She had called for a healer. The closest healer that could be found in Aetaea. For whatever reason they were in the area, Iris really didn't care. All that she knew was that she needed someone to see her father. For the last few days he had grown feverish and exhausted. More than usual, and it unsettled Iris in a way that she did not like. She did not like it because it felt as if her father was too close to death. Too close to an inevitable death that she was still not ready for despite having had plenty of time to come to terms with it.
She had called for the healer in the early morning, and now early afternoon, Iris was pacing back and forth through the drawing rooms, anxious and not liking how long this was taking. She had half a mind to go for her horse and ride into the town to call on another healer, and after too much time had still passed, she did just that. She dressed in a chiton better for travel, having her horse saddled. Marching out to the front of her home, Iris pulled herself up onto her white mare. She started off down toward the town at a canter and then a gallop.
The ride was hard but quick, Iris' own impatience and frustration at having had her request ignored before. It was truly hard to understand or recognize the anger that was simmering in her chest as she took the long path. Before long, she was trotting between a small outcropping of buildings, both large and small as the small town sprawled into a large setting of buildings and the small local market. The merchants were bartering their wares among both themselves and their patrons and some looked up when the lady of Aetaea approached the larger grouping of people.
Dismounting quickly, Iris strode deeper into the market, trepidation twisting in her gut. "I need a healer!" Iris called, softer than she might have wanted. Catching herself, she cleared her throat. "I need a healer!" she called again, searching the faces of her people for anyone who might volunteer.
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