When Ruli began explaining to the healers what the herbs and the stones were for, Kire and Daryll translated to make sure everything was clear to all of them. Though there wasn’t a lot in the herb pouch, it was enough for at least the patients within the tent to have a leaf each. As for the stones, the healers gave one to the boy who found the statuette and the other to another patient. “We could give it an hour and see if there are any effects from the herbs, Your Grace,” one of the healers said to Kire. 
“What about the stones?” Daryll asked, while Narda frowned, not particularly enthusiastic to be around any kind of magic that afflicted people with mysterious fevers. 
The woman who had been given one of the stones, who looked exhausted, seemed relieved; in heavily accented Taakalon, she told them that the whispers seemed to have lessened and she could hear her own thoughts now. But the boy…

“Come on now, lad,” his father coaxed, holding the stone in his hand. The boy looked wary, even shaking his head a little, hugging his knees. “It will help you feel better, and maybe you can sleep throughout the night again. How does that sound?”
After some more convincing, the boy finally took the stone. “The forest doesn’t want me to,” he said in a small voice. Kire glanced at Ruli upon hearing it, a concerned frown on her face. 

They waited, though not so close as to crowd the boy and make him feel fearful. Nothing. The father spoke to his boy in Taakalon and it seemed that the stone worked in the same way as in the other patient. “May I take notes?” Daryll asked the father. After being given permission, he sat near them to observe the lad, scribble information about the stone, then gently questioning father and son about the voices. 
“Works like a charm,” Kire said to Ruli, then grinning cheekily at her remark. Gavin rolled his eyes. “Oh, lad, you would’ve made the same joke.”
“Yeah, but I’d be funnier,” Gavin said, grinning back. It was Kire’s turn to roll her eyes, before turning back to Ruli.

“I’ll stay here for the hour to monitor them. After that, if there’s improvement, could you bring it some more of those herbs?” she asked. “If we don’t encounter any more surprises after the hour is up, Daryll can get to his investigation, while Envy and Narda can have their date,” she added teasingly. “Things look quiet now, so while we’re here, we can relax a bit—” She paused, her face turning slightly in the direction of the boy, inhaling. Silently, she stepped closer to the others, beckoning for them to step farther from the beds, then spoke in a low voice. “Pine needles burning. Nobody else smells that, I assume?” she said. First Etta, now this boy?