Wild Berry Meadow ludus

A smile broke like the rising of the sun, brilliant and just as lovely. Her relief was palpable, as was her gratitude. Starbuck had feared that none would come, leaving her to drag herself many miles in search of aid. But here had come her savior! You have my gratitude, kind stranger, she said sweetly, though there was the underlining pain, like a string held taught. Indeed it broke in a soft gasp as she shifted herself.

Were she a healer in her own home, she would have asked for herbs, something to dull the pain. As it was, she was more concerned about fixing her shoulder, which sloped at a ghastly angle. Each time she looked at it, for look at it she must, the pervading sense of wrongness caught her.

Starbuck braced herself, then moved, choking back the agony to a mere whimper. Carefully, carefully, she arranged her leg so that it was at the same angle the healers of Hansa Rise had shown her many months ago. Take this leg and pull it. Be gentle but firm, she instructed. Stop when I tell you to. And thank you. Doing as she had instructed would set the limb right, though it would be terribly painful for her.