Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine

Chapter 1

King's Lake in Fernland

Electra stood balanced on a three-legged stool. Her fingertips searched the highest shelf in her cottage for anything she might have missed in her packing. She touched something solid and smooth. A box of some kind. She worked the small box forward with her fingers. As it neared the outer edge of the shelf she recognized it—the box of runes Serafina the Sorceress had given her for her seventeenth birthday.

She pushed one corner of the box forward, overlapping the shelf to secure a firm grip. Just as her fingers closed around the corner of the box, someone knocked loudly at her cottage door. Her hand jerked and the box of runes flew forward, opening as it flew to spill the little wooden staves the whole length of the cottage floor.

Electra teetered on her stool, grabbing the shelf for balance as her stool skittered out from under her. She let go of the shelf and fell to the floor in a heap.

Just a moment, she shouted to her unknown caller.

Electra pushed herself up from the floor gingerly, testing for injuries. She found only a small scrape on her right palm, just below her thumb. She opened the cottage door.

Haddad stood outside the door, an anxious expression on his face.

Are you all right? I heard something fall. Several things, in fact.

Of course I am fine. Are you all right? Electra countered.

Yes, of course. Why do you ask?

I am a physician. Often a knock on my door heralds a medical emergency.

Ah. Yes. I see. Haddad stood outside her door, frowning. He seemed suddenly at a loss for words.

Will you come in? I could make tea. Electra stood aside to allow room for him to enter. The cottage is in disarray—I am packing to return to Helsop.

I know, Haddad replied. You are returning to start a school of medicine.

Yes. Thanks to your brother, Physician Rabar, my apprenticeship is completed. I have just been notified that the building of my school of medicine in Helsop is also completed.

Haddad still stood outside and was back to frowning.

I am told you will only be accepting women as students.

Electra nodded. That is correct. Since most medical schools refuse to admit women, I decided mine will accept only women. Electra watched as Haddad considered this latest revelation. She began to wonder if Haddad had decided at this late date that he wished to become a physician like his brother. Surely not, she decided. Haddad was a master ship builder. Her own brother, Prince Avor, was his supposed apprentice. 'Supposed' because her brother's real job was spying on Haddad and the rest of the men from Taz.

Haddad mumbled something that Electra strained to hear. Your daughter wants what? she asked.

Haddad's frown turned into a scowl. She wants to attend your school.

Electra's face broke into a smile. I would be honored to have your daughter as a student. Laleh is her name, isn't it? Electra could barely remember the girl she had met aboard ship some months ago. Physician Rabar had rescued the girl along with her mother and brother from the brink of starvation.

The matter has not been decided as yet, Haddad stated with an emphatic tone.

Electra stepped further back. Will you come in? she repeated.

Haddad stepped into the cottage and stared at the runes strewn about the floor. Are these what I heard falling? What are they? He picked up a little wooden stave from the floor.

They are runes, Electra said. They were a birthday present, and yes, I did drop them.

What are they for? he asked.

They are the letters of the Norse alphabet, Electra said, taking the rune from him. She did not add that they could also be used to seek advice on important decisions, which was the reason Serafina had given them to her.

Haddad seemed annoyed to find there were things in the world he had no knowledge of.

You are returning to Helsop to open this school of medicine? he asked again for no apparent reason.

Yes. I will be sending out notices to all of Fenland soon, announcing the opening of the school.

Then you have no students as yet. He stated this as though it was a point that needed to be made.

No. Not as yet, Electra affirmed.

I see. Haddad seemed back in control again. As I said, the decision concerning Laleh has not yet been made. His face softened just a bit as he added, But thank you for accepting her in advance if we should decide to allow it.

Electra bowed her head, taking his cue to accept the gravity of that decision.

I will leave you to your packing then he said, as though some understanding had been reached.

As soon as Haddad left and Electra allowed herself a small moment of celebration over enrolling her first student—after all, Haddad would not be so angry unless he had already decided to allow Laleh to enroll—she began picking up the scattered runes. Serafina gave them to her when Electra admitted that she was undecided about going ahead with her marriage to Dagon. They had now been engaged for over a year.

Electra had immersed herself in her study of medicine under Physician Rabar and put off making any decision about marriage. She and Dagon agreed that she would wait until the school of medicine was completed before setting a date for their wedding. Dagon's message had arrived the day before. It consisted of only one line.

Your school is completed.

But Electra could read between the lines or single line in this case. She knew he would expect a decision on when and if they would be married.

Electra found the last rune hiding under the overturned stool. She packed them face up in their wooden container and then, without thinking, turned the whole box upside down on her small table. It was time to make a decision and though she did not believe in the runes' power to advise as Serafina did, she thought a reading might help to clarify her own thoughts on the matter. She spread the little wooden rectangles out, remembering what she had been taught about reading the runes.

She needed to pick three staves from the pile, now laid upside down so she could not see the characters carved into them. The first stone would reveal the overview, the second a proper course of action and the third, the outcome of her first two choices. She closed her eyes to further remove herself from the selection and made her choice.

The first stone, the overview stone, pictured a long straight line carved into the wooden stave. This stood for Isa—the ice stone. She smiled when she saw it. Helsop was her adopted home and it was a land dominated by a glacier. Her best friend in Helsop was named Isa. But Electra's smile faded when she considered the deeper meanings of the ice rune. Contraction and silence.

This was exactly the reason she feared to commit to marriage. Not only to Dagon—to any man. Would marriage not contract her world? Limit her choices? And silence—would she lose her independence? Her voice? Would her opinion matter anymore?

Electra shook her head to free it from negative thoughts and wondered if this was really helping. She closed her eyes a second time and ran her fingers over the smooth wooden runes. With some trepidation she chose the stone that would determine her course of action, then opened her eyes. The Othala stone. This one seemed worthy of consideration.

It signified one's ancestral homeland, and the deeper meanings of the freedom and well-being that one's homeland afforded. Would marriage to Dagon bring freedom and well-being? Was Helsop a place where she would be free to grow, to thrive as the stone suggested? Perhaps Helsop would offer a sanctuary where she would bloom and be fruitful. The Othala stone seemed a good omen.

She chose her last stone quickly and opened her eyes as she turned it over. This last stone would signify the outcome of her first two choices. She held her breath as she glimpsed the character. Shaped like a lop-sided horseshoe with the tines pointing downward, she identified it as the Uruz stone. It was the rune of strength and vitality, named for the courageous red bison. Strength and vitality signaled a good outcome.

Electra went back to her packing and realized she felt at peace with her decision to marry Dagon. She would set a date for their wedding. The alliance between Fernland and Helsop would be assured. A new energy surged as she bundled up her belongings and made ready to leave King's Lake for her first stop at Fernland's castle. For better or worse, she had made her decision.

Chapter 2

Castle at Fernland

Electra left King's Lake for the short journey to Fernland's castle as soon as the royal carriage arrived to transport her. Now, as she neared the castle to pay her family a final visit, her thoughts turned to her first meeting with her parents over a year ago. She had been raised by Serafina the Sorceress, believing the sorceress to be her mother. When she first met the King and Queen she saw how they had suffered, not knowing their daughter's whereabouts for sixteen years, but Electra quickly recoiled at their attempts to make up for the long absence by being overly protective. Her apprenticeship to Physician Rabar offered a welcome interval during which she had come to know her parents better as she sorted out her real feelings for Dagon. Although their engagement had been a ruse to insure an alliance, she had come to have feelings for Dagon, and she looked forward to returning to him. She hoped this quick visit to the castle before retuning to Helsop would not bring too much sadness to her parents; or too many stratagems on her father's part to keep her in Fernland.

As the sun reached its apex, the carriage drew up to the castle. The carriage was packed with her belongings—a few clothes and kitchen items, and a large collection of dried herbs, plants and medical supplies. She was quite sure her mother, Queen Delphinia, would have more clothes and accessories to add to her luggage. And, she would likely insist Electra take the carriage all the way to Helsop.

A footman stood ready to help her out of the coach.

Electra hesitated. I do not know what to do about all my baggage. She pointed to the various bulging bags still in the coach. Perhaps we could leave everything here until I speak to my parents.

The footman bowed. Your family is waiting for you in the royal dining room.

Electra thanked the man and ran up the stairs to the castle, then up the inside stairs to the family dining room. She opened the door and peeked in.

Electra, my dear one. Her mother jumped up from her chair and ran to hug her. Electra favored her mother in physical features—dark hair, light skin, blue eyes and a thin build.

King Geoffrey stood and smiled. Her father was broad of shoulders, tall and blonde in coloring. Welcome, Physician Electra. We understand your studies are now completed.

Electra hugged her mother and father in turn.

Her brother, Prince Avor, a year younger but already taller than his sister, stayed seated but he smiled at her and said, Congratulations.

Electra took a seat, slightly embarrassed by all the attention. I don't know that I quite feel like a physician as yet, but from now on I will have to learn as I go. Physician Rabar has done with me.

Queen Delphinia beamed with pride as she spoke. Of course you are a physician. We are very proud of you. Not only a physician but now a teacher of medicine as well. Tell us your plans for your new school.

Electra shrugged. I will send out announcements of the school's opening. We have yet to see if any students materialize. Electra pursed her lips and continued in a cautious tone. Although, Haddad spoke to me before I left King's Lake. His daughter Laleh is interested in attending.

She is? Avor asked with a surprised expression. Avor was acting as an apprentice to Haddad to learn the trade of engineering and ship building, though his real job was to keep watch on the men of Taz and report to his father on their activities.

Electra turned to her brother. According to Haddad, she is. Why are you surprised?

Avor gave a little twitch of his shoulders. Haddad barely allows her out of the house. Or his wife either. The Taz women are not allowed much freedom.

Electra nodded. He said the decision had not been made, but he seemed angry so I assumed she must have already talked him into it.

Avor laughed. Haddad is rarely in a good mood.

A serving girl set a plate of fish and vegetables in front of Electra.

King Geoffrey looked up from his plate of food. Is he concerned with how work on the barge is progressing?

Electra knew her father only offered the Taz refugees asylum in Fernland until they completed the work of dredging an estuary and building a royal barge. After that the Taz people promised to leave Fernland.

Avor shook his head. No, he is not concerned about the barge. Work is going well. But Dong Hao conferred with the Caliph about the possibility of the Taz men going to build ships for his uncle in China after their contract here is completed. I do not think Haddad likes that idea.

King Geoffrey's face lit up. China? This is wonderful news. They would be out of our hair just as they promised. Why doesn't Haddad like the idea?

Avor set his fork down and gave the question some thought. I do not know for sure—he does not confide in me. But I would guess he wants to work for himself—not for others. And I suppose he wants a place to settle permanently.

Queen Delphinia nodded in agreement. Of course. I'm sure all the Taz people want that.