Too early to say for certain, but we felians are tough as nails. Something like this couldn’t do her in.” He smiled wanly, his bluster dropped. “She seemed to sleep more easily last night, and she hasn’t been coughing as much since. Even ate some.”

“Excellent.’ Tespis beamed. “Excellent! She should be well on the way to recovery–I’m sure there’s more we can do to make her comfortable but–oh that’s such good news!”

“A strange lion meeting my wife in the wee hours?” Jericho spoke playfully from the doorway to their bedroom. “And in my home?” Tespis giggled as Jericho approached ‘menacingly’ and Abdul began backing away slowly, feigning distress. Jericho strode forward suddenly and grasped the lion’s paw between his hands, his tone softer. “So she’s doing well then?”

Tespis relayed the news to Jericho as the three of them sat at their sparse table for a brief repast. After they had finished eating, Abdul sat back into his chair, which creaked mightily with strain, with a contented sigh.

Jericho dabbed at his mouth with a corner of a napkin, then turned to look intently at the lion. “So. To what do we owe this visit? I’m sure the good news and peeping on my wife were not the only reasons.”

Tespis felt tension erupt suddenly as she waited for the lion to react, a frown creeping slowly onto her previously contented face. This was unlike Jericho to be so direct, though she knew its cause.

The lion sighed “Aye Jericho, those weren’t the only reasons, though I did wish to tell you of Meb as soon as I felt it wise to leave her side.” The charged air had subsided slightly as he continued. “I spoke with some others; merchants, dockhands, the like. Mostly in oldtown, though some on the way here as well.” The lion paused, considering his next words very carefully. “The people have had enough of waiting for doctors that care not for our health. They want action. And you,” he glanced quickly at Tespis “you are a woman of action. Meb’s life bears testament to that.”

Jericho prickled, his suspicions confirmed. He made to speak but Tespis stayed him with a gentle hand placed over his clenched fist. She felt his anger ebb immediately, then abate completely as he saw the love and calm tenderness in her eyes. He slowly relaxed his hands to hold hers and sighed unhappily.

“Must you do this?”

“This is something only I can do Jericho. I can’t let them all die due to my inaction. I know what this is now; I’m sure I can change it. I’m not powerless like before.” Her voice had unconsciously raised to a treble, and she felt tears welling in her eyes.

Jericho smiled sadly and hugged her close. “Aba would be proud of you, my love.”

#

“What happened next mama?” Rana asked sleepily. Her daughter always spoke so when she was tired. Tespis stroked her daughter’s hair, noting as she did so that one of her bandages had wept through. Tespis pulled the sleeve of her smock lower before Rana could sense her mother’s discomfort.

“Next, we met in the small warehouse at the edge of second market. Your father has pointed it out when we were walking by there, remember?”

Rana nodded. “The one that your friend owned!”

Tespis smiled, “Yes, that’s the one. Meb’s family owned that, and Abdul took it over after–well after they had no use for it.” Rana waited, imploring, as Tespis continued. “We met some two days later. By then, Meb was well on her way to recovery, though still nowhere as lively as she had been, so Abdul felt the time to act was nigh.” Tespis smiled, Rana was struggling to keep her eyes open. “He had more people there than I had expected–your father came the first day as well, as he was still unhappy about the whole thing.”

“What did you talk about, mom?” Rana yawned mightily and trailed off.

Tespis paused; her other arm had begun to weep as well–she’d need to change her bandages before she left for the warehouse. “We talked about what the disease was, how we could treat it. We set the warehouse up as our meeting ground, and in the years since we’ve kept to that. All the doctors still around keep their packs in there; you should’ve seen it back in the day Rana, it was always so bustling–everyone had so much vim and hope.” She sighed deeply.

Rana had fallen asleep by now, but Tespis continued. “We worked for many years–your father kept us afloat in the interim, and some three years later we had all but eradicated consumption from Leeis. But we paid heavily, as a city, and as a group. “She petted Rana’s hair and the girl smiled happily in her sleep. “Then three years later, you were born.” Tespis felt her eyes well. “And the pox came after, then leprosy.” She hung her head, tears falling silently as she again adjusted the bandages on her arm. She planted a quick kiss on Rana’s forehead and rose softly, so as to not disturb the girl’s slumber.

Jericho was waiting in the doorway and he hugged her tightly as she silently sobbed. “Must you go, my love?” He brushed the hair away from her sallow eyes and stopped her response with a sudden kiss.

Tespis allowed herself to feel a moment of schoolgirlish happiness before stepping back, a sad smile etched across her face. “Don’t look at me so, I’m disgusting.” She averted her gaze, then giggled as Jericho picked her up and spun her about the hallway.

“You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Tes.” He grinned “The bandages accent your eyes beautifully.”

Tespis laughed again, playfully shoving Jericho away. She stumbled a bit and caught herself, unused to the motion.

Jericho frowned, his face a mask of concern, his hazel eyes soft with worry. “Tes are you sure this is the right thing to do? Must you go to Arridia?”

Her heart hurt as she responded. “I must, love. Something calls to me in a way I cannot describe or resist… but leaving you.” she could feel the dam break as tears cascaded from her eyes once more. “And Rana… I cannot bear it.”

Jericho held her in his arms, rubbing her back slowly with one hand. “But you must, love. If the draw is as you’ve said, you can hardly avoid it,” he held her now at arm’s length with a sad smile. “And it may lead to the answers you’ve been looking for.”

She let the tears flow until they dried, then nodded, sneaking another shy kiss from her husband. “I don’t know how long this will take.”

“Aye,” Jericho swallowed heavily. “I’ll keep things under control here while you’re away. I’ll make sure Rana knows that you’re out helping others,” he smiled, “as you always are.”

“And when I get back?”

“And when you get back we’ll be waiting.”

#

The warehouse was dark and silent as a grave when Tespis unlocked the great front door and pushed it open. The night was cool and quiet save the sound of giant cicadas humming somewhere in the southern swamps. She shivered from the chill air, for once excited to don her great black overcoat once more.

Tespis lit the solitary lantern by the entryway and carried it with her into the cavernous main room, long shadows in the shapes of ghoulish beasts dancing silently away from her dim light. The dust that covered the floor muffled her steps as she moved inward, the soft thud of her boots at once comforting and distressing. She followed the shallow outline of her own footprints, easily discernable in the otherwise empty floor, until she reached her pack in the room’s center.

She quickly gathered her things, avoiding the empty spaces around her as she worked, and stood as fast as she was able, clad now in the uniform of her trade. She kept her composure as she walked past the empty tables and racks that once held the uniforms and tools of her contemporaries; now barren save her own. She allowed a single tear to fall into the dust of that derelict relic of the past as she turned out the solitary lantern and locked the door behind her for the last time.

Art by Amber Ford