[Admin: The murder of William and the attack on the private investigator
take place a day or two after Judge Gilford sent the jury home for the
evening in [Trial]; it also takes place on the evening following the
rescue of Councilman Paevel's sister in [Council/Evil]. (If you think
that's confusing, try keeping track of it. )]

Elektra followed by the bark-covered spirit woman as the being carried
Emmon Filgers along the spirit paths, and towards the Paevel
Ranch. All of the Seulla Muintirr healers would be there, and maybe a
couple from the Healer's Hall; all because of the rescue of Kisa Paevel
and Niathina Welks. The tree-enshrouded paths abruptly opened onto the
expanse of the Ranch - where torches gleamed and men moved around as if on
guard.

The young secretary stepped forward as Old Miller came towards them - with
torch held high and club in hand. "It's Elektra," she told him as he
studied her face.

The old man didn't relax until his torchlight fell on the spirit woman and
the man in her arms. "'Nother from the raid?" he asked.

"No, another problem," Elektra answered, "And we need to get to a healer
quickly."

Miller nodded and started to call one of the men over.

"Stay on guard," she said, "We know the way." She could understand the
man's reluctance to trust appearances, but for now the spirits were to be
trusted. There would be more than war if any of the Cult tried to
impersonate the guardians.

Silently the spirit woman went past the ranch house and towards the back
of the building - heading down to where the stream cut through the ranch
lands, and where a rustic building sat by the water. In the meantime
Elektra hurried to the ranch house to find one of the healers.

___________________

The fire in the small cabin began to burn low and Elektra sleepily, and
stiffly, eased herself from the rocker to stir the embers. She looked over
at where Soillier worked on his patient - the black haired Suella Muintirr
murmured in a watery language as he treated Emmon Filger's wounds. A hard
blow to the head and a lung punctured the healer had said; plus a smashed
wrist, and a slash to the side.

The head wound had been the most worrisome. Filger's lung had been patched
by the spirit woman's sap, but he had started bleeding from the ear
shortly after they had brought him to the cabin. And the Seulla Muintirr's
healing spells had been long and delicate just to deal with the head
injury - who knew what lasting damage might linger from it. Only now could
Soillier begin to treat the other wounds.

She quietly poured herself some of the strong tea from the pot on the
hearth stones, and took a minute to stir the bubbling mass of seaweed soup
that hung over the fire. Then she settled back in her chair by the fire -
while she didn't know Emmon Filgers well she didn't want him waking
wounded and delirious in a strange place without at least one familiar
face.