Wine-red dress Ch 11

"You've arrived, come on in."

As Ramir and Nalaka got inside the stench of blood and medicine filled their nose. There were at least thirty sick beds inside the house. A lot of the patients were in between life and death. Some youngsters wearing wine red long healer dresses were feeding them medicine. As always, the walls were full of portraits of Dime and there was even a bust statue which was so detailed even the feathers on her mask looked real. Ramir found the Doctor's obsession with Dime disturbing. Nalaka couldn’t go without commenting.

"Man, you're still creepy as hell. What are those? Dime shaped candles? And is that a shrine in the corner?"

"I'm not expecting you to understand our faith in Master Dime. I only hope that your poor soul will find greatness one day."

The Doctor's eyes glowed red and his face showed a benign smile. Ramir felt goosebumps on his arms.

"Anyway, we bought the monthly shipment. Come out and count it."

"Yes of course. Master Dime always provide us with the best supplies."

Nalaka and Ramir looked each other with questionable expressions. They hear some murmuring coming from the shrine in the corner. Instead of staying inside the 'haunted house' they went out to the village.

The whole place was packed with patients on rehab and merchants selling health related products.

"Scary Lady, in just two years she made this place basically a big hospital. It wasn't like this when you lived here right?"

"No, not even close."

Before starting to work for Dime, the twins lived here at a pharmacist shop. At that time the village was barren, and the population was at an all-time low. Dime however found the Doctor and with mutual effort they started to make the village a health care center. There is still a long way to go and a lot of possible improvements, but it was the start of something big.

"There is even a library! Seems like the village will become a city in no time."

"I'm not sure what is her plan with providing affordable healthcare."

"One thing is for clear. If she succeeds, then it will be a spectacle for many mercenaries. But I also worry about the voices who will not be so happy about it."

"You don't have to worry about it. The Master has everything under control."

The Doctor chimed in their discussion after verifying the shipment. His eyes had not even an ounce of doubt in them.

"If you say so Doc. Do you have any important or interesting news?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Oh yeah, many. My students number increased by 12 people. They are all hardworking and devoted for our cause. Almost everyone in the village started worshiping Master Dime as the divine protector of this place.”

Nalaka rolled her eyes.

”That must have been you. Nobody just decides to pray to a random woman.”

”I only told them the truth about our Master, nothing more. They chose her as someone worthy of their faith. I’m not sure how would that be my doing.”

As they walked in the village, they noticed that every door had the same mask carved in it. Some were beautiful and intricate others looked like a kid drawing, but every one of them was polished meticulously and spotless.

A few kids were running around with bandages and wine red headcovers singing. Their mother ran after them in a similar colored toga. She caught a glimpse of the Doctor, quickly bowed and continued on her way. The whole scene seemed peaceful and natural, nothing like the sick house.

”She is Tarha. She came in with her two boys getting festering wounds all over their bodies. Their only hope was to get otherwise expensive treatment. After they were saved by Master Dime’s grace, she dressed herself and the boys in wine red clothing. Many others decided to do so, even though I don’t wear it.”

”Of course they would be thankful, she saved the life of their child.”

”All of her believer can thank lives to her. She is amazing making it happen.”

Ramir clicked his tongue.

”But at the end of the day, you are the one saving them, right? Why don’t they worship you?”

”Haa…kid you still have a lot to learn. If you don’t mind Doc, we are off to the loggings.”

”Not at all, take care of your bodies and rest well. I will prepare my report so you can take it in the morning.”

Nalaka nodded, grabbed Ramir’s hand and left the round glassed Doctor.

They headed to the usual inn that had a big busted waitress and shitty alcohol. The rest of the crew were already there.

”C’mon sweetheart you sure have something better than this horse piss.”

”If you don’t like it just drink milk like the kids!”

The waitress whacked the jugs before them and left. Ramir grabbed one of the drinks, but Nalaka took it from him.

”No no. Still three months to go remember?”

”Oh common, I can kill people and work myself to the bone, but can’t drink alcohol? How does that make any sense?”

”It doesn’t have to, also I promised that on your birthday I would take you out to become a man. I don’t want you to have the first experience with booze in a shabby place like this. No offence.”

She winked at the busty girl, who rolled her eyes but, smiled.

”I will be taking her tonight, you just go to sleep or something.”

After the dinner Nalaka disappeared. Ramir had a good idea where she was, after all, the little waitress only smiled at her.

There was no way he could just go to sleep like this, so he went for a walk in the middle of the night.

The night life looked completely different from the day. Painful cries could be heard from multiple houses, as the daytime medicine wore down on many patients. Before the sick house was a long line of injured or sick people.

Before one person would go in the exhausted face of the Doc would pop up behind the door. He was a healer in and out he put his everything into healing the people. He May be twisted, but his ambitions were clear and respectable.

Ramir on the other hand felt lost. His heart seemed to miss a piece, that could not be filled easily. The only way he felt better was working for Dime. She gave him purpose, things to do, when he was unsure about the next step. But was it what he wanted? What if the accident didn’t happen and he wouldn’t had to live while supporting his sister? Similar thoughts filled his mind till he become disgusted of himself.

He took a turn back and found Farkas, his faithful wolf lying beside the inn. He stroked the furry friend who licks his hand in return. Ramir placed his head on the big boy’s side and fell asleep surrounded by the fluffy fur and chilly wind.